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. 2022 Dec 29;130(12):125002. doi: 10.1289/EHP11519

Figure 1.

Figure 1 is a flowchart with three steps that are interconnected with each other. Step 1: Academics: pioneering methods and interpretation, including the advanced detection, quantification, and identification of infection agents in wastewater, with knowledge transfer and training leading to step 2. There is an icon of a syringe and a test tube. Step 2: Wastewater and Laboratory Services: Sustaining programs, including operationalizing programs to provide regular, timely results, with sample sharing leading back to step 1. Step 2 leads to step 3. There is an icon of a water pipe and a test tube. Step 3: Public Health Authorities: Implementing public health responses, including utilizing wastewater data to make decisions and implement public health responses, with researcher-informed data interpretation leading from step 1 and public health needs informing research leading back to step 1. There is an icon of three human stick figures.

Framework for building robust and adaptive wastewater surveillance programs. In addition to undertaking basic research that underpins the basis of wastewater surveillance, researchers have a critical role to play in continuous methods development, technology transfer, research that informs data context and interpretation, and training the next generation of professionals.