by Lynn Blevins, Vermont Department of Health
This article was published in the winter 2025-26 issue of our newsletter.
Vermonters can now check levels and trends of common respiratory viruses detected in wastewater on a new dashboard. The viruses currently include Influenza A, the most common flu virus, and SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
Wastewater treatment facilities currently participating in the surveillance program are: Burlington– Main, Essex Junction, Middlebury, Montpelier, Ludlow, and South Burlington–Airport Parkway.
SARS-CoV-2 data will be added soon for Brattleboro, Milton, St. Albans, St. Johnsbury, and Springfield.
An example of the new dashboard for SARS-CoV-2 at the South Burlington Airport Parkway wastewater treatment facility. View the dashboard here.
The dashboard shows virus levels (very low, low, moderate, high, very high) for a sewershed of interest or all sites combined. Trends over the last 28 days (decrease, stable, increase) are available for each sewershed. A graph shows levels over time while a map displays the sewershed selected.
The dashboard is intended for a general audience, with additional statistics and explanations available for those interested in understanding how the data are calculated.
Wastewater surveillance can identify the presence and estimate the amount of a pathogen in a population (sewershed) without relying on clinical data, such as from hospitals and laboratories. It compliments other types of public health data, often providing signals sooner than other surveillance systems.
Data from a wastewater treatment facility represent people who live, work, play, or travel within a sewershed. People using septic systems or disposable diapers, or who are connected to treatment facilities not participating in wastewater surveillance may not be represented. Wastewater levels and trends can be influenced by external factors, such as heavy rain which can cause pathogens (e.g., from animals) present in the environment to be detected in influent.
The dashboard can be found on the Vermont Department of Health Respiratory Illness Activity website. Scroll down to “Wastewater Monitoring.”
Take steps to protect you and your family from getting sick this cold and flu season. Learn more at HealthVermont.gov/StayHealthy
For more information on the wastewater dashboard, contact lynn.blevins@vermont.gov.