1. Health Effects of Contaminated Drinking Water
Acute health effects.

2. Overview Two types of health effects from contaminated drinking water
Acute
Chronic
Acute effects occur within hours or days of exposure to contaminated drinking water
Good Water. Good Health. Good Choices.

3. Overview Contaminants causing acute effects:
Bacteria (E. Coli, Shigella)
Viruses (Norwalk virus, rotaviruses)
Parasites, protozoa, cysts (Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium)
Nitrate
Vulnerable populations are more at risk
Illnesses caused by pathogens most often have gastrointestinal symptoms
Nitrate can also cause acute illness. High levels of nitrate can interfere with oxygen delivery in a baby’s blood, which can be fatal. This illness is commonly called methemoglobinemia, or blue baby syndrome.
Vulnerable populations are more likely to suffer ill effects from contaminated water, or to suffer ill effects before the general population. Vulnerable populations include infants/children, pregnant women, the elderly, and individuals with other medical conditions such as compromised immune systems.
Acute illnesses cause gastrointestinal illness such as:
Abdominal discomfort or cramping
Fever
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Weight loss
Fatigue
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4. Did You Know? How does drinking water contamination occur?
Interruption of public water supplies
Chlorination failure in public water supplies
Private wells are susceptible to contamination by flood, failed septic systems, livestock wastes
Drinking water contamination can occur in many ways. Any interruption of public water supplies, such as those caused by power failure, pipe breaks, floods or other disasters, or backflows, may allow contamination to enter a system. Chlorination, which is the most common method of disinfecting water supplies, may fail for some reason.
Private wells may become contaminated in a flood, by a failed septic system, or by contamination from livestock wastes. Drinking water disease outbreaks are associated primarily with private wells, and the number of outbreaks has increased according to the most recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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5. Did You Know?
The symptoms of waterborne diseases are often similar to those of food poisoning
Waterborne diseases occur mainly as a result of consuming contaminated drinking water
Many cases of waterborne disease go unidentified and unreported because symptoms are often similar to those associated with other illness, such as food poisoning.
Illnesses caused by waterborne disease can also occur as a result of accidental consumption of water such as contaminated swimming pool or lake water.
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6. Did You Know? Case Study: City of Milwaukee
1993: The largest waterborne disease outbreak in the industrialized world
Cryptosporidium entered Milwaukee’s water supply
403,000 people sickened
4,400 people hospitalized
More than 100 deaths
It’s the stomach flu. Or is it? Some experts estimate that somewhere between 10 and 33% of gastrointestinal illnesses that people think are flu may be caused by contaminated water. Most cases of acute waterborne illness involve single individuals or small groups. However, the potential for widespread illness exists.
In 1993 Milwaukee, Wisconsin experienced the largest waterborne disease outbreak in the industrialized world. Cryptosporidium got into the city’s water system, causing severe diarrhea. The official toll included 403,000 people sickened, 4,400 people hospitalized, and more than 100 deaths. Many of the deaths occurred within vulnerable populations, including cancer and AIDS patients.
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7. What You Can Do
Private well owners should have their water tested annually.
Municipal water users can learn more about how their drinking water source is protected from contamination, and how water is treated and monitored by their water utility.
Generally, well owners are advised to have their water tested by a state certified laboratory once per year, or more often if they are concerned about the odor or taste of their water, or if water users are experiencing unexplained illnesses. The recommended tests for wells in Nebraska generally include tests for nitrates and bacteria.
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8. Contacts
Insert local contact information
The Groundwater Foundation
P.O. Box 22558
Lincoln, NE
Insert your local contact information.
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