University of Bath pioneers wastewater surveillance for disease early warning

The University of Bath, Wessex Water, the UK Health Security Agency and UK Government departments have partnered to launch the UK’s first early-warning public health surveillance system, based on detecting tiny traces of chemicals and biological markers found in water.

The new Centre of Excellence in Water-Based Early Warning Systems of Health Protection (CWBE) will collect and analyse wastewater from the urban catchment areas of Bath and Bristol, and the more rural catchments of Paulton and Radstock in Somerset. The samples will be analysed for hundreds of trace chemicals as well as pathogen markers such as virus and bacterial RNA/DNA, which can act as an early-warning system for outbreaks of infectious diseases.

The team will also track chemicals excreted by the body indicating chronic disease, stress or inflammation, use of medications or illicit drugs, dietary habits or exposure to pesticides, hazardous chemicals, and household and personal care products.

This information can be analysed alongside prescription data, demographics and other information to give a snapshot of the health of the community at population level, and the local environment. Initial data from CWBE will provide a baseline over one year, after which researchers can introduce and test interventions to improve public health.

Once established successfully at Bath, the team said it hopes the system will be rolled out nationwide.