Proclamation recognizes utilities’ contributions to the monitoring system and public health
Governor Polis declared Dec. 1-5, 2025, Colorado Wastewater Utility Appreciation Week to recognize wastewater utilities that continue to participate to help the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment monitor trends in infectious disease pathogens in wastewater.
The program has evolved since its inception in August of 2020 to monitor the spread of COVID-19 across the state. Now, the program tests for influenza, RSV, mpox, enterovirus D68, and measles, in addition to COVID-19 in wastewater. The program was recognized as a national leader in wastewater surveillance by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2022, earning its designation as a National Wastewater Surveillance System Center of Excellence, one of six in the country.
There are two types of utilities involved in the program — sentinel surveillance sites that submit samples twice weekly and represent more than half of Colorado’s population, and emergency surveillance sites that submit samples if the system is activated and a rapid public health response is needed.
“This declaration stands as a testament to wastewater utilities that are at the forefront of community health protection, submitting samples in a timely and reliable manner that allow the Colorado Wastewater Surveillance Program to track disease trends and emerging pathogens supporting timely public health decisions. We are grateful for their partnership and dedication to public health,” said Dr. Rachel Herlihy, Colorado State Epidemiologist.
When used in conjunction with other public health data, wastewater surveillance data allows local public health partners to respond effectively to disease trends and empowers communities throughout Colorado to make informed decisions based on local data. Wastewater surveillance data allows public health officials to identify the presence of a virus in a community even when people are asymptomatic or may not get tested.
In addition to this important work, wastewater utilities provide a critical service to Coloradans by treating our wastewater and protecting our waterways.
To learn more about the wastewater surveillance program, visit the program’s webpage.
