Wastewater Epidemiology

Portland Water District Advances Public Health Through Wastewater Surveillance

Since July 2020, the Portland Water District (PWD) has been supporting the public health sector through wastewater epidemiology sampling at its Westbrook and Portland facilities. Initially launched in collaboration with the Maine CDC and Saint Joseph’s College to track COVID-19, the program now monitors a range of pathogens, including RSV, norovirus, influenza, and avian flu (H5) through a nationwide, philanthropic-funded program.

In partnership with WastewaterSCAN, a science-based nonprofit based at Stanford University, PWD provides publicly accessible data that the Maine CDC integrates into its outreach and response strategies.

Wastewater-based epidemiology has proven to be a cost-effective and reliable method for tracking infectious diseases. PWD is proud to contribute to this essential effort, helping to protect and inform our community.

For more information and to explore seasonal trends, visit the WastewaterSCAN dashboard.