This dataset supports the Biomarker: Measles page on the Tempe Wastewater BioIntel Program site.
People infected with measles can shed the virus, or pieces of its genetic material. These materials enter the wastewater system through normal bodily waste. Wastewater is collected from sample sites throughout Tempe that represent collection areas. Each collection area represents a population greater than 3,000 people.
Wastewater collection areas are geographic regions that include the properties whose wastewater (sewage) flows past a shared sampling point on its way to a wastewater treatment plant. Each sample represents a mixture of wastewater from everyone connected to that part of the sewer system. Because the sample is a mixture of sewage that represents a population of at least 3,000 people, it is impossible to determine who or how many people may have contributed to a positive detection.
At each sampling site, wastewater is collected continuously over a 24-hour period to create a sample that reflects waste from the full day. The sample is then transported to a laboratory, where scientists prepare and analyze it to determine whether the measles genetic material can be detected.
For more information about how wastewater testing works, please visit the Tempe Wastewater BioIntel Program’s “How We Do It” webpage.
About the data:
- Each collection area includes at least one sampling location, which collects wastewater from across the collection area. It cannot identify the specific location where the virus originated.
- While wastewater data can follow trends in reported infections, it cannot determine who or how many people may be sick.
- A non-detect in wastewater does not necessarily mean measles is not present in the community. Wastewater data may not capture every possible source of exposure in the community as not everyone contributes to the City’s wastewater system. For example, visitors passing through the community may not use restroom facilities while they are here, and residents who rely on septic systems are not connected to the municipal sewer system. Additionally, detections can be influenced by several factors, including the sensitivity of the laboratory test, how much virus infected people are shedding, the number of infected individuals contributing to the system, and normal variability in wastewater conditions. For these reasons, wastewater monitoring is one tool among many and is interpreted alongside other community health data.
- The role of wastewater data in shaping future community health decisions continues to evolve. This data should not be interpreted in isolation. Wastewater results are most meaningful when considered alongside other health information, such as clinical case data and community health indicators. We share this information with transparency and care. While the data reflects scientific laboratory findings, the practical interpretation of these laboratory findings is still being studied. By making this information publicly available, we aim to support awareness, research, and informed community dialogue.
- Data are shared as the testing results become available.
- Samples are collected 2 days per week.
- For Collection Area 1, Tempe's wastewater co-mingles with wastewater from a regional sewage line. Tempe's sewage makes up most of Collection Area 1 samples.
- For Collection Area 3, Tempe's wastewater co-mingles with wastewater from a regional sewage line. For analysis and reporting, Tempe’s wastewater is separated from regional sewage.
- Week start date represents the starting date of the testing week, which starts on Mondays and ends on Sundays.
Data Dictionary
Additional Information
Source: The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), part of City of Hope, is an Arizona-based, nonprofit medical research institute.
Contact: Zoe Aiello
Contact email: Zoe_Aiello@tempe.gov
Preparation Method: Test results are provided by TGen.
Publish Frequency: Weekly or as data becomes available
Publish Method: Manual
