European experience in the development of national wastewater-based epidemiology systems. Part 2: Analysis of key practices (analytical review)

Monitoring of 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 (WBE) 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 contain and reduce biological risks to public health down to acceptable levels.

The study materials included scientific reports 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 articles 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 methods used included content analysis, data systematization, retrospective analysis, systems approach, comparative analysis, and synthesis.

Part 2 examines WBE systems operating in Europe under national projects: AMELAG (Germany), NWSP (Ireland), and SARI (Italy). The German AMELAG project is characterized by the use of sewer networks and treatment plants differing in capacity, architecture, and population density, as well as advanced automation and digitalization of sampling, data transfer, and visualization. The Irish NWSP focuses on catchment areas covering up to 70% of the population and integrates polio surveillance. The Italian SARI project features detailed analytical protocols, a web-based data entry application, and a GIS-based database (SARI 2.0) integrated with the European DEEP platform. A comparative analysis of the systems allowed identifying their common features, characteristic traits, and development directions of interest to relevant specialists in the Russian Federation.

Conclusion. European wastewater-based epidemiology 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 wastewater-based epidemiology mechanism in Russia, integrated into the radiation, chemical, and biological risk monitoring system, is highly desirable and necessary, especially for closed administrative-territorial entities and enterprises served by FMBA of Russia.

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. – managerial 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: October 20, 2026

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