SEWER Act

This bill supports using wastewater (like sewage) to track the spread of diseases. It tells the CDC to grow and strengthen the National Wastewater Surveillance System so it can better spot viruses in communities—such as COVID-19, flu, mpox, dengue, West Nile, and RSV—and help health officials respond faster to outbreaks . It also makes clear that wastewater utilities don’t have to take part if they don’t want to.

The bill sets aside $150 million each year from 2026 through 2030 to fund this work, including grants and agreements with states and local partners to set up or improve testing and data sharing. The goal is to catch problems early so communities can act before illnesses spread widely .

• Who is affected: CDC, state and local health departments, and wastewater utilities (participation is voluntary).
• What changes: Expanded wastewater testing to monitor several viruses and share data for faster public health response .
• When: Funding authorized for fiscal years 2026–2030 ($150 million per year).