WATER BORNE DI SEASES DUE TO

CONSUMPTI ON OF CONTAMI NATED

WATER I N I NDI A
The term Waterborne Disease is reserved largely for infections that
predominantly are transmitted through contact with or consumption of infected
water.

Waterborne diseases are caused by pathogenic microorganisms that most
commonly are transmitted in contaminated fresh water.

Various forms of waterborne diarrheal disease probably are the most prominent
examples, and affect mainly children in developing countries. According to the
World Health Organization (WHO), such diseases cause about 1.8 million human
deaths annually. The World Health Organization estimates that 88% of that
burden is due to unsafe water supply, sanitation and hygiene.
The common waterborne diseases are:
Diarrhea:
Diarrhea is a symptom of many different diseases.
Diarrhea is identifiable with its watery discharge. Since it is very common,
many people, even in developed societies, dont take diarrhea seriously. But
the fact is that if left untreated for several days, diarrhea can cause dehydration
and even death.
Cholera:
Cholera is one of the most notorious waterborne diseases.
It is caused by cholera bacterium, and its scientific name is vibrio cholera. In
most cases, water sources become contaminated with cholera bacterium from
fecal matter. In places where raw sewage runs into public water systems, this is a
very common disease. Yet, the bacteria can also be found in remote water and
even on coasts.
Arsenicosis:
This is caused by drinking water with high arsenic levels over a long
period of time.
Aresenicosis does not reveal itself quickly and people suffering from it will
gradually show symptoms. According to the World Health Organization, arsenic
levels in drinking water should not be higher than 0.01 mg. per liter. Aresenicosis
ultimately can cause arsenic poisoning.
Hepatitis:
There are several different strands of hepatitis: A, B and C.
There is a vaccine for some forms of hepatitis, but not all of them can be
vaccinated against. Hepatitis is well - known as an STD, but it also can be
transmitted by food or water. If food or water is contaminated, then everyone
who eats or drinks the contaminated source can contract hepatitis. This is why
proper handling of food and washing hands is so important in the food service
industry. However, a lack of knowledge and resources makes transmission much
more common in underdeveloped countries.
To know more about Water Borne Diseases and
how to ensure prevention against it visit
WaterConsumer.org. Water Consumer is your one
stop destination for all information related to Safe
Drinking Water.