Article

Eawag is now the National Reference Centre for Wastewater Monitoring, commissioned by the Federal Office of Public Health to analyze health data from municipal wastewater. This includes detecting pathogens and substances linked to drug use, with operations centralized at Eawag's facilities in Dübendorf.

The program involves ten wastewater treatment plants across Switzerland, covering around two million residents. The initiative, running for ten years, aims to enhance preparedness for future pandemics and improve insights into substance consumption trends. Recent advancements in detection methods are expected to improve the efficiency and comprehensiveness of monitoring efforts.