Rethinking Systems Approach for Waterborne Disease Prevention

To understand the environmental antecedents of waterborne disease outbreaks and to implement an integrated prevention strategy in the wake of new challenges posed by climate change, current land use practices, and emerging/re-emerging diseases, it is necessary to consider and examine the watershed system. The watershed system is based upon the movement of water in response to topography and the hydrological cycle. The health of the watershed system may help to identify the environmental antecedents of waterborne disease outbreaks. Understanding the link between watershed health and environmental public health helps us to comprehend the interconnectedness of pollution, resource degradation, and disease through the identification of sources, pathways and risk factors. Watershed systems approach highlights the necessity of source protection and the importance of engaging diverse stakeholders such as farmers, industries, and local communities as well as local, state, and federal agencies. This subsequently leads to the creation of multi-disciplinary and multi-agency teams in the effort to prevent waterborne disease.