WATER BORNE DISEASES DUE TO CONSUMPTION OF

CONTAMINATED WATER IN INDIA

The term ‘Waterborne Disease’ is reserved largely for infections that predominantly are transmitted through contact with or consumption of infected water.

Waterborne diseases are caused by pathogenic microorganisms that most commonly are transmitted in contaminated fresh water.

Various forms of waterborne diarrheal disease probably are the most prominent examples, and affect mainly children in developing countries. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), such diseases cause about 1.8 million human deaths annually. The World Health Organization estimates that 88% of that burden is due to unsafe water supply, sanitation and hygiene.

The common waterborne diseases are:

Diarrhea:

Diarrhea is a symptom of many different diseases. Diarrhea is identifiable with its watery discharge. Since it is very common, many people, even in developed societies, don’t take diarrhea seriously. But the fact is that if left untreated for several days, diarrhea can cause dehydration and even death.

Cholera:

Cholera is one of the most notorious waterborne diseases. It is caused by cholera bacterium, and its scientific name is vibrio cholera. In most cases, water sources become contaminated with cholera bacterium from fecal matter. In places where raw sewage runs into public water systems, this is a very common disease. Yet, the bacteria can also be found in remote water and even on coasts.

Arsenicosis:

This is caused by drinking water with high arsenic levels over a long period of time. Aresenicosis does not reveal itself quickly and people suffering from it will gradually show symptoms. According to the World Health Organization, arsenic levels in drinking water should not be higher than 0.01 mg. per liter. Aresenicosis ultimately can cause arsenic poisoning.

Hepatitis:

There are several different strands of hepatitis: A, B and C. There is a vaccine for some forms of hepatitis, but not all of them can be vaccinated against. Hepatitis is well - known as an STD, but it also can be transmitted by food or water. If food or water is contaminated, then everyone who eats or drinks the contaminated source can contract hepatitis. This is why proper handling of food and washing hands is so important in the food service industry. However, a lack of knowledge and resources makes transmission much more common in underdeveloped countries.

To know more about Water Borne Diseases and how to ensure prevention against it visit WaterConsumer.org. Water Consumer is your one stop destination for all information related to Safe Drinking Water.