Drinking Water Quality in Drinking Water Quality in the US:the US:

And why its not a major environmental health And why its not a major environmental health issueissue

Emma SusickEmma Susick

November 6, 2007November 6, 2007

What is quality drinking water?What is quality drinking water?

Water Quality Standards issued by Water Quality Standards issued by EPA with limited amounts of:EPA with limited amounts of:

•MicroorganismsMicroorganisms

•RadionuclidesRadionuclides

•Inorganic contaminantsInorganic contaminants

•Organic contaminantsOrganic contaminants

•Volatile organic compoundsVolatile organic compounds

•DisinfectantsDisinfectants

•Disinfection byproductsDisinfection byproducts

http://www.epa.gov/safewater/hfacts.html

Water Quality in the WorldWater Quality in the World

• 83% of the world’s population have access 83% of the world’s population have access to improved drinking waterto improved drinking water

http://www.unicef.org/wes/files/JMP_2005.pdf

Drinking Water in the USDrinking Water in the US

• Public Perception:Public Perception:• Do you worry about the water you drink?Do you worry about the water you drink?• Is this a topic in the foreground of public health?Is this a topic in the foreground of public health?

• 161,000 public water systems serving 268 161,000 public water systems serving 268 millionmillion

• Outbreaks and cases rarely lead to serious Outbreaks and cases rarely lead to serious complications or deathcomplications or death

• EPA states the US has some of the best drinking EPA states the US has some of the best drinking water in the world.water in the world.

http://www.epa.gov/safewater/wot/pdfs/book_waterontap_full.pdf

Drinking Water in the USDrinking Water in the US

Waterborne Disease Outbreaks and Cases in the US, 1971-1996

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

Year

Ca

se

s

CDC

Drinking Water in the USDrinking Water in the US

http://www.epa.gov/nheerl/articles/2006/waterborne_disease/introduction.pdf

Drinking Water in the USDrinking Water in the US

http://www.epa.gov/nheerl/articles/2006/waterborne_disease/waterborne_outbreaks.pdf

Drinking Water in the USDrinking Water in the US

http://www.epa.gov/nheerl/articles/2006/waterborne_disease/waterborne_outbreaks.pdf

Drinking Water in North Drinking Water in North CarolinaCarolina

• 2,606 water systems serving 6,615,436 people2,606 water systems serving 6,615,436 people• generally of high quality and free from significant generally of high quality and free from significant

contamination contamination • Approximately half of our drinking water comes from Approximately half of our drinking water comes from

clean ground waterclean ground water

• Public water supplies are tested, and regulatedPublic water supplies are tested, and regulated• Small private water are not regulatedSmall private water are not regulated

• Orange County: 4 contaminants found above Orange County: 4 contaminants found above health based limits, and no violations.health based limits, and no violations.

http://www.ewg.org/tapwater/statereports/statereport.php?state=NC

What keeps our drinking water safe?What keeps our drinking water safe?

• Agencies:Agencies:• Environmental Protection AgencyEnvironmental Protection Agency

• Office of waterOffice of water• Public Water System SupervisionPublic Water System Supervision

• Center for Disease ControlCenter for Disease Control• NC Division of Water QualityNC Division of Water Quality• American Water Works AssociationAmerican Water Works Association• Association of State Drinking Water Association of State Drinking Water

AdministratorsAdministrators

What keeps our drinking water safe?What keeps our drinking water safe?

• Legislation:Legislation:• Clean Water Act 1972Clean Water Act 1972• Safe Drinking Water Act 1974 Safe Drinking Water Act 1974 • National Primary and Secondary Drinking National Primary and Secondary Drinking

Water RegulationsWater Regulations

What keeps our drinking water safe?What keeps our drinking water safe?

http://www.epa.gov/safewater/wot/pdfs/book_waterontap_full.pdf

Bigger IssuesBigger Issues

• Water quantityWater quantity• Contamination and PollutionContamination and Pollution• SanitationSanitation• International development and InfrastructureInternational development and Infrastructure• EducationEducation• CancerCancer• Non-Communicable and Chronic DiseasesNon-Communicable and Chronic Diseases

Bigger IssuesBigger Issues

http://www.who.int/whosis/whostat2007_10highlights.pdf

Sources:Sources:

• http://www.epa.govhttp://www.epa.gov• http://www.who.inthttp://www.who.int• http://www.ewg.org/tapwater/http://www.ewg.org/tapwater/• http://www.cdc.govhttp://www.cdc.gov• http://www.unicef.orghttp://www.unicef.org