Safe Drinking Water: Lessons from Recent Outbreaks in Affluent Nations

Hrudey, Steve E.; Hrudey, Elizabeth J.

doi:10.2166/9781780402376

Cited by 100 publications

(83 citation statements)

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“…There have been 29 documented waterborne outbreaks of disease since 1980; over half were caused by Giardia (13 outbreaks) or Cryptosporidium (3 outbreaks). Lack of adequate treatment of drinking water was the main reason for the majority of outbreaks (14,15). While the incidence of giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis in BC has declined over the past decade, the incidence of these infections still exceeds rates in the rest of Canada (16).…”

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confidence: 99%

Assessment of Giardia and Cryptosporidium spp. as a Microbial Source Tracking Tool for Surface Water: Application in a Mixed-Use Watershed

Prystajecky

Huck

Schreier

et al. 2014

Appl Environ Microbiol

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Knowledge of host specificity, combined with genomic sequencing of Giardia and Cryptosporidium spp., has demonstrated a microbial source tracking (MST) utility for these common waterborne microbes. To explore the source attribution potential of these pathogens, water samples were collected in a mixed rural-urban watershed in the Township of Langley, in southwestern British Columbia (BC), Canada, over a 2-year period. Cryptosporidium was detected in 63% of surface water samples at concentrations ranging from no positive detection (NPD) to 20,600 oocysts per 100 liters. Giardia was detected in 86% of surface water samples at concentrations ranging from NPD to 3,800 cysts per 100 liters of water. Sequencing at the 18S rRNA locus revealed that 50% of Cryptosporidium samples and 98% of Giardia samples contained species/genotypes (Cryptosporidium) or assemblages (Giardia) that are capable of infecting humans, based on current knowledge of host specificity and taxonomy. Cryptosporidium genotyping data were more promising for source tracking potential, due to the greater number of host-adapted (i.e., narrow-host-range) species/genotypes compared to Giardia, since 98% of Giardia isolates were zoonotic and the potential host could not be predicted. This report highlights the benefits of parasite genomic sequencing to complement Method 1623 (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) and shows that Cryptosporidium subtyping for MST purposes is superior to the use of Giardia subtyping, based on better detection limits for Cryptosporidium-positive samples than for Giardia-positive samples and on greater host specificity among Cryptosporidium species. These additional tools could be used for risk assessment in public health and watershed management decisions.

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confidence: 99%

Assessment of Giardia and Cryptosporidium spp. as a Microbial Source Tracking Tool for Surface Water: Application in a Mixed-Use Watershed

Prystajecky

Huck

Schreier

et al. 2014

Appl Environ Microbiol

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“…Although the levels of antibiotics in the environment are usually far below threshold levels to have inhibitory effects on bacterial populations, they still exert selective pressure on the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. The presence of antibiotic resistance genes in various environmental settings including river sediments, irrigation ditch water, dairy lagoon water, drinking water treatment plants and wastewater recycling plants has been confirmed [91,92]. Antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria can be released into streams and groundwater near concentrated animal feeding operation facilities [93][94][95][96].…”

Section: Association Of Biosolids and Manure Application With Microbimentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Biosolids and Manure Application on Microbial Water Quality in Rural Areas in the US

Oun

Kumar

Harrigan

et al. 2014

Water

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Most of the waterborne disease outbreaks observed in North America are associated with rural drinking water systems. The majority of the reported waterborne outbreaks are related to microbial agents (parasites, bacteria and viruses). Rural areas are characterized by high livestock density and lack of advanced treatment systems for animal and human waste, and wastewater. Animal waste from livestock production facilities is often applied to land without prior treatment. Biosolids (treated municipal wastewater sludge) from large wastewater facilities in urban areas are often transported and applied to land in rural areas. This situation introduces a potential for risk of human exposure to waterborne contaminants such as human and zoonotic pathogens originating from manure, biosolids, and leaking septic systems. This paper focuses on waterborne outbreaks and sources of microbial pollution in rural areas in the US, characterization of the microbial load of biosolids and manure, association of biosolid and manure application with microbial contamination of surface and groundwater, risk assessment and best management practice for biosolids and manure application to protect water quality. Gaps in knowledge are identified, and recommendations to improve the water quality in the rural areas are discussed. OPEN ACCESS

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“…This knowledge is growing between the different stakeholders that water supply systems, even in developed countries, can not immune outbreaks of large-scale pollution. The case of E. coli contamination in Walkerton, Ontario is a well-known example in this subject (4). Other events due to human error in water supply and distribution systems can be mentioned such as this event that, in early 2009, occurred in the water treatment plant in Queensland, in which evaluation reports highlighted the cause of this incident as human error (2).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analyzing Human Error in Municipal Water Systems Using Systematic Human Error Reduction and Prediction Approach SHERPA Method

Dehaghi

Rastin

Malekzadeh

et al. 2017

Jundishapur J Helath Sci

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Background: The perception that water treatment and supply systems are not safe against accident and human errors as well as disease outbreaks is growing. Many major events around the world have been attributed to human error. In general, human errors are defined as situations where planned series of mental or physical activities fail to achieve its desired result. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed to predict human error in the Khorramabad water treatment plant. Human error in the telemetry control room as well as relevant units was assessed with standard charts, tables, and reference work sheets. At first, all different activities of the unit were considered after interviewing the workers as well as consulting with supervisors and also by hierarchical task analysis HTA. Then the SHERPA method was applied to identify potential human errors. Results: Seventy-nine human errors were identified in various job tasks. Results showed that 51.8% of them are action errors, 38.4% are checking errors, 7.59% are retrieval errors, 0.006% is communication errors, and 0% for selection errors. Conclusions: It can therefore be concluded that the most prevalent errors are checking and action errors. Thus, it is suggested that work instructions, staff training, and employing inspection operators to monitor the performances should be considered as a priority. Furthermore, it can be concluded that SHERPA is appropriate for many industries such as water treatment plants.

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Safe Drinking Water: Lessons from Recent Outbreaks in Affluent Nations

Cited by 100 publications

References 0 publications

Assessment of Giardia and Cryptosporidium spp. as a Microbial Source Tracking Tool for Surface Water: Application in a Mixed-Use Watershed

Assessment of Giardia and Cryptosporidium spp. as a Microbial Source Tracking Tool for Surface Water: Application in a Mixed-Use Watershed

Effects of Biosolids and Manure Application on Microbial Water Quality in Rural Areas in the US

Analyzing Human Error in Municipal Water Systems Using Systematic Human Error Reduction and Prediction Approach SHERPA Method

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