A nose for trouble – the role of off-flavours in assuring safe drinking water

2007 ◽  
Vol 55 (5) ◽  
pp. 239-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.E. Hrudey ◽  
E.J. Hrudey
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Common Factors ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Disease Outbreak ◽  
Safe Drinking Water ◽  
Or Efficiency ◽  
Water Utility ◽  
Common Features ◽  
The Past

A detailed review of drinking water disease outbreaks over the past 30 years in 15 affluent countries produced over 70 case studies, some involving fatalities, which revealed a number of common factors in these disasters. Some of these outbreaks involved off-flavours, either as a driver for reducing disinfection and making the system vulnerable to pathogenic contamination or as an early warning of contamination that was not responded to with sufficient urgency or efficiency to avoid a disease outbreak. The characteristics of these outbreaks are recounted and the important link they reveal between aesthetically pleasing drinking water and safety is documented. Our analysis of common features in drinking water outbreaks also supports an argument that the failure of a water utility to be concerned about aesthetic factors makes such water supplies an inherently greater health risk for their consumers.

scholarly journals Common themes contributing to recent drinking water disease outbreaks in affluent nations

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 1767-1777 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. E. Hrudey ◽  
E. J. Hrudey
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Disease Outbreak ◽  
Safe Drinking Water ◽  
Waterborne Disease ◽  
George Santayana ◽  
The Past ◽  
Recent Outbreak

Abstract New Zealand experienced its largest waterborne disease outbreak in modern history in August 2016 with 5,500 cases and four fatalities. This recent outbreak is one of 24 drinking-waterborne disease outbreaks in affluent nations that have been reported in the scientific literature since the infamous Walkerton, Ontario, Canada fatal outbreak (2,300 cases, seven fatalities) in May 2000. These disasters were all eminently preventable given the economic and intellectual resources existing in the countries where they occurred. These outbreaks are analysed according to major recurring themes, including: complacency, naiveté and ignorance, failure to learn from experience and chemophobia. Lessons that can be learned to improve preventive approaches for ensuring safe drinking water are based on an extensive and authentic body of evidence in support of meaningful improvements. Philosopher George Santayana captured this need with his famous quote: ‘Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.’

ROLE OF SCIENCE IN POLICY, SYSTEMS STRENGTHENING AND SUSTAINABLE SERVICE DELIVERY OF ARSENIC SAFE DRINKING WATER

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prosun Bhattacharya ◽  
◽  
Md. Tahmidul Islam ◽  
Dara Johnston ◽  
Nargis Akter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Safe Drinking Water ◽  
Policy Systems

scholarly journals Ensuring safe drinking water in regional NSW: the role of regulation

2008 ◽  
Vol 19 (12) ◽  
pp. 203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul M. Byleveld ◽  
Michelle A. Cretikos ◽  
Sandy D. Leask ◽  
David N. Durrheim
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Safe Drinking Water

scholarly journals Groundwater Arsenic Contamination in West Bengal: Current Scenario, Effects and Probable Ways of Mitigation

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 45-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanmoy Kumar Dey ◽  
Priya Banerjee ◽  
Madhurima Bakshi ◽  
Abhirupa Kar ◽  
Somdeep Ghosh
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Chronic Exposure ◽  
West Bengal ◽  
Contaminated Water ◽  
Safe Drinking Water ◽  
Essential Step ◽  
The Past ◽  
Groundwater Arsenic ◽  
Current Scenario ◽  
Mind Set

During the past two decades, Arsenic (As) contamination via groundwater has become a serious issue worldwide and is now a major concern in the Indo-Bangladesh Gangetic delta. Arsenic enters human body through contaminated groundwater consumed as drinking water. Food safety in this region is also facing severe consequences as bio-accumulation of Arsenic is occurring in food crops irrigated with As-contaminated water. Chronic exposure to Arsenic can cause not only cancerous and non-cancer health effects. Reports suggest that about 20 % population in West Bengal is highly affected. Various techniques are being introduced to provide arsenic-free drinking water at an affordable cost. But a rigorous change in habit and mind set for procuring safe drinking water in those surviving in As-contaminated zones is the most essential step towards curbing the fatal consequences of As exposure. Harvesting rain water and utilization of proper purification techniques can be considered a possible alternative of safe drinking water.

The Role of ANSI/NSF Standard 61 and Third-Party Certification in Providing Safe Drinking Water

2009 ◽  
pp. 79-79-13
Author(s):  
David A. Gregorka ◽  
Peter F. Greiner ◽  
Stan S. Hazan ◽  
Michael F. Kenel
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Safe Drinking Water

scholarly journals Increased information on waterborne outbreaks through efficient notification system enforces actions towards safe drinking water

2011 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 763-772 ◽  
Author(s):  
Outi Zacheus ◽  
Ilkka T. Miettinen
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Outbreak Detection ◽  
Safe Drinking Water ◽  
Notification System ◽  
The Past ◽  
Health Target ◽  
Policy Measures ◽  
Private Wells ◽  
Compulsory Notification

In 1997, a compulsory notification system for waterborne outbreaks was introduced in Finland. The main aim of this notification is to obtain immediate information on suspected waterborne outbreaks in order to restrict and manage the outbreak promptly. During the past ten years, there have been 67 waterborne outbreaks in Finland, mainly associated with small groundwater supplies or private wells. The number of reported waterborne outbreaks has increased since the launch of the notification system indicating that the threshold limit of outbreak detection has most probably decreased. The number of cases of illness has fulfilled the national health target, which is below 0.01% of the population, but more action is still needed to ensure the production of safe drinking water under all circumstances. Ten years accumulation of knowledge on outbreaks has revealed that a compulsory notification system is an effective tool to gather information on waterborne outbreaks. The system has also increased awareness of possible problems related to the quality of drinking water. This article summarises management and legislative actions and policy measures taken so far in Finland to reduce the number of outbreaks and cases of illness related to them.

scholarly journals Restoring drinking water acceptance following a waterborne disease outbreak: the role of trust, risk perception, and communication

2013 ◽  
Vol 43 (9) ◽  
pp. 1761-1770 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boyka Bratanova ◽  
Greg Morrison ◽  
Chris Fife-Schaw ◽  
Jonathan Chenoweth ◽  
Mikael Mangold
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Risk Perception ◽  
Disease Outbreak ◽  
Waterborne Disease ◽  
Risk Perception And Communication

scholarly journals Exploring the important determinants of access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation in Punjab, Pakistan

Water Policy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahid Adil ◽  
Muhammad Nadeem ◽  
Irfan Malik
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Social Norms ◽  
Household Head ◽  
Household Wealth ◽  
Education Level ◽  
Living Standard ◽  
Safe Drinking Water ◽  
Wealth Status ◽  
Improved Sanitation

Abstract Access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation is a fundamental human right and basic ingredient of public health. However, one of the major problems faced by developing countries in the twenty-first century is the lack of access to these facilities. Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan with more than 50% of the country's population is no exception. Keeping in view its importance, the current study is an effort to investigate important determinants of access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation in Punjab to ensure the provision of these services to the masses. Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey Household data from 2017 to 2018 has been used for analysis. The results of a logistic regression model revealed that household media exposure, education level of household head, household wealth status, and ethnic background of the household head are some of the important determinants of household access to safe drinking water. For household access to improved sanitation, along with these factors, the role of social norms and place of residence are also important. Particularly, the role of social norms is very profound. Findings from the study suggest that efforts should be made to provide readily available media access, household education level needs to be enhanced, policies should be made to raise the living standard of the poorest households, and the social norm for the use of improved sanitation needs to be promoted.

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