This bill provides statutory authority for the CDC National Wastewater Surveillance System that monitors disease outbreaks by testing sewage. It requires expansion to track COVID-19, influenza, mpox, dengue, West Nile virus, and RSV.
Latest Action
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
AI Summary
Plain-English explanation of this bill
This bill provides statutory authority for the CDC National Wastewater Surveillance System that monitors disease outbreaks by testing sewage. It requires expansion to track COVID-19, influenza, mpox, dengue, West Nile virus, and RSV.
Last updated: 1/5/2026
Official Summary
Congressional Research Service summary
<p><strong>Surveilling Effluent Water for Epidemic Response Act or the SEWER Act</strong></p><p>This bill provides statutory authority for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS) program, which detects and monitors pathogens in wastewater. It requires the CDC to expand and intensify the activities of the NWSS, including with respect to SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), influenza, mpox, dengue, West Nile virus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). </p><p>The NWSS provides funding and guidance to public health departments for wastewater surveillance activities. Under the NWSS, health departments and other partners coordinate on wastewater surveillance at sampling sites and share data with the CDC. The NWSS was initially implemented to monitor SARS-CoV-2 and has since expanded to include influenza A, avian influenza A, mpox, and RSV. </p>
Key Points
Main provisions of the bill
Authorizes CDC wastewater disease surveillance program
Monitors SARS-CoV-2, flu, mpox, dengue, RSV
Detects outbreaks through sewage testing
Expands existing NWSS program activities
Provides early warning for disease spread
How This Impacts Americans
Potential effects on citizens and communities
Public health officials would have expanded ability to detect disease outbreaks by monitoring wastewater, which can identify community spread before people seek medical care. The system proved valuable during COVID-19 for tracking variants.
Policy Areas
Primary Policy Area
Health
Related Subjects
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Health programs administration and funding
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Water quality
Scope & Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction Level
federal
Congressional Session
119th Congress
Citation Reference
766, 119th Congress (2025). "SEWER Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-766
