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Drinking Water Risks
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Risk Perception
Recent events and media headlines seem to indicate that water quality in the United States is worsening. Reports of widespread lead contamination, Legionella outbreaks and emerging contaminants, have raised public awareness of the health risks associated with drinking water. Some reports, however, verge on fear mongering.
While drinking water from the tap is not risk free, we can easily recognize that life is not risk free and there will always be some inherent level of risk in the natural process of living. However, we try to determine how much risk is acceptable and what is controllable at the individual level.
Recent events and media headlines seem to indicate that water quality in the United States is worsening. Reports of widespread lead contamination, Legionella outbreaks and emerging contaminants, have raised public awareness of the health risks associated with drinking water. Some reports, however, verge on fear mongering.
While drinking water from the tap is not risk free, we can easily recognize that life is not risk free and there will always be some inherent level of risk in the natural process of living. However, we try to determine how much risk is acceptable and what is controllable at the individual level.
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WQA 2021: Risk Communication & Building Public Trust
Kelly Reynolds, PhD Presentation |
A Water Quality Expert Weighs in on Risk Perception
Kristina Mena, PhD Interview |
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Who is Most at Risk?
Individual risk for waterborne disease depends on many factors, including the type of contaminant, amount and length of exposure, and personal health. Some common risk factors include:
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Vulnerable Communities
Kristina Mena, PhD Interview |
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What Contributes to Risk in Drinking Water?
There are many factors that affect water quality during distribution - starting from the source water, through public utilities, until it reaches the household (premise) plumbing system.
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Future Safety of Drinking Water Supplies
Charles Gerba, PhD Interview |
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Vulnerabilities in the Drinking Water Supply
Charles Gerba, PhD Interview |
A Water Expert Weighs in on Premise Plumbing
Charles Gerba, PhD Interview |
A Water Quality Expert Weighs in on Extreme Weather Events
Kristina Mena, PhD Interview |
Related Articles
- 03/2000 Identifying Populations at Greatest Risk of Waterborne Disease [Link]
- 05/2005 Waste Water and Risks of Drinking Water Contamination [Link]
- 11/2005 Returning and Rebuilding: Minimizing Exposure Risks to Floodwater Contaminants [Link]
- 04/2007 Water Quality and Acceptable Risk: Are We Safe Enough? [Link]
- 12/2009 Increased Risks in the Elderly from Tap Water Consumption [Link]
- 02/2011 Water Quality and Acceptable Risk: Are We Safe Enough? [Link]
- 07/2014 Health Risks Associated with Cross-connections in Drinking Water Supply [Link]
- 12/2019 How Do I Know If My Water Is Safe? Interpreting Data Resources for Tap Water Quality [Link]
- 03/2020 Infectious Diseases Can Spread Via Drinking Water [Link]
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