AWWA Insists Bacterial Disease from Tap Water is No Threat for Most Americans

The American Water Works Association (AWWA) released a statement that community water supplies are fully protected against viral and bacterial diseases. AWWA's comments followed a recent segment on CBS' "48 Hours" that detailed a fatal outbreak of e.Coli from a small, private well on a New York fairground. "There are a number of treatment practices, including disinfection, that would have prevented the tragedy in New York," AWWA Executive Director Jack Hoffbuhr noted. "For almost 100 years, disinfection has been used to eliminate disease-causing bacteria and viruses from public water supplies. Today, disinfection provides protection for millions of Americans who drink water from their tap every day." Disinfection has been an AWWA-endorsed treatment method for the past 25 years. Last month, water treatment was recognized as one of the four greatest engineering feats of the past century by the National Academy of Engineers. And in April 1999, the Center for Disease Control cited drinking water disinfection as one of the top ten public health achievements of the 20th century. AWWA's members produce 67 percent of the tap water in America. The American Water Works Association and its 56,000 members work to assure a safe, sufficient supply of drinking water for the people of the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The group leads efforts to advance the science, technology, consumer awareness, management, conservation, and government policies related to drinking water. SOURCE: American Water Works Association