Fast Facts

Information on Other Uses of Water

Each year between 8,000 and 18,000 people are hospitalized with Legionnaire’s disease in the United States ¹.

There are an estimated 238,000 Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) in the United States that produce nearly 500 million tons of manure ².

The National Water Quality Inventory (2000) reported that agricultural nonpoint source (NPS) pollution (from industrial and sewage treatment plants) is the leading source of water quality impacts on rivers and lakes and the second largest source of impairment to wetlands. It is also a major contributor to contamination of surveyed estuaries and ground water ³.

Most healthcare facilities follow certain guidelines to ensure that water is safe for medical use during medical procedures.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issues effluent guidelines and regulations that are technology-based and are developed for specific industrial categories ⁴.

Top Settings for Outbreaks Due to Other Water Exposures *

Hospital/Health Care Facility/Nursing Home (14%)
Community/Municipality (12%)
Factory/Industrial Facility (12%)
Backcountry (10%)
Camp/Cabin (7%)
Hotel/Motel (5%)
Park (5%)
Public Outdoor Area (4%)
Waste Water Treatment Plant (4%)
Indoor Place of Work/Office (3%)
Other (24%)

For a complete listing of water-related surveillance data, see CDC's Surveillance Summaries for Waterborne Disease and Outbreaks.

*1971-2010; top settings associated with outbreaks classified as using "water not intended for drinking".

References

CDC. About Legionnaires’ Disease.
CDC. Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs).
EPA. Protecting Water Quality from Agricultural Runoff. [PDF – 2 pages] March 2005.
EPA. Effluent Limitation Guidelines.