{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,8]],"date-time":"2026-10-08T21:33:53Z","timestamp":1791495233628,"version":"4.3.4"},"reference-count":92,"publisher":"IWA Publishing","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,9]],"date-time":"2025-09-09T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1757376000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":8,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["iwaponline.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>ABSTRACT<\/jats:title>\n               <jats:p>As exemplified during the COVID-19 pandemic, wastewater-based surveillance (WBS) can deliver near real-time, population-level pathogen data to guide public health action. Its impact, however, hinges on timely, transparent, and context-specific communication to stakeholders, including health authorities, policymakers, scientists, clinicians, and the public. This review examines current WBS communication practices, identifies persistent challenges, and proposes strategies to enhance relevance. Key challenges include data complexity, lack of standardised communication frameworks, ethical and privacy concerns, and variable stakeholder capabilities. The strategic use of digital platforms, such as dashboards, reports, press releases, and social media, alongside traditional media, can broaden reach and aid interpretation. Rapid, accurate, and empathetic communication is essential during health crises to maintain trust and counter misinformation. Standardised messaging, simplified data visualisations, and integration with clinical surveillance systems enhance credibility and usability. Strengthening cross-sector collaboration, improving data interpretation, and translating findings into actionable insights are essential to maximising the public health benefits of WBS. Immediate efforts should prioritise building globally coordinated, adaptive communication networks that can evolve alongside surveillance technologies and emerging health threats. Overall, the review underscores the key role of strategic communication in advancing WBS for global health preparedness and optimising public health actions.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.2166\/wh.2025.080","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,9]],"date-time":"2025-09-09T15:49:05Z","timestamp":1757432945000},"page":"1095-1108","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2166\/iwapcrossmarkpolicypage","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Communicating wastewater-based surveillance data to drive action"],"prefix":"10.2166","volume":"23","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7068-3228","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kata","family":"Farkas","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"a School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Devrim","family":"Kaya","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"b School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9488-8124","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Rasha","family":"Maal-Bared","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"c Bellevue Research and Testing Laboratory, CDM Smith, 14432 SE Eastgate Way Suite 100, Bellevue, WA 98007, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ahmad I.","family":"Al-Mustapha","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"d Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Agnes Sj\u00f6bergin katu 2, 00014, Helsinki, Finland"},{"name":"e Department of Veterinary Services, Kwara State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria"},{"name":"f Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9845-6385","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sarmila","family":"Tandukar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"g Organization for Public Health and Environment Management, Lalitpur, Nepal"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5441-4634","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ishi","family":"Keenum","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"h Department of Civil, Environmental and Geospatial Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4304-8031","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Teemu","family":"Gunnar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"i Department of Safety, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9385-2138","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Aaron","family":"Bivins","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"j Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Louisiana State University, 3240E Patrick F. Taylor Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Matthew","family":"J. Wade","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"k Chief Data Officer Group, UK Health Security Agency, 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London E14 4PU, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kyle","family":"Bibby","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"l Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46656, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7591-9148","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tarja M.","family":"Pitk\u00e4nen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"d Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Agnes Sj\u00f6bergin katu 2, 00014, Helsinki, Finland"},{"name":"m Microbiology Unit, Department of Public Health, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, 70701 Kuopio, Finland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8026-6885","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ananda","family":"Tiwari","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"d Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Agnes Sj\u00f6bergin katu 2, 00014, Helsinki, Finland"},{"name":"m Microbiology Unit, Department of Public Health, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, 70701 Kuopio, Finland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"945","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,9]]},"reference":[{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2021.149877"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Antonopoulou V., Chadwick P., McGee O. & Sniehotta F. F. (2021) Research engagement with policy makers: a practical guide to writing policy briefs. NIHR, Policy Research Unit in Behavioural Science. Doi: 0000-0002-4207-4003.","DOI":"10.31219\/osf.io\/m25qp"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-3","volume-title":"National Trends in Wastewater Surveillance, 2023 Survey Report","author":"APHL","year":"2024"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.puhe.2025.02.009"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/antibiotics12111580"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1039\/D1EW00496D"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.est.3c04529"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2024.1418681"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.heliyon.2024.e33873"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-10","volume-title":"Crisis & Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) Manual","author":"CDC","year":"2018"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-11","volume-title":"National Wastewater Surveillance System","author":"CDC","year":"2025"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-12","volume-title":"Framework for Addressing Ethical Considerations in Infectious Diseases Public Health Wastewater Surveillance","author":"Chillag","year":"2025"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.watres.2021.117534"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.watres.2020.116560"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bsheal.2020.01.003"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1128\/MMBR.00016-10"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1126\/science.abg3055"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-18","volume-title":"Public Health Systems and Emerging Infections: Assessing the Capabilities of the Public and Private Sectors: Workshop Summary","author":"Davis","year":"2000"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-19","unstructured":"EC (2024) Directive (EU) 2024\/3019 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2024 concerning urban wastewater treatment. Off. J. Eur. Union 2024\/3019."},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s13181-021-00853-4"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-21","volume-title":"EU-JAMRAI Joint Action Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare-Associated Infections","author":"EU JAMRAI","year":"2025"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-22","volume-title":"EU Wastewater Observatory for Public Health: The European Wastewater Surveillance Dashboard","author":"European Commission"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-23","volume-title":"Launching GLOWACON: A Global Initiative for Wastewater Surveillance for Public Health","author":"European Commission","year":"2024a"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-24","unstructured":"European Commission (2024b) Joint Research Centre & Global Water Research Coalition. The International Cookbook for Wastewater Practitioners, Vol. 1, SARS-CoV-2. Publications Office, LU."},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-25","volume-title":"EU-Wastewater Integrated Surveillance for Public Health","author":"EU WISH","year":"2025"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1017\/S0950268824000190"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-025-01929-9"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2217\/fmb-2024-0033"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1099\/mgen.0.000908"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fceng.2022.1112876"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2025.1562659"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.watres.2020.116296"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.lanmic.2024.07.002"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.coesh.2019.04.003"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1097\/PHH.0000000000001636"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.mex.2023.102299"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-37","volume-title":"UK Biological Security Strategy","author":"HM Government","year":"2023"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1089\/hs.2019.0073"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1017\/S095026881000316X"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.est.1c00308"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/nature06536"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2024.1462186"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2016.06.060"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envpol.2023.122586"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-45","volume-title":"The Global Governance of Emerging Zoonotic Diseases","author":"Kelley","year":"2023"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S2214-109X(23)00170-5"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1289\/EHP11191"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envpol.2023.122471"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1289\/EHP10289"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-50","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.watres.2024.121650"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-51","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-024-58113-8"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-52","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2023.167128"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-53","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2196\/44649"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-54","unstructured":"Manning S. & Walton M. (2021) COVID-19 Surveillance in Wastewater: Communications and Equity. 1768800 Bytes. Available at: https:\/\/research.esr.cri.nz\/articles\/report\/COVID-19_Surveillance_in_Wastewater_Communications_and_Equity\/17193356\/1. doi:10.26091\/ESRNZ.17193356.V1."},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-55","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.coesh.2020.04.006"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-56","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.estlett.0c00357"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-57","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.12688\/gatesopenres.15489.1"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-58","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s40246-025-00725-w"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-59","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/femsmc\/xtad003"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-60","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2166\/wh.2023.312"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-61","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1021\/acsestwater.2c00065"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-62","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1128\/cmr.00103-22"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-63","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1128\/aem.01428-23"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-64","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1128\/aem.54.2.371-374.1988"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-65","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.mib.2021.09.013"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-66","volume-title":"Wastewater Monitoring","author":"Public Health Agency of Canada","year":"2024"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-67","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s40504-018-0067-0"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-68","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2024.176833"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-69","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jmoldx.2017.11.003"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-70","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envint.2020.105689"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-71","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s44221-023-00083-8"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-72","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2196\/65283"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-73","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envres.2019.05.049"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-74","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2024.175138"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-75","volume-title":"Wastewater Monitoring","author":"THL","year":"2024"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-76","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fmicb.2022.977106"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-77","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.watres.2022.118220"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-78","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2024.171401"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-79","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2024.173862"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-80","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envres.2023.118052"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-81","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/21515581.2022.2060245"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-82","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.trac.2018.03.009"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-83","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clwat.2025.100076"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-84","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2022.159748"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-85","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/00027162221093268"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-86","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jhazmat.2021.127456"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-87","volume-title":"Wastewater and Environmental Surveillance for One or More Pathogens Guidance on Prioritization, Implementation and Integration","author":"WHO","year":"2024"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-88","volume-title":"Guidelines for Poliovirus Surveillance in the WHO African Region","author":"WHO Africa"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-89","volume-title":"Environmental Surveillance for SARS-COV-2 to Complement Public Health Surveillance","author":"WHO","year":"2022"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-90","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/23996544241313454"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-91","volume-title":"Communicating Risk in Public Health Emergencies: A WHO Guideline for Emergency Risk Communication (ERC) Policy and Practice","author":"World Health Organization","year":"2017a"},{"key":"key-10.2166\/wh.2025.080-92","volume-title":"WHO Guidelines on Ethical Issues in Public Health Surveillance","author":"World Health Organization","year":"2017b"}],"container-title":["Journal of Water and Health"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/iwaponline.com\/jwh\/article-pdf\/23\/9\/1095\/1592518\/jwh2025080.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"syndication"},{"URL":"https:\/\/iwaponline.com\/jwh\/article-pdf\/23\/9\/1095\/1592518\/jwh2025080.pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,30]],"date-time":"2025-09-30T14:27:16Z","timestamp":1759242436000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/iwaponline.com\/jwh\/article\/23\/9\/1095\/109414\/Communicating-wastewater-based-surveillance-data"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,1]]},"references-count":92,"journal-issue":{"issue":"9","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,9]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,1]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2166\/wh.2025.080","relation":{},"ISSN":["1477-8920","1996-7829"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1477-8920","type":"print"},{"value":"1996-7829","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,1]]}}}