title: Reducing the public health risk of cryptosporidiosis by optimizing treatment processes at a military water system.
abstract: Safe drinking water supplies are critical to public health and mission success. One of the primary goals of water treatment is to effectively reduce the acute health risks posed by pathogenic microorganisms present in our raw, untreated water supplies. As a result of recent drinking water regulations, a military water system identified significant levels of Cryptosporidium in their raw water supply requiring additional or improved treatment to remove. Cryptosporidium, the pathogenic microorganism that causes Cryptosporidiosis, has been indicated in numerous waterborne outbreaks worldwide, including the United States. The US Army Public Health Command conducted a year-long study evaluating the ability of the water system to provide improved treatment by optimizing the existing treatment processes. Study results show that optimizing existing treatment processes and switching to an alternative coagulant chemical will achieve the Cryptosporidium removal required to comply with drinking water regulations, with subsequent reduction in the risk of Cryptosporidiosis. These improvements will also ensure effective treatment in all raw water quality conditions and reduce overall chemical costs without increasing operational and maintenance burdens. The optimization evaluation and techniques used for this water system can be applied to all military-owned water systems to help ensure the protection of public health and mission success.
authors.affiliation: Water Supply Management Program, Army Institute of Public Health, US Army Public Health Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Steven H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Clarke
mesh_terms: D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008887:Military Medicine; D011634:Public Health; D014481:United States; D014871:Water Microbiology; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D014881:Water Supply / Q000592:standards*