Wastewater Surveillance for Infectious Disease Pathogens

Please note: In order to create a sustainable wastewater surveillance model in Colorado, the CDPHE Wastewater Surveillance Program transitioned to a Sentinel Site Surveillance system on August 1, 2024. With this system, we are able to prioritize the addition of new targets, including emerging pathogens. It monitors for select targets in 20 wastewater utilities across the state – one in each of our 10 all-hazard and emergency management response region (some of the utilities have more than one plant) serving the largest population in these areas, three additional Denver metro utilities serving large populations, and four high-tourism utilities. Based on evaluation results, each sentinel site provides similar information to the historic participating utilities in that region.

Even though the number of participating utilities was reduced by two-thirds, the Sentinel Surveillance Site model covers 50% of Colorado’s population.  

Please view the new dashboard below. Historical data is available on the CDPHE Colorado Wastewater Surveillance Data webpage.