Oral

Public water systems are designed to provide an uninterrupted pressurized source of safe drinking water to end-users. In the U.S., about 60% of the population is supplied with water from surface sources and the remainder of the systems are derived from underground sources. The sources of drinking water vary in quality, availability, and sustainability. Treatment technologies are used to remove particles, dissolved substances, and remove or inactivate pathogens. The water distribution and storage systems that convey the water play a critical role in protecting public heath by preventing deterioration of water quality and controlling the growth and proliferation of pathogens. As the water infrastructure ages, water distribution systems become more vulnerable to public health risks through introduction of contaminants due to water main breaks, corrosion, intrusion, solids accumulation, and other stressors. During this session, we will discuss the importance of drinking water treatment, distribution and storage in protecting public health from naturally occurring and opportunistic pathogens and describe advances in water security that can be used to detect biological agents in drinking water.

Session Objectives: 1. Explain how ground and surface waters are treated and conveyed through water distribution systems to deliver potable drinking water, how wastewater is collected and treated for water reclamation and reuse, and describe the measures for protecting public health. 2. Describe how pathogens can enter drinking water distribution systems through intrusions, cross connections, and back-flow and explain how health risks can be assessed though monitoring, exposure evaluation, and quantitative microbial risk assessment. 3. Define and describe how the regulatory structure coupled with operational and engineering practices are used to protect public health from microbial risks associated with water distribution systems.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)