Knowra Waterborne disease Waterborne disease A waterborne disease is an illness caused by pathogens or harmful substances transmitted through contaminated water. It can spread through drinking, food preparation, recreation, or contact with water.
Fecal–oral route : A transmission pathway in which pathogens from feces enter another person’s mouth, often through contaminated food or water. Human waste in drinking water carries intestinal pathogens into the digestive tract.
Cholera : An acute diarrheal disease caused by toxigenic strains of the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Cholera is a classic example of severe disease spread through unsafe water.
Drinking water quality : The chemical, physical, and microbiological characteristics that determine whether water is suitable for drinking. Water-quality standards set limits intended to prevent infectious and chemical illness.
Water scarcity : A condition in which available water is insufficient to meet human, ecological, or economic needs. Scarcity can force reliance on unsafe sources and limit hygiene.
Water treatment : Processes that remove contaminants from water or inactivate them to make it safer for use. Filtration and disinfection interrupt transmission before contaminated water is consumed.
Typhoid fever : A systemic infection caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi, usually transmitted through contaminated food or water. Contaminated water can carry the bacterium that causes this prolonged febrile illness.
Water quality monitoring : The systematic sampling and analysis of water to assess its condition and detect hazards. Testing helps identify contamination before or during disease outbreaks.
Water security : Reliable access to sufficient, safe, and affordable water for health, livelihoods, and ecosystems. Preventing waterborne illness is one measure of whether water access is secure.
Water disinfection : The inactivation or destruction of disease-causing microorganisms in water using chemical or physical methods. Chlorine and ultraviolet light reduce pathogen levels in drinking water.
Cryptosporidiosis : An intestinal illness caused by Cryptosporidium parasites, which can spread through contaminated water. Its chlorine-resistant oocysts can survive routine drinking-water disinfection.
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