ATLANTA — Deficiencies in plumbing and point-of-use (POU) water treatment devices are increasingly being linked to waterborne disease, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) medical epidemiologist Dr. Sharon Roy.

Roy addressed the implications of climate change on waterborne disease at the American Water Works Association (AWWA) H2Open Forum during the Denver-based association’s Annual Conference and Exposition (ACE08), held in Atlanta earlier this week.

According to a June 11 E-MainStream report, drought, disaster and development helped make climate change one of the most popular topics of professional sessions offered during ACE08.

During the forum, Roy reviewed the waterborne outbreaks in Carrollton, GA, in 1987 and in Milwaukee in 1993, noting that they made clear the need for improved disease surveillance and coordination between public health agencies and water utilities, as well as the need to regulate Cryptosporidium in drinking water.

According to the E-MainStream report, Roy noted five trends in disease outbreaks:

● The number of outbreaks has decreased because of the Safe Drinking Water Act and the additional drinking water regulations.

● Public systems account for a decreasing proportion of outbreaks.

● There is a decline in outbreaks from systems using surface water.

● For the first time, Legionella, rather than gastrointestinal disease, is the cause of a majority of outbreaks.

● Public health officials are discovering an increasing number of deficiencies in premise plumbing and point-of-use devices.

“We need to focus more attention on premise plumbing and groundwater,” she is quoted as saying.

Although premise plumbing is not under the control of water utilities, it may behoove utilities to be involved, said panel moderator Mark LeChevallier. Utilities could support changes in plumbing codes that would do more to address premise plumbing deficiencies, the report said.

To read the full AWWA report, click here.

For related information on this story, click here.