San Diego County Launches In-House Wastewater Disease Tracking Program
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San Diego County is bolstering its public health defenses with a new, in-house wastewater surveillance program, offering a proactive approach to monitoring the spread of infectious diseases within the community. The initiative, which began Wednesday, publishes results on a publicly accessible online dashboard, providing real-time insights into local health trends.
San Diego County’s ability to rapidly respond to emerging health threats has been significantly enhanced with the launch of this new program. The program’s implementation follows a triumphant regional effort during the COVID-19 pandemic and ensures continued disease monitoring as federal funding for previous initiatives shifts.
From Pandemic Response to Proactive Monitoring
The concept of wastewater testing for disease detection gained prominence during the coronavirus pandemic through SEARCH (San Diego Epidemiology and Research for COVID Health), a collaborative effort between the county and research institutions including scripps Research and UC San Diego. This partnership demonstrated the effectiveness of analyzing sewage for early indicators of viral spread.
While federal funding for SEARCH is slated to conclude in December 2025, the county proactively prepared for a seamless transition. With the opening of the county’s public Health lab in May 2025, specialists underwent specialized training and equipment certification to establish an independent, in-house testing capability.
“Bringing wastewater testing in-house with our new lab is just one example of the county’s expanded ability to protect the public’s health and act quickly to confront emerging disease outbreaks,” stated Dr. Sayone Thihalolipavan, the county public health officer.
How Wastewater Surveillance Works
The process relies on the principle that individuals infected with illnesses like COVID-19, influenza, and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) shed viral particles and bacteria through normal bodily functions – including flushing toilets, showering, and doing laundry.
Samples are collected from three key locations: the Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant, the South Bay Water Reclamation Plant, and the Encina Wastewater Authority.These samples are then analyzed to detect the presence and concentration of specific pathogens. Scientists are also utilizing genomic sequencing to identify circulating strains of COVID-19, providing a more detailed understanding of the virus’s evolution and spread.
Anonymous and Actionable Data
According to county officials, wastewater data offers a unique advantage: it provides “non-invasive and anonymous information about the health of our community, including for those who are sick but may not yet have any symptoms.” This early warning system allows public health officials to identify potential outbreaks before they overwhelm traditional clinical surveillance methods.
The data gathered is not used in isolation.It is indeed integrated with other surveillance data to inform decisions regarding public health interventions, targeted health messaging, and alerts to local healthcare partners. This holistic approach ensures a coordinated and effective response to emerging health challenges.
Residents can access the latest data through the County of San Diego Wastewater Surveillance Dashboard at https://www.sandiegocounty.ca.gov/content/sdc/hhsa/programs/phs/disease_surveillance/wastewater_surveillance.html.
Why: To proactively monitor and respond to infectious disease outbreaks, ensuring continued surveillance after federal funding shifts.
Who: San Diego County,in collaboration with Scripps research and UC San Diego (initially through SEARCH). Dr. Sayone Thihalolipavan, the county public health officer, is a key figure.
What: Launch of an in-house wastewater surveillance program analyzing
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