Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

waterborne illnesses 363
industrial chemicals may also contaminate water
supplies, causing poisoning. People may acquire
waterborne infections through drinking water
supplies or by swallowing water during recreational
activities in lakes, rivers, pools, hot tubs,
and similar sources.
Drinking water supplies in the United States
must meet established DRINKING WATER STANDARDS
for purity, which state and local health departments
monitor through regular and spontaneous
testing. Water that does not come from a community
water supply or properly maintained and disinfected
private well should be boiled for one
minute, then cooled, before drinking or using to
prepare food.
Environmental water sources such as lakes and
rivers contain numerous BACTERIA and parasites
that can cause illness with contact or consumption.
Contamination is higher after steady or
heavy rain, as runoff water that drains into
streams, rivers, and lakes is likely to contain animal
excrement as well as soil-based microbes.
Recreational activities such as boating, swimming,
water-skiing, and fishing hold increased risk for
exposure to such pathogens. It is important to
avoid swallowing environmental water and to
shower to rinse the SKIN after being in the water.
People who hike and camp in back-country areas
should use appropriate decontamination or filtration
methods to draw drinking water from natural
sources. A rapidly moving stream or river does not
necessarily contain fewer microbes, and the clearness
of water’s appearance does not mean it is safe
to drink.
COMMON WATERBORNE ILLNESSES
CRYPTOSPORIDIOSIS
Escherichia coli INFECTION
GIARDIASIS
HEPATITIS A
AMEBIASIS
CYCLOSPORIASIS
CAMPYLOBACTERIOSIS
SALMONELLOSIS
SHIGELLOSIS
viral GASTROENTERITIS
See also COMMUNITY
SANITATION; ENVIRONMENTAL
HAZARD EXPOSURE; FOODBORNE ILLNESSES; FOOD SAFETY;
HEAVY-METAL POISONING; HEPATITIS PREVENTION; PARA-
SITE; POISON PREVENTION.