A report released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in collaboration with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) showed a decline in foodborne infections due to common bacterial pathogens in 2004.

Cases of E.coli 0157 infections decreased 42 percent from 1996-2004 marking the first time levels fell below the national Healthy People 2010 health goal. Healthy People 2010 is the federal government's prevention agenda for building a healthier nation by identifying the most significant preventable threats to health and establishing national goals to reduce these threats. In addition, salmonella infections dropped 8 percent although only one of the five most common strains significantly declined. Other infections experiencing decreases included Campylobacter by 31 percent, Cryptosproridium by 40 percent and Yersinia dropped 45 percent.

Health officials believe that the decrease in foodborne infections is the result of significant enhancements to the food safety system, including the application of new technologies to reduce or eliminate pathogens and increased testing that ensures the effectiveness of control measures. The foodborne infection data is collected by the FoodNet surveillance system, which first began to track incidences of laboratory confirmed cases of foodborne illnesses in 1996.

To read the complete report, please go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5414a2.htm

Investments in water can generate economic benefits, improve health and reduce poverty, according to a report released last week by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) at the 13th Meeting of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-13). The report, "Making Water a Part of Economic Development: The Economic Benefits of Improved Water Management and Services" found that poor countries with access to improved water and sanitation services have experienced annual average growth of 3.7 percent of GDP, while those without adequate investment witnessed annual growth at only 0.1 percent.

In addition, the report suggests that the economic benefits of improved water supply and sanitation outweighed the investment costs in part because they significantly contribute to increased productivity within economic sectors. For example, the report states that economic benefits ranging from $3 to $4 per dollar invested could be gained in the health, agricultural and industrial sectors if the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals relating to water and sanitation were met. In some cases, the benefit could be up to $60 per dollar invested, the report stated.

The report also establishes a poverty-focused investment priority list to improve access to safe water supply and basic sanitation, protect the integrity of aquatic and water-related terrestrial ecosystems and invest in water resources management. SIWI and the World Health Organization on behalf of the Governments of Norway and Sweden jointly developed the report.

To read the complete report, please go to:
http://www.siwi.org/downloads/Reports/CSD_Economics.pdf ( PDF)

The National Academies' Water Science and Technology Board has released a report "Public Water Supply Distribution Systems: Assessing and Reducing Risks", a study of water quality issues associated with public water supply distribution systems and their potential risks to consumers. The initial report identifies trends relevant to the deterioration of drinking water quality in distribution systems and prioritizes issues of greatest concern based on high, medium and low categories.

The committee reviewed nine EPA white papers. From that review, cross connections and backflow, new or repaired water mains and finished water storage facilities were deemed by the committee as the issues of highest importance based on their associated potential health risks. The report also notes that premise plumbing and distribution system operator training be accorded high priority.

This first report was requested by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as part of the agency's consideration of revisions to the Total Coliform Rule for ensuring the integrity of the distribution system. It will be followed in approximately 18 months by a comprehensive final report.

To read the complete "Public Water Supply Distribution Systems: Assessing and Reducing Risks" report, please go to: http://www.nap.edu/openbook/0309096286/html/index.html

Delegates emerged from the 13th annual session of the U.N. Commission for Sustainable Development (CSD-13) calling for increased resources to be devoted to water, sanitation and human settlement projects in developing countries, according to U.N. officials. Specifically, consensus was reached that governments have a primary role in promoting improved drinking water, basic sanitation and adequate shelter for the poor by providing targeted financing to impoverished nations.

Additional recommendations from the April 11-22 session included:

• Establishing sustainable business models linked to capital markets such as revolving funds for sewer services.
• Education and training in constructing, operating and maintaining wastewater treatment and collection systems.
• Research, develop and disseminate information regarding low-cost and efficient wastewater treatment technologies.

CSD-13 was the second annual session to focus on water, sanitation and human settlement goals developed in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation during the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development. These implementation goals include cutting in half the number of people without access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation by 2015, developing integrated water resources management and water efficiency plans by 2005 and improving the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers by 2020.

To read more about the CSD-13 session, please go to:
http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/csd/csd13/csd13.htm

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