Establishing a wastewater environmental surveillance network for enteropathogens in low-and middle-income countries – experience from Pakistan

Background: Wastewater surveillance has emerged as a powerful public health tool for the early detection of pathogens and the monitoring of community-level disease trends. This study aimed to establish and validate the utility of an ES system in Karachi, Pakistan, for tracking diverse pathogens to inform targeted public health actions. This manuscript describes the methodology, process, and challenges encountered during the establishment of an environmental surveillance network in Karachi.
Methods: A wastewater environmental surveillance (WES) study was implemented in 3 towns in Karachi (Gadap, Lyari and Gulshan-e-Iqbal). Teams manually traced drainage pathways, flow direction, and georeferenced data. Sites were selected based on population catchment, absence of industrial effluent, and logistical feasibility. From 2021-2023, wastewater samples were collected using Bag Mediated Filtration System (BMFS). Thirty two  sites were validated through sensitivity analyses comparing wastewa..., , # Establishing a wastewater environmental surveillance network for enteropathogens in low-and middle-income countries – experience from Pakistan

## Data File Descriptions

### Tac_data_20251001.xlsx

This dataset contains TaqMan Array Card (TAC) results from sewage water samples collected across three towns in Karachi. Samples were collected from multiple surveillance sites as part of environmental monitoring activities.

The data file includes four sheets: Codebook -- Contains variable names, labels, and coding information used across all data sheets. Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 (Each round represents a separate sampling phase, as also described in the published manuscript. To facilitate ease of use and clarity, TAC results for each round are maintained on separate sheets.)

Key Variables (Round Sheets) keps_site: KEPS site ID town: Selected towns for sewage surveillance uc: Union Council within the selected town date_sample: Date of sample collection keps_id: Unique sample identifier LAB...,