About Us

Wastewater Action Alliance is a 501(c)(4) organization dedicated to modernizing America’s approach to detecting infectious diseases by strengthening and sustaining wastewater monitoring across our country.

Building on Wastewater Science and Success

Wastewater Action Alliance’s advocacy efforts are built upon the work of WastewaterSCAN, which has been advancing wastewater science and monitoring since COVID-19 emerged.

WastewaterSCAN now monitors more than a dozen infectious diseases across 40 states, serving more than 39 million people, quickly identifying emerging health threats, and showing how wastewater monitoring is a nimble and effective early warning tool to help communities detect infectious diseases and protect families.

Diagram of the drop in funding for wastewater monitoring. The title reads: $200 million is urgently needed in FY 2026 to continue CDC's critical wastewater monitoring system in all 50 states and strengthen the ability of states and communities to quickly detect and respond to new and emerging health threats. The diagram displays $0 in funding in 2020, then $500 million between 2021 to 2025, then $0 again in 2026. This funding is captioned as 'Funding for health departments in all 50 states, 7 local jurisdictions, 7 territories, tribal communities, and 6 Centers of Excellence in Houston, TX, California, Colorado, New York, North Carolina, and Wisconsin.'

What We Are Fighting For

Despite strong bipartisan support in Congress, federal funding for wastewater monitoring expires at the end of Fiscal Year 2025. If we don't act now, Americans will lose access to a critical early warning system and will be less informed and prepared to respond to emerging health threats. Congress must prevent elimination of this vital tool by providing $200 million for wastewater monitoring in Fiscal Year 2026.

Strengthen wastewater monitoring testing

Wastewater monitoring should have the capacity to test for more diseases and the flexibility to pivot quickly to detect new threats

Expand wastewater monitoring

Wastewater monitoring should reach across the U.S. to help our communities and country detect health threats

Our Advocacy

Our Team

Who We Are

Kate Hull

Executive Director

Kate Hull serves as Executive Director of Wastewater Action Alliance. Since 2003, Kate has managed the health care portfolio at Fierce Government Relations, after spending eleven years in the U.S. Senate. On Capitol Hill, Kate served as Staff Director for the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Subcommittee on Aging. She also served on the legislative staff of Senators Tim Hutchinson (R-AR) and Bill Cohen (R-ME). Kate has extensive health care experience, both on and off of Capitol Hill.

Carolyn Gluck

Policy Advisor

Carolyn Gluck serves as a Policy Advisor to Wastewater Action Alliance and is a Partner in FGS Global’s Government Affairs Division, where she provides strategic political and legislative counsel on a broad range of issues to the firm’s Health practice. Prior to joining FGS Global, Carolyn spent 18 years on Capitol Hill advising Democratic Leader Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) on health care and appropriations.