Microbial Contaminants
Microbial contaminants are known drinking water threats that have immediate and potentially deadly impacts on human health and wellbeing. These contaminants cause waterborne diseases and are responsible for many different types of illnesses—including respiratory illnesses, neurological illnesses, skin problems, gastrointestinal illnesses, and bloodstream infections. According to the CDC, about 7.2 million Americans get sick every year from diseases spread through water. In 2014, the U.S. estimates that 17 waterborne pathogens caused 7.15 million illnesses, 601,000 emergency department visits, 118,000 hospitalizations, and 6,300 deaths.
Microbial Contaminant Resources
Our country has achieved broad successes in the delivery of safe, clean water in support of public health. Here are some resources from trusted organizations that can be used to support science-based decision making regarding safe, reliable drinking water for all.
The Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA) is the professional Association serving state drinking water programs.
The Water Research Foundation is the world’s leading water research and innovation organization.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the national public health agency of the United States.
Water & Health Advisory Council Statement on Microbial Contaminants
Microbial contaminants are known drinking water threats that have immediate and potentially deadly impacts on human health and wellbeing. These contaminants cause waterborne diseases and are responsible for many different types of illnesses—including respiratory illnesses, neurological illnesses, skin problems, gastrointestinal illnesses, and bloodstream infections. According to the CDC, about 7.2 million Americans get sick every year from diseases spread through water. In 2014, the U.S. estimates that 17 waterborne pathogens caused 7.15 million illnesses, 601,000 emergency department visits, 118,000 hospitalizations, and 6,300 deaths.
While our nation has made tremendous strides in preventing microbial contamination in drinking water, there are still water systems and communities that are at risk of contamination due to aging water infrastructure and lack of protection against microbial contaminants. Rural communities and communities with small water systems may be more at risk of having contaminated water. By prioritizing known threats that are currently impacting public health, such as failing and aging water infrastructure and protections against microbial contaminants, we can make strides to prioritize public health equitably for all.
Exposure to microbial contaminants in drinking water can quickly lead to sickness, and in some cases, even death. Negative impacts from most non-microbial contaminants, however, are only felt and seen through long-term exposure. It is vital that our lawmakers continue to allocate resources where they are most needed to protect public health. This means updating and maintaining aging water infrastructure that may be subjecting people to microbial contaminants. Our nation has made great strides in providing safe drinking water. We must continue to evaluate the current challenges facing safe water supply in our nation and work to prioritize drinking water needs equitably across all public water systems.
Sincerely,
Water & Health Advisory Council
Rob Renner, Council Chair, Former Chief Executive Officer at Water Research Foundation
Chad Seidel, Ph.D., President, Corona Environmental Consulting
Joseph Cotruvo, Ph.D., BCES President, Joseph Cotruvo & Associates
Joyce Dinglasan-Panlilio, Ph.D., Division Chair/Associate Professor in Environmental Chemistry at University of Washington-Tacoma
Kathryn Sorensen, Director of Research at the Kyl Center for Water Policy, Arizona State University
Manny Teodoro, Associate Professor of Public Affairs at University of Wisconsin-Madison
Janet Anderson, Principal Toxicologist at GSI Environmental Inc.