Knowledge to Action Series Health Data Governance and Ethics

Publication Summary

This feature in the Knowledge to Action series—jointly led by the National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCCID) and the Canadian Water Network (CWN)—explores the ethical foundations and governance considerations of wastewater-based surveillance (WBS) in public health. As WBS data becomes more integrated into disease monitoring and decision-making, questions around data ownership, privacy, consent, and Indigenous data sovereignty have come to the forefront. This resource provides guidance on responsible data use, outlines emerging governance models, and highlights community-led approaches that build trust, accountability, and equity in health surveillance systems.