A NWSS Center of Excellence supporting data-driven responses to tackle critical public health threats

Public health emergencies have posed severe consequences, from illness and deaths to social and economic impacts in our communities.

Our mission is to utilize wastewater surveillance as a vital tool in tracking and addressing emerging diseases, enhancing community well-being through timely and actionable data, guiding targeted public health interventions, and promoting a culture of readiness in the face of evolving health threats.

Our dashboards display up-to-date wastewater surveillance data from samples collected at over 200 wastewater treatment plants across New York State.

Our Dashboards.

*The dashboard at covid.nywastewatcher.io will be retired starting December 30, 2024. All data and dashboards will continue to be available on NYS DOH’s website.


Since August 2024, the New York State Department of Health has led the NY NWSS Center of Excellence in partnership with Syracuse University. Together, we serve as regional leaders advancing wastewater surveillance for public health.

The New York NWSS Center of Excellence supports the following states and territories: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Vermont.

New York NWSS Center of Excellence.

Since its inception, the Department's wastewater surveillance has been a key part of the State's most critical public health responses.”

— NYS Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald

Learn more about wastewater surveillance with the NYS Department of Health.

Wastewater surveillance helps health departments and the health care community protect public health.