How Safe Is Your Water?

According to the World Health Organization, access to safe water is essential to health and a basic human right. Yet globally, unsafe water causes millions of deaths from diarrhea, malaria, malnutrition, and drowning. The United States has one of the safest water supplies in the world, but national statistics do not tell individuals about the quality and safety of the water coming out of their own taps. In addition, more and more reports are surfacing about contaminants in the U.S. water supply. Healthcare professionals play an important role in preventing waterborne illness and in educating the public about potential health risks related to exposure to microbial and chemical contaminants in drinking water.

Upon completion of the course, you will be able to do the following:

• Describe the scope of global water safety issues.
• Identify types of common water contaminants.
• Identify common water-related diseases and the places they are commonly found.
• List how to prevent recreational water illnesses (RWIs).
• Describe the elements of a consumer confidence report addressing water quality.
• Explain the processes used to disinfect drinking water.
• Describe ways to prevent water contamination.

Water problems affect half of humanity. Many of us think that contaminated water or lack of access to clean water is someone else’s concern. However, access to clean drinking water is becoming an ever-increasing problem that affects all of us, no matter where we live. According to the World Health Organization [WHO], access to safe drinking water is a basic human right and a component of effective policy for health protection of all global citizens (2017a). Water connects every aspect of life. According to Water.org (2018), access to safe water and sanitation quickly turns problems into potential—providing the opportunity for education, work, and improved health for women, children, and families across the world.

Did you know the following (Centers for Disease Control [CDC], 2005; Global Issues, 2013; Hotez, P. J. et al., 2006; Water.org, 2018; WHO, 2017a)?

• Globally, waterborne illness is the second leading cause of death in children under 5 years of age, resulting in over 1.8 million deaths or one child dying every 15 seconds.
• Approximately 2 to 3 million people die each year from water-related diseases (98% of these occur in the developing world). Many of these diseases are related to fecal contamination of water.
• Children in poor environments often carry 1,000 parasitic worms in their bodies at any time. Schistosomiasis—an acute and chronic disease caused by parasitic worms contracted through infested water—affects approximately 240 million people.
• Trachoma is the world’s leading cause of preventable blindness and is caused by bacterial infection as a result of poor hygiene and sanitation. Approximately 41 million people suffer from active trachoma and almost 10 million people are visually impaired or irreversibly blind as a result of trachoma.
• At any given time, 50% of the world’s hospital beds are occupied by patients suffering from a water-related disease.
• Of the nearly 900 million people who lack access to clean water, nearly half are children. One in three people lack access to a toilet. More people have access to a mobile phone than a toilet.