Public Health Issues - Clean Water

The topic I chose for this portion of the blog is access to clean water.  I chose this topic because I have seen places, here in our own country, where access to clean water is not always easy.  While the United States has "one of the best supplies of drinking water in the world" the "threats to our drink water are increasing" (Environmental Protection Agency, 2009).  Some individuals may be more sensitive to contaminents in drinking water than others such as, pregnant women and infants, individuals recieving chemotherapy, the elderly, and transplant patients.  Therefore, it is essential that we know what is in our drinking water and that we read our annual water statements and contact our local water departments to ensure that you are aware of what is in your local water supply.  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has worked with Congress to pass the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) "to protect public health by regulating the nation's public drinking water supply and protecting sources of drinking water" (EPA, 2009).  Even with these laws I have seen very rural areas in the Appalachian Mountains and even rural areas in my own state (Indiana) where individuals rely on well water for their drinking water.  I have even worked with families that have no running water.

There are several microorganisms that can cause serious health affects on individuals.  There have been several local outbreaks of waterborne disease.  Last summer, in my own community, we were under a "boil order" due to contaminents in our tap water.  Some contaminents, such as nitrate, can not be boiled out of the water and pose serious health risks for pregnant mothers and infants.  Nitrates are turned into nitrites in the intestines, when they are absorbed in the bloodstream they prevent the transference of oxygen in the bloodstream.  Younger children, infants, and pregnant women do not have the enzyme to fight this and excessive levels can cause "blue baby" syndrome (EPA, 2009).

In Haiti cholera has killed more than 290 people and 4,150 cases have been reported (UNICEF, 2010).  Cholorea is a "highly virulent waterborne bacteria that causes massive and painful diarrheal dehydration" (UNICEF, 2010).  Cholorea can be easily prevented by washing hands in clean water and soap, but without access to soap or clean water this can be difficult.  This is the biggest "medical crisis" in recent years and most Haitians have never even heard of cholorea (UNICEF, 2010).  UNICEF is working diligently to stopping the spread of this epidemic.  Recently, a drop in  death rates does show that some progress is being made but it is important that the humanitarian efforts continue to stop this epidemic.

The impact of clean water is definitely knowledge I can use and will share with the families I work with on a daily basis.  It is important that pregnant mothers and families with small children have access to clean water.  One aspect I found interesting is that even in our country we need to be aware of the threats to our water supply.  Families living in old homes may have lead pipes that allow lead to seep into their water supply.  This is a condition that can even affect families living in newer homes whose pipes are considered "lead free' but still contain 8% lead.  After installation these pipes can leak significant amounts of lead into the water.  Other facts that brought to light the impact of lack of clean water include: 2.6 billion people live without proper sanitation; 1 billion have no access to safe, clean drinking water; and that 4,000 children die "each day" from unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation (UNICEF, 2010).

    
References:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). December 2009. Water on tap: What you need to know. Retrieved from www.epa.gov/safewater

UNICEF USA, October 28, 2010. Containing the cholorea outbreak in Haiti. Retrieved from www.unicefusa.org/news/news-from-the-field/containing-the-cholera.html