Joint Task Force | Wastewater Surveillance for Public Health (ZOOM MEETING)
Name:
Joint Task Force | Wastewater Surveillance for Public Health (ZOOM MEETING)
Date:
January 20, 2026
Time:
8:30 AM - 10:00 AM PST
Registration:
Register Now
Event Description:
The East Bay Leadership Council’s Health Task Force and Water, Energy, & Environment Task Force are convening a special joint meeting focused on wastewater surveillance and its role in supporting public health.
This conversation will explore how wastewater data is being used as an early detection and monitoring tool, informing public health responses and complementing traditional surveillance methods. The discussion will also highlight the growing intersection of public health, environmental systems, and infrastructure, and how these efforts are being coordinated at the state level to improve preparedness, resilience, and decision-making.
OUR SPEAKER
Stephanie Bertsch-Merbach is the Program Manager for the California Surveillance of Wastewaters (Cal-SuWers) Program at the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). She joined CDPH in November 2021 as the Program Manager for the Epidemiology, Surveillance and Modeling Section as part of the COVID-19 Response. In her role now with Cal-SuWers, she is responsible for overseeing operational activities, grants, budgets, communication and project management for the team to help ensure the continuation of coverage of wastewater surveillance throughout the state. Stephanie received her master’s degree from the University of Denver where she focused on international studies and global health affairs.
This conversation will explore how wastewater data is being used as an early detection and monitoring tool, informing public health responses and complementing traditional surveillance methods. The discussion will also highlight the growing intersection of public health, environmental systems, and infrastructure, and how these efforts are being coordinated at the state level to improve preparedness, resilience, and decision-making.
OUR SPEAKER
Stephanie Bertsch-Merbach is the Program Manager for the California Surveillance of Wastewaters (Cal-SuWers) Program at the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). She joined CDPH in November 2021 as the Program Manager for the Epidemiology, Surveillance and Modeling Section as part of the COVID-19 Response. In her role now with Cal-SuWers, she is responsible for overseeing operational activities, grants, budgets, communication and project management for the team to help ensure the continuation of coverage of wastewater surveillance throughout the state. Stephanie received her master’s degree from the University of Denver where she focused on international studies and global health affairs.
