Chinese health officials have approved a stricter national standard for the quality of drinking water that will add new benchmarks and greatly improve upon the 1985 standard. Officials see this as the next step to bringing clean drinking water to the hundreds of millions of Chinese who currently do not have access.

Tap water in China is generally viewed as unsafe to drink. Health officials believe this standard will raise the quality of tap water and alleviate the public's fear of untreated water. Although the government has continually pledged to clean up the water supply, the situation has continued to deteriorate over the years. The 2008 Olympics in Beijing have spurred a strong push for cuts in air and water pollution.

The tainted drinking water is caused by polluted waterways and contaminated coastlines. Industrial and farm chemicals, in addition to domestic sewage, have also contaminated the water.

For more information on the new standard, please go to:
China Adopts New Drinking Water Standard

The number of reported infections caused by Vibrio vulnificus, a bacteria found in warm seawater that can cause severe gastrointestinal illness, skin lesions and even death, is on the rise in certain parts of the country. Researchers believe that higher water temperatures and salinity in waters where shellfish are harvested, are behind the increase in states around the Gulf Coast and Chesapeake Bay area.

Vibrio infections can occur from ingesting raw or undercooked shellfish, including oysters, clams, mussels or crabs. However, when skin wounds are exposed to the bacteria in warm seawater, fast-spreading and potentially deadly skin lesions are possible. If skin becomes red, tender, or painful, rubbing alcohol is recommended. If the infection continues, antibiotics are needed quickly. Since the bacteria are mainly found in shallow inlets rather the ocean itself, fishermen and those who wade into brackish water are most at risk. Additionally, people with compromised livers or immune systems are most vulnerable, as are those who drink a lot of alcohol.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 8,000 Vibrio infections and approximately 60 deaths related to infections may occur annually in the United States. During 2003-04, the CDC reported that 47 Vibrio vulnificus cases associated with recreational activities in water, rather than food, were reported from 16 states. As a result, forty-one people were hospitalized and six died.

For additional information on Vibrio vulnificus, please go to:
Warms Months Increase Deadly Seawater Bacteria

The CDC has released its most recent recommendations for avoiding the spread of infectious disease resulting from human and animal interaction in public situations. Petting zoos, fairs, vegetable and fruit stands with animal displays and educational exhibits, among other locations, create possibilities for infectious disease outbreaks, rabies exposures, injuries, and other human health problems. The report provides recommendations for public health officials, veterinarians, animal venue staff, animal exhibitors, visitors to animal venues, physicians, and others concerned with minimizing risks associated with animals in public settings.

Those who come in contact with animals in public venues are advised that hand washing is the most imperative step to reduce the risk of disease transmission. The CDC also recommends that those in charge of animal areas should not allow food in animal areas. Venues need to include transition areas between animal areas and non-animal areas. Furthermore, animals must be properly cared for and managed. Visitors, according to the report, need to be informed about disease risk and prevention procedures before animal interaction occurs to minimize possible health consequences from the interactions.

Since 1991, approximately 50 human infectious disease outbreaks involving animals in public settings have been reported to the CDC. Previous outbreaks reported include Salmonella, Cryptosporidium, Coxiella burnetii, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, ringworm, and other pathogens.

For additional information from the CDC, please visit:
Compendium of Measures to Prevent Disease Associated with Animals in Public Settings, 2007

The World Health Organization (WHO) is developing new guidelines to address the growth of water desalination as a major source of drinking water. A new draft document speaks to both drinking water quality and environmental protection issues in order to aid both current and future desalination facilities. Desalination technologies, which purify waters impaired with salts or other contaminants, were introduced 50 years ago.

While the majority of typical drinking water treatments use current WHO guidelines as a quality standard, desalination is used on non-typical water sources and existing guidelines may not adequately address the unique factors of the process. More than 12,000 desalination plants operate across the globe and produce approximately 40 million cubic meters of water per day.

The number of desalination operations is growing rapidly as the worldwide need for drinkable water grows more acute. Technologies continually improve and, as a result, the cost of each unit drops. The desalination market is predicted to grow by 12% per year through 2010.

For the WHO's full draft, please see:
Desalination for Safe Water Supply

In The News-is a bi-weekly, online service from the Water Quality & Health Council.  The publication is updated every other Friday and can be viewed by logging onto www.waterandhealth.org.  To receive the publication via e-mail, please click here and enter your e-mail address to join our mailing list.