Beneath city streets, a stream of data flows, revealing the health, habits, and challenges of entire communities. Scientists from around the world will gather at the to tap into that hidden current at the Testing the Waters 8 conference, from June 1–4, 2025. This will be the first time the U.S. will host the international conference, welcoming global experts in wastewater testing—a growing field that turns sewage into public health data.
Wastewater testing gained notoriety during the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to track the virus spread. This is just one way wastewater-based epidemiology can be useful. Beyond infectious diseases, this work offers a unique, anonymous, and non-invasive window into community health, providing insights into everything from drug consumption trends to exposure to environmental chemicals. Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Dan Burgard is the organizer, bringing leading minds from diverse fields and over half a dozen countries to Tacoma.
“For me, I am particularly interested in whether new policies lead to changes in community behavior,” Burgard said. “Wastewater analysis can get to that, sometimes a little faster, usually cheaper, and less invasive than compared to surveys or other methods.”
Burgard is referring to wastewater-based epidemiology's potential as a proactive public health tool, offering data that can inform interventions and policy evaluations in near real-time.
One area of focus for the conference will be to bridge the gap between chemical and biological analyses of wastewater. Traditionally, public health, environmental science, and healthcare policy have been treated as separate fields. Burgard says the conference aims to break down these barriers by promoting a more integrated approach. By bringing these different groups together, the conference will show how combining their knowledge paints a fuller picture of public health. Through keynote speeches, panel discussions, and workshops, participants will explore how to address complex health challenges to improve the health of communities.
Hosting an event such as this underscores Puget Sound’s growing reputation in scientific research and its dedication to tackling global issues. It also gives students a chance to connect with leading experts in the field.
“Just two years ago, the conference was held at Oxford University, and now it’s at the ,” Burgard said. “This not only highlights the importance of the students' work here as undergraduates but also the significance of hosting an international conference in this setting.”
To learn more about the conference, visit .
