Digital Surveillance for Mitigating Waterborne Disease Risks Following Extreme Climate Events in Low Resource Settings

Climate change has altered global hydrological cycles, resulting in increased frequency of extreme weather events such as catastrophic flooding, prolonged droughts, excessive heat and storm surges. In low resource settings, these events are the primary drivers for the resurgence of waterborne pathogens, which contaminate and compromise fragile water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure. While the emergence of digital surveillance technologies, ranging from Internet of Things (IoT), water quality sensors to machine-learning outbreak predictors, offer the promise of early detection, significant gaps remain in translating high-frequency digital data into effective public health action. This research project aims to synthesize global evidence regarding the efficacy of these digital systems in mitigating, rather than just documenting waterborne disease risks within resource-constrained environments. Relying on a multidisciplinary approach of public health microbiology and health systems management, this study investigates the technical precision of digital tools alongside the sociopolitical and economic barriers to their sustainable implementation. The primary objective is to evaluate how digital frameworks can reduce the “time-to-response” during climate-induced emergencies, and by extension, reducing morbidity and mortality rates in vulnerable populations. The expected outcomes of this work include the development of a robust evidence map that categorizes digital interventions by pathogen type and climate driver. Also, the project will culminate in a new "Surveillance-to-Action" conceptual framework designed for key stakeholders in the health sector in low resource settings. This framework will provide evidence-based guidelines for selecting cost-effective, scalable technologies that are resilient to local infrastructure challenges. Finally, this research aims to inform policy shifts toward proactive, climate-intelligent water management, ensuring that digital innovation leads to tangible health equity and improved epidemic preparedness.