Human Health and Disease · Journal article

European experience in the development of national wastewater-based epidemiology systems. Part 1: Essence, evolution, and key features (analytical review)

Hygiene and Sanitation · August 14, 2026

Expert Guidance Why this matters to you Expert discussion

A consensus or society position rather than new primary data.

AI Summary

This analytical review examines the structure, evolution, and operation of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) systems across four European countries and the European Union, synthesizing policy documents and scientific literature. The authors conclude that European WBE systems contribute significantly to biological risk monitoring and early detection of infectious disease circulation at the population level, and recommend implementation of similar integrated systems in Russia.

What was studied

Analytical review with content analysis, systematization, retrospective analysis, systems approach, comparative analysis, and generalization of policy and scientific documents. National wastewater-based epidemiology systems and supporting policy and scientific literature from four European countries (Germany, France, Italy, Ireland) and the European Union. Intervention: Examination of national WBE system structure, evolution, and operational features; focus on modern information, telecommunications technologies, and artificial intelligence implementation. Germany, France, Italy, Ireland, and the European Union.

Key findings

European WBE systems enable early detection of new and re-emerging infections at the population level to prevent outbreaks and epidemics France's OBÉPINE project is examined as a model WBE system implementation National WBE projects in Germany (AMELAG), Italy (SARI), and Ireland (NWSP) are reviewed and compared

Safety

Safety was not reported in the material analysed. Check the source before drawing any conclusion about harm.

Who this may help

Public health surveillance professionals and policymakers may use this synthesis to inform national WBE system design and integration with broader biological risk monitoring frameworks. The review provides comparative operational experience but does not report clinical or epidemiological outcome data.

Plain-language summary

An analytical review synthesizing policy and operational experience from European wastewater-based epidemiology systems, intended to inform national public health surveillance strategy rather than test a clinical hypothesis.

Study design

As stated by the source record.

MethodsA structured search of scientific and policy documents from Germany, France, Italy, Ireland, and the EU was conducted in eLibrary, CyberLeninka, Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochran Library, and national government and parliamentary databases. Sources were selected on criteria of thematic relevance, semantic significance, and regulatory relevance. The analysis employed content analysis, material systematization, retrospective analysis of methodological evolution, systems approach to monitoring networks, and comparative analysis of systems.

DesignAnalytical review with content analysis, systematization, retrospective analysis, systems approach, comparative analysis, and generalization of policy and scientific documents

PopulationNational wastewater-based epidemiology systems and supporting policy and scientific literature from four European countries (Germany, France, Italy, Ireland) and the European Union

InterventionExamination of national WBE system structure, evolution, and operational features; focus on modern information, telecommunications technologies, and artificial intelligence implementation

SettingGermany, France, Italy, Ireland, and the European Union

Clinical bottom line

Caveats

No quantitative efficacy data, sensitivity, specificity, or clinical outcomes reported
Review limited to European experience; generalizability to other regions not addressed
Part 2 of the review (covering specific national systems) is not included in this source text
No data on cost, implementation timelines, or comparative system performance metrics provided

Evidence assessment

Graded across the dimensions that decide whether you should act, each from what the source actually supports. There is no single score, and where a dimension was not assessed it says so.

Study design

moderate

Structured analytical review with defined search criteria and systematic material collection across multiple databases.

Directness

moderate

Examines national WBE systems and their operation but does not test efficacy of surveillance outcomes directly.

Consistency

moderate

Comparative analysis across four European countries (Germany, France, Italy, Ireland) allows consistency assessment.

Risk of bias

moderate

Document review and content analysis; potential for selection bias in source materials; no conflict of interest declared.

Sample adequacy

moderate

Four countries and EU sources reviewed; scope limited to Europe; representativeness to other regions unclear.

What is missing. This record has no reported figures. That is a gap in the analysis, not a judgement about the study.

Source abstract

Monitoring viral circulation is an important part of the public health framework in developed countries, which in recent years have been actively implementing modern, innovative approaches and methods for monitoring biological risks. Systems developed in European countries based on wastewater-based epidemiology methodology ensure the early detection of new and re-emerging infections at the population level, helping to prevent the threat of infectious disease outbreaks and epidemics, and to contain and reduce biological risks to public health down to acceptable levels. The purpose of this study is to provide an in-depth analysis of the experience and tools used by European countries (Germany, France, Italy, and Ireland) in the development and operation of their national wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) systems. The study materials included scientific report and policy documents from Germany, France, Italy, Ireland, and the European Union on wastewater epidemiology. Sources were selected based on criteria of thematic relevance, semantic and functional significance, and relevance of scientific reports and regulatory documents. A search for literary sources and documents was conducted in the following databases: eLibrary and CyberLeninka in Russian; Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and the Cochran Library in English, German, and French; and national government and parliamentary databases of the aforementioned countries. The main research methods include content analysis, material systematization, retrospective analysis (evolution of the method), a systems approach (to studying monitoring networks), comparative analysis (of electronic health systems), and generalization (of experience).Part 1 of the analytical review presents the evolution of the global application of the WBE principle. The essence and content of the WBE mechanism are revealed, and its key processes are highlighted. The primary focus in Europe is on the creation of national and joint WBE systems, united within the European Union, with a focus on the implementation of modern information and telecommunications technologies and artificial intelligence. The experience of France (the OBÉPINE project) is examined. Part 2 examines WBE systems operating in Europe, created under national projects: AMELAG (Germany), SARI (Italy), and NWSP (Ireland). A comparative analysis of the systems allowed identifying their common features, characteristics, and development directions of interest to relevant specialists in the Russian Federation.Conclusion. European WBE systems, built on modern technologies, make a significant contribution to the functioning of national biological risk monitoring systems, enabling prognostic assessment of the status of cohorts and the population as a whole, identifying not only specific pathogens or hazardous substances but also determining the population’s health status. The WBE mechanism is being actively implemented in radiation, chemical, and biological risk monitoring systems in European countries. Today, the creation of a similar modern WBE mechanism in Russia, integrated into the radiation, chemical, and biological risk monitoring system, is highly desirable and necessary.Contributions: Melnikov O.A. – concept and design of the study, search, collection, analysis, evaluation, systematization, generalization and interpretation of data, preparation of illustrative material and draft of the manuscript; Zhernov Yu.V. – collection, systematization, generalization and interpretation of data, editing; Bolekhan V.N. – scientific and methodological support, editing; Kraevoy S.A. – organizational and methodological support, editing; Yudin S.M. – concept, approval of the final version. All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.Funding. The study had no sponsorship.Received: April 16, 2026 / Accepted: July 1, 2026 / Published: August 14, 2026

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Oleg A. MelnikovS. A. KraevoyYury V. ZhernovS. M. YudinHuman Health and DiseaseBolekhan Vn