The initiative will bring together scientists, governments, water utilities and public health organisations from around the world to establish one of the first coordinated global wastewater intelligence networks.
The launch marks the beginning of an ambitious effort by Professor Davey Jones and his team to transform wastewater from an overlooked by-product into one of the world's most powerful tools for understanding public health, environmental change and emerging global risks.
The initiative aims to create a simultaneous global snapshot of health and environmental conditions through wastewater analysis, generating new insights to strengthen disease surveillance, track antimicrobial resistance, protect the environment and improve pandemic preparedness.
The launch is taking place at the World Water Week conference in Stockholm, which brings together experts, policymakers, businesses and international organisations from across the globe.
The project will coordinate a single, global day of wastewater sampling on 31 March 2027, with participating partners analysing at host labs (where possible), as well as shipping samples to Bangor University for centralised analysis. The aim is to generate the first synchronised snapshot of global public health using wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE).
Using established and cutting-edge methods, the programme will focus on detecting antimicrobial resistance (AMR), pathogens, pharmaceuticals, chemical indicators and other markers of human health.
A defining principle of Global Wastewater Day is inclusivity. The initiative aims to ensure participation from countries regardless of economic status, with a particular emphasis on supporting low- and middle-income countries through training, collaboration and capacity building. Organisers believe that a truly global picture of population health can only be achieved through equitable participation.
The initiative is being delivered in partnership with the research organisation devoted to the study of life sciences, Verily Health, the University of Bath, the Global Consortium for Wastewater and Environmental Surveillance for Public Health (GLOWACON), the European Commission Joint Research Centre, and a growing international consortium of scientific and public health organisations.
With over 31 countries signed up to date, its long-term ambition extends far beyond a single annual sampling event. Organisers envision the creation of a permanent global monitoring infrastructure capable of generating continuous wastewater intelligence to support public health, environmental protection and scientific discovery.
Ultimately, the vision is to create a "Planetary Health Observatory" where wastewater becomes a routine source of intelligence for understanding the interconnected health of people, animals and the environment. By capturing comparable information from communities around the world, Global Wastewater Day seeks to establish a new global benchmark for monitoring health and environmental change in the decades ahead.
Davey Jones, Professor of Environmental Science and Public Health at Bangor University, said, "Water has always connected humanity. Everything we do in society leaves a footprint in our wastewater. What we want to do with Global Wastewater Day is harness the information it provides to supercharge public health research across the world, helping us detect emerging threats earlier and build a stronger early-warning system for future pandemics. The initiative will enable a global comparison of public health data using standardised methods, while building a long-term resource through annual repeat sampling and an open-access dataset. A core principle of the project is accessibility and inclusivity, with a strong emphasis on supporting participation from low- and middle-income countries.
“We want to encourage as many scientists, organisations and communities as possible to get involved, contribute data and expertise, and share the initiative with colleagues and networks who may be interested. By working across borders, we have an unprecedented opportunity to transform wastewater from an overlooked resource into a source of global intelligence, helping to protect populations, strengthen resilience and support better decision-making for future generations.”
At the heart of the initiative is the concept of "one sample, many analyses". A single wastewater sample can reveal information on pathogens, antimicrobial resistance, pharmaceuticals, illicit drugs, microplastics and broader water chemistry, offering a unique population-level perspective without the need for individual testing. When collected using standardised methods across countries, these data can create an unprecedented global picture of human and environmental health.
The programme has emerged from lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, which demonstrated both the value of wastewater surveillance and the unequal capacity for monitoring around the world. Organisers believe a coordinated global approach could provide a new layer of preparedness for future health emergencies while simultaneously delivering valuable insights into environmental change and sustainability challenges.
Today (Monday, 24 August), Professor Jones will also engage in panel discussions on Advancing Water Equity for People and Progress at the UK Pavilion, hosted by British Water.
Also at the UK Water Pavilion, on Tuesday, 25 August at 1.30pm, Professor Jones will be jointly hosting a discussion with Dr Robert Bradburne, Chief Scientist of the Environment Agency, focused on water quality, innovation, and public health.
Organisations and researchers are invited to register their interest in taking part in Global Wastewater Day.
Those who sign up will receive early access to resources and be the first to hear about how they can take part, whether actively sampling or simply following the project’s progress.
All registered contacts will be kept updated as further details, resources, and timelines are released.
Register an interest in taking part in Global Wastewater Day here.
Visit the Global Wastewater Day website here
For more information, please contact: wastewater@bangor.ac.uk
