What's in the water?

• Author: Farquhar, Doug
• Position: STATESTATS - Brief article

Reported outbreaks of illnesses caused by bacteria and other contaminants in America's public drinking water systems have been declining. In the two years before Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1972, the Waterborne Disease and Outbreak Surveillance System reported 47 disease outbreaks. That total was down to 33 in 17 states in 2009 and 2010, although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the validity of the numbers is limited by states' varied reporting systems.

States work vigilantly to maintain the drinking water standards set in the federal act. In 48 states, legislatures require professionals who build and service drinking water systems to be licensed. But deadly bacteria, parasites, viruses and chemicals can still infiltrate water supplies. In 2009 and 2010, the CDC reported 1,040 people were sickened and nine died as...