Respiratory viruses: Wastewater monitoring dashboard: About the dashboard
This dashboard provides data about respiratory virus levels, including SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), influenza (flu) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in wastewater (sewage) in Canada.
- Last updated: 2024-07-05
We’re working with partners as part of a pan-Canadian wastewater monitoring network to track the spread of COVID-19, flu and RSV. Our partners include municipal, provincial and territorial governments, as well as other federal departments and academia.
The wastewater dashboard allows you to track and compare COVID-19, flu and RSV levels over time in some communities in Canada.
It also provides a weekly breakdown of COVID-19 variants circulating across Canada. Over time, as the virus grows and spreads, it gains small changes in its genetic material. These changes are mutations that produce new variants of COVID-19.
The data comes from wastewater samples submitted for testing to the National Microbiology Laboratory or participating partner laboratories. Trend data are presented as 7-day rolling averages for COVID-19, flu and RSV and are based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. Genomic data summarize the COVID-19 variants detected over a recent 10-week period.
Some communities monitor their own wastewater and publish their own data.
For more information, please refer to
Why we monitor wastewater
The respiratory viruses that cause COVID-19, flu and RSV are shed in wastewater. Even if a person doesn’t have symptoms, they can still shed viruses in their feces, urine or while brushing their teeth. The viruses can then be detected by testing the community’s wastewater. Wastewater monitoring only detects the viruses in a community or institution. It can’t identify single cases or households.
By monitoring wastewater we can:
- monitor respiratory viruses in communities
- detect the presence of respiratory viruses in institutional settings
- track which variants of COVID-19 and types of flu and RSV are circulating
- monitor other public health threats, including other infectious diseases and emerging trends in antimicrobial resistance
Wastewater monitoring can provide an early warning of respiratory viruses in a community or high-risk setting. This supports an early public health response, which may include reminding the public about personal protective measures.
For more information, please refer to:
Wastewater monitoring partners
We thank participating municipalities for submitting wastewater samples and associated data. We also thank federal, provincial and territorial public health professionals for valued input on the development of this program, as well as the many scientists supporting wastewater monitoring networks nationally.
Canadian Wastewater Survey (CWS)
The Public Health Agency of Canada has been partnering with Statistics Canada on the Canadian Wastewater Survey (CWS) since March 2020 to conduct wastewater monitoring in Halifax, Montréal, Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver.
For more information on the CWS please refer to:
Manitoba
We work with the cities of Brandon and Winnipeg and the province of Manitoba to conduct wastewater monitoring in 4 wastewater treatment plants.
New Brunswick
VitalitéNB provides wastewater monitoring data from:
- Bathurst
- Campbellton
- Edmundston
- Fredericton
- Lancaster
- Miramichi
- Moncton
- Sackville
- Saint John
- St. Stephen
Newfoundland and Labrador
We work with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to conduct wastewater monitoring in St. John’s wastewater treatment plant.
Nova Scotia
We work with the province as well as the following towns and communities to conduct monitoring in 6 wastewater treatment plants:
- Battery Point
- Bridgewater
- Central Colchester
- Dominion-Bridgeport
- Trenton
- Yarmouth
On June 14, 2024, University of Prince Edward Island took over wastewater monitoring at all Nova Scotia sites.
Prince Edward Island
We work with the province of Prince Edward Island and the following cities, towns and communities to monitor 4 wastewater treatment plants and a wastewater treatment lagoon:
- Alberton
- Charlottetown and Stratford
- Montague
- Souris
- Summerside
On June 14, 2024, University of Prince Edward Island took over wastewater monitoring at all Prince Edward Island sites.
Saskatchewan
We work with the following partners to conduct wastewater monitoring at Regina’s wastewater treatment plant:
- City of Regina
- Saskatchewan Health Authority
- EPCOR Water Prairies to conduct COVID-19
On June 1, 2023, Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) took over wastewater monitoring from the University of Saskatchewan at 3 wastewater treatment plants (Saskatoon, Prince Albert, and North Battleford). SHA also works with various cities, towns, villages and communities to conduct wastewater monitoring across the province:
- Assiniboia
- Battleford
- Birch Hills
- Canora
- Estevan
- Île-à-la-Crosse
- La Ronge
- Lumsden
- North Battleford
- Maple Creek
- Meadow Lake
- Melville
- Moose Jaw
- Pasqua
- Prince Albert
- Southey
- Swift Current
- Unity
- Watrous
- Weyburn
- Yorkton
Yukon
To conduct wastewater monitoring at a lift station in the village of Haines Junction, we work with:
- Government of Champagne and Aishihik First Nations
- One Yukon Coalition
- Village of Haines Junction
- Date modified: