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Microorganisms FACTS In Drinking Water Introduction 3 What Types of Microorganisms in Drinking Water Can Cause Illness? 5 How Do Infectious Microorganisms Contaminate Drinking Water? 6 How Is the Microbiological Safety of Public Water Supplies Ensured? 7 What Can You Do to Make Sure Your Private Well Water Is Safe to Drink? 8 What If Coliform Bacteria Are Found in Your Private Well Water? 10 Is Bottled Water Free of Infectious Microorganisms? 12 Can a Home Water Treatment Device Remove Infectious Microorganisms? 14 What Role Does the Government Play in Protecting Your Drinking Water? 16 For More Information 18 Other Available Materials 19 Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Services Consumer and Environmental Health Services - 2 - ! Since the chemical disinfection (for INTRODUCTION example, chlorination) of drinking water began in the United States in the early ! Microorganisms are 1900's, outbreaks of organisms (such as bacteria, disease from viruses, and protozoans) contaminated drinking that are too small to be water in this country seen without a are uncommon. microscope. While most Private wells are usually safe, microorganisms are but can be affected by harmless, "infectious” nearby septic systems, microorganisms can multiply farm animal wastes, or in the body and cause illness other sources of or disease. contamination. Shallow private wells, or those with cracked casings or linings, are ! Low levels of infectious microorganisms most vulnerable to contamination. are present throughout our environment and only occasionally cause ! Untreated water from illness in healthy people. rivers, lakes, ponds, Drinking water that is springs, or streams contaminated is only one of is likely to contain many possible sources unsafe levels of of infectious infectious microorganisms. Other microorganisms, and sources include drinking it may cause eating contaminated illness. food, direct contact with the excretions of infected people If the presence of infectious microorganisms or animals, and is suspected or known, boil the water for one breathing minute to kill microorganisms that may have contaminated air. gotten into the water. - 3 - - 4 - WHAT TYPES OF MICROORGANISMS IN HOW DO INFECTIOUS MICROORGANISMS DRINKING WATER CAN CAUSE ILLNESS? CONTAMINATE DRINKING WATER? Of the many infectious microorganisms found in the environment, bacteria (such as Shigella, Escherichia coli, Vibrio, and Salmonella), viruses (such as Norwalk virus and rotaviruses), and protozoans (such as Entamoeba, Giardia, and Cryptosporidium) may be found Infectious in water. microorganisms may be present in human or These microorganisms can cause symptoms such as animal waste. Wells and nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and other drinking water stomach cramps. In healthy sources can be adults, these illnesses are contaminated by storm usually mild and do not last water run-off from long. In infants, children, roadways, farms and the elderly, and persons livestock operations, with weakened immune discharges from sewage systems, these illnesses treatment plants, or septic can be more severe. system discharges. Because of their resistance to disinfection, Giardia and Cryptosporidium are now the most commonly identified causes of waterborne illness in the United States. Additional information about Giardia and Cryptosporidium can be obtained by contacting the agencies in the resource list at the back of this booklet. - 5 - - 6 - HOW IS THE MICROBIOLOGICAL SAFETY OF WHAT CAN YOU DO TO MAKE SURE YOUR PUBLIC WATER SUPPLIES ENSURED? PRIVATE WELL WATER IS SAFE TO DRINK? Public water systems present in fecal matter According to New be proven free of use many water (which is the source of Jersey regulations, coliform bacteria. treatment methods to most waterborne private wells must be Local health provide safe drinking infectious located at least 100 departments have the water. The most microorganisms). If feet from any possible responsibility of commonly used coliform bacteria are source of enforcing these codes. treatment method is found, further testing is contamination, such as disinfection with required to determine if a septic system. After these initial chlorine the coliform Private well tests, there are no chemicals. bacteria are construction codes state requirements For drinking of fecal require that all newly for additional testing water A variety of origin (fecal constructed private of private wells for obtained federal and state coliform). If wells be tested for and microorganisms. from surface regulations ensure these tests supplies the microbial determine safety of public (lakes, that the It is recommended that private wells be tested drinking water. rivers or water at least annually, and more frequently if reservoirs), contains flooding (which can cause contamination) filtration is these occurs. also usually required. microorganisms, the public water supplier is Public water suppliers required to notify the are required by law to public (TV, radio, Contact your local routinely test drinking newspapers, mailings) health department to water for contaminants, and take immediate find out if there are including total coliform corrective action. In any additional testing bacteria. Although some situations, a “boil requirements in your most types of coliform water” notice may be community. bacteria are not given to the public with infectious, many are specific instructions. - 7 - - 8 - WHAT IF COLIFORM BACTERIA ARE FOUND IN Private wells, which YOUR PRIVATE WELL WATER? Your local health are generally found in department or the New rural areas and Jersey Department of service about 10% of If total coliform (TC) bacteria are Environmental New Jersey’s found in your private well water, Protection, Office of your should make sure that: Quality Assurance population, are usually associated with a private home (1) the TC water sample is then or a small business. tested for the presence of fecal When a well is new, coliform or E. coli bacteria; contaminated with and microorganisms, or taken apart and (2) an additional well water sample is taken to repeat the repaired, it is total coliform test. (The necessary to disinfect confirmed presence of fecal the well with chlorine coliform or E. coli bacteria before using it again. indicates that infectious micro- The volume of water organisms may be in the water.) in the well is determined and a specific amount of If fecal coliform or E. coli bacteria are present, chlorine is added and or if repeat testing reveals total coliform allowed to remain bacteria, discontinue using your well for overnight. The well is drinking purposes or boil the water for at least then turned on and one minute before drinking. Bottled water may (609-292-3950) can the water is allowed be used instead of boiling water. provide you with a list to run through all of commercial plumbing fixtures If no fecal coliform or E. Coli bacteria are laboratories that are until no chlorine is found, and if the repeat testing for total certified to test for detectable at any tap. coliform bacteria is negative, no immediate coliform bacteria. action is recommended, except to consider more frequent testing of your well. - 9 - - 10 - Corrective actions include IS BOTTLED WATER FREE OF INFECTIOUS one or more of the following: MICROORGANISMS? ! identification and removal (if possible) of the source of Bottled water is Bottled water is fecal contamination; considered a food required to be tested product and is on a weekly basis, ! chemical regulated by both the and the microbiologic disinfection of the United States Food standards are the contaminated well; and Drug same as for public Administration and the water supplies. ! repair of the existing New Jersey However, just as with well; Department of Health tap water, bottled and Senior Services. waters may not be ! installation of a entirely free of all home water infectious treatment system; microorganisms. The and presence of microorganisms in ! installation of a bottled water depends new and deeper on the source of the well. A water and how the deeper well would Contact your local water is treated. If draw water from a health department used by the water deeper water source for additional help bottling company, that is less likely to in evaluating test distillation and reverse be impacted by results, for advice osmosis are effective surface on further testing, in removing infectious contaminants. and for corrective microorganisms. Other Wells must be action filtration processes can greatly reduce the disinfected following recommendations. installation and after number of any repairs. microorganisms. - 11 - - 12 - CAN A HOME WATER TREATMENT DEVICE REMOVE INFECTIOUS MICROORGANISMS? Home water treatment Some types of water Individuals can contact devices are devices filtration units available bottled water installed in the home to for the home reduce, companies to learn treat water either but do not eliminate, where their brand of where it enters into the microorganisms that water is obtained and home (point-of-entry might be present in the how it is treated. You treatment devices) or water (see next page). can also obtain where the water comes For more information information on bottled out of the tap (point-of- on home water water from the use treatment devices). treatment devices, you International Bottled can contact NSF Water Association International at (313) (1-800-928-4711) 769-8010. or through the NSF International Bottled Water Program (1-800-673-6275.) These organizations can provide information on most
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