Fact Sheet - Water Pollution

• Microbial contaminants (such as bacteria and viruses) are of special concern in drinking water because they may cause immediate, or acute, reactions, such as vomiting or diarrhea.

• Long-term exposure to some water contaminants (such as pesticides, minerals, and solvents) at levels above standards may cause gastrointestinal problems, skin irritations, cancer, reproductive and developmental problems, and other chronic health effects.

• Children are particularly sensitive to: nitrate, lead, copper, microbial contaminants, and disinfectants and disinfection byproducts (DBPs).

• Coliform bacteria are common in the environment and are generally not harmful. However, the presence of these bacteria in drinking water is usually a result of a problem with the treatment system or the pipes which distribute water, and indicates that the water may be contaminated with germs that can cause disease.

• Cryptosporidium is a parasite that enters lakes and rivers through sewage and animal waste. It causes cryptosporidiosis, a mild gastrointestinal disease. However, the disease can be severe or fatal for people with severely weakened immune systems.

• Some people who drink water containing radium 226 or 228 in excess of EPA's standard over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer.

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