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Many changes have occurred recently in how our country protects its water supplies. Environmental health practitioners work daily to ensure that our water is safe through treatment, monitoring, and regulating activities.
This section provides information on the protection of water supplies as well as on responding to contamination threats and incidents.
A Survey of the Quality of Water Drawn from Domestic Wells in Nine Midwest States [PDF 760 KB] – 1994 survey to assess the presence of bacteria and chemicals in states severely affected by flooding in 1993
CDC Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response – how to prepare for, plan for, and respond to water safety after disasters:
Linking Public Health and Water Utilities to Improve Emergency Response [external link] [PDF 105 KB] – how water utilities and the public health system must work together in response to contamination of drinking water supplies
The Twin Cities Metro Advanced Practice Center [external link] – tools and resources for preparedness that can be used by public health departments nationwide, including
Drinking Water Counter-Terrorism Exercises [external link] (Washington State Department of Health) – tabletop exercises designed to better understand the roles, responsibilities, and effectiveness of local, state, and federal responders to an intentional drinking water contamination event
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) [external link]
Overview of the Response Protocol Toolbox [external link] [PDF 3.40 MB]
Water Utility Planning Guide - Module 1 [external link] [PDF 2.95 MB]
Contamination Threat Management Guide - Module 2 [external link] [PDF 3.65 MB]
Site Characterization and Sampling Guide - Module 3 [external link] [PDF 2.82 MB]
Analytical Guide - Module 4 [external link] [PDF 4.85 MB]
Public Health Response Guide - Module 5 [external link] [PDF 2.60 MB]
Remediation and Recovery Guide - Module 6 [external link] [PDF 2.23 MB]
Physician Preparedness for Acts of Water Terrorism [external link] – guide for physicians to recognize and treat waterborne disease and health effects of exposure to water contamination
Security Resource Center [external link] (American Water Works Association) – water security resources and consumer information
Water Health Connection Organization: Recognizing Waterborne Disease and the Health Effects of Water Pollution [external link] – resources and educational tools to assist physicians in the recognition of waterborne disease and the health effects of water pollution (e.g., evaluation and management of disease resulting from waterborne pathogens, chemical contaminants, etc and health risk communication
Water Information Sharing and Analysis Center [external link] – security and disaster preparedness information for America’s drinking water and wastewater utilities
World Health Organization (WHO) [external link]