How prevalent is Cryptosporidium in surface water?
Oocysts are present in most surface bodies of water (e.g., lakes, rivers) across the United States, many of which supply public drinking water. Oocysts are more prevalent in surface waters when heavy rains increase runoff of wild and domestic animal wastes from the land or when sewage treatment plants are overloaded or break down. Only laboratories with specialized capabilities can detect the presence of Cryptosporidium oocysts in water. Unfortunately, current sampling and detection methods are unreliable. It is difficult to recover oocysts trapped on the material used to filter water samples. Looking at a sample under a microscope, it is not easy to determine whether an oocyst is alive or whether it is the species Cryptosporidium parvum that can infect humans. The number of oocysts detected in raw (untreated) water varies with location, sampling time, and laboratory methods. Water treatment plants remove most but not always all oocysts from municipal drinking water. It is not known ex
Related Questions
- What is the Water Department doing to correct Cryptosporidium levels in the Citys water supply? Is there a concern for the general public or people with compromised immune systems?
- Is potentially contaminated water (where Cryptosporidium is not the significant contaminant) safe for washing dishes or clothes?
- How prevalent is Cryptosporidium in surface water?