The Water "Community"

The Water "Community" Tina Van Horn Environmental Public Health Specialist Monroe County Health Dept.

Why is water important to the Community? • Water is a finite resource • History has demonstrated that the treatment and protection of water sources benefits the community by improving the health of the residents

History of water treatment • Sanskrit writings demonstrated that heating and filtering of water was advocated as early as 4000 – 2000 B.C. • These efforts improved the aesthetic qualities of taste, odor and appearance

Water treatment in the 1700’s – early 1800’s • Filtration became more sophisticated • Sand was used as a means of filtration beginning in the early 1800’s • Still primarily focusing on the aesthetic qualities

Water Treatment in the late 1800’s • Scientists gained a greater understanding of drinking water contaminants • NOT ALL CONTAMINANTS ARE VISIBLE

Water Treatment in the late 1800’s • In 1855 cholera was proven to be a waterborne disease and was linked to a well in London that had been contaminated by sewage

Water Treatment in the late 1800’s • In 1880 Louis Pasteur demonstrated the “Germ Theory” of disease • Pasteur suggested that water was a likely media for carrying germs

Water Treatment in the 1900’s • Efforts continued to improve filtration • Sand filtration became a more common practice • In 1908 chlorination was was used for the first time to treat water in Jersey City, NJ

Water Treatment in the 1900’s

Water Treatment in the 1900’s • 1914 – First federal regulation of drinking water when the US set public health standards for bacteriological quality • Water quality standards continued to change and be updated through the end of the century

Water Treatment in the 1900’s • Additional sources of pollution and contamination were recognized and supported the need for even more regulation

Water Treatment Today • In the US, Americans consume over 3 ½ billion gallons of treated water daily

Water Treatment Today • 98 % of treated water is chlorine treated Other 2% Chlorine Based 98%

Water Treatment Today • 90% of Americans receive their water from community water systems

Water Treatment Todayin Developing Countries • 1/3 of the world’s population lacks a safe water supply • 2.9 billion people lack adequate sanitation facilities, sewage is discharged to the surface or dumped into rivers

Water Treatment Todayin Developing Countries • 25,000 people die each day from waterborne disease • Water-related diseases kill a child every 8 seconds

Symptoms of Waterborne Diseases • Diarrhea • Fever • Abdominal Cramps These symptoms are common to many other conditions, making diagnosis difficult.

Common Waterborne Diseases • Typhoid • Cholera • Dysentery-Shigella • Diarrhea-Cryptosporidium • Giardiasis • Diarrhea-E. Coli • Gastroenteritis-Viruses Cryptosporidium Giardiasis

Causes of Waterborne Disease • Bacteria • Viruses • Protozoans • Parasitic Worms

Recent Outbreaks in the U.S. • In 1993, more than 400,000 people in Milwaukee, WI became ill from Cryptosporidium

Municipal Sewage Polluted runoff from stormwater in urban areas Pesticides and fertilizers used in agriculture Animal waste from feedlots and farms Industrial pollution Mining waste Hazardous waste sites Petroleums spills and leaks Natural contamination such as arsenic and radon Other sources of Contamination – 21st Century Contaminants

Other uses for Water – Pathways of exposure • Recreation • Agriculture – Irrigation • Hygiene

The Water "Community"