Surveillance Reports for Drinking Water-associated Disease & Outbreaks
CDC publishes summaries of drinking water-associated waterborne disease outbreaks in the United States based on reports provided by state, local, and territorial health departments. These summaries help public health practitioners better understand the germs, settings, and contributing factors (for example, water was not disinfected properly) involved in outbreaks linked to drinking water. They also can help identify emerging waterborne disease threats and be used to inform and assess outbreak prevention measures.
Explore waterborne disease outbreak data on CDC’s National Outbreak Reporting System (NORS) Dashboard.
Since 1971, CDC has published data on waterborne disease outbreaks associated with drinking water:
- 2015 forward: Reports are published on CDC’s Summary Reports of Waterborne Outbreaks page.
- 2009–2014: Reports were published in the MMWR Weekly with supplemental content posted below.
- 1971–2008: Reports were published as MMWR Surveillance Summaries.
In 2021, CDC published an estimate of the burden and direct healthcare cost of infectious waterborne disease.
Links to historical surveillance reports and appendices are also available below.
Learn more about waterborne disease and outbreak surveillance milestones.
Most Recent Drinking Water-associated Outbreak Surveillance Data
CDC. Waterborne Disease and Outbreak Surveillance System (WBDOSS) Summary Report, United States, 2015. Atlanta, Georgia: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, CDC, 2022.
2015 is the latest year a summary report is available due to limited capacity for waterborne disease surveillance and competing COVID-19 response priorities at CDC. Find more recent waterborne disease outbreak data on CDC’s National Outbreak Reporting System Dashboard.
Reports from 1971 through 2015
2015
- CDC. Waterborne Disease and Outbreak Surveillance System (WBDOSS) Summary Report, United States, 2015. Atlanta, Georgia: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, CDC, 2022.
2013-2014
- Benedict KM, Reses H, Vigar M, Roth DM, Roberts VA, Mattioli M, Cooley LA, Hilborn ED, Wade TJ, Fullerton KE, Yoder JS, Hill VR. Surveillance for waterborne disease outbreaks associated with drinking water — United States, 2013–2014. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2017;66 (44):1216-21.
- Strength-of-Evidence Classification
- Deficiency Classification
- 2013–2014 Supplemental Tables
- 2013–2014 Supplemental Figures
- 2013–2014 Selected Outbreak Descriptions
2011-2012
- Beer KD, Gargano JW, Roberts VA, Hill VR, Garrison LE, Kutty PK, Hilborn ED, Wade TJ, Fullerton KE, Yoder JS. Surveillance for waterborne disease outbreaks associated with drinking water — United States, 2011–2012. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2015;64(31):842-848.
- Strength-of-Evidence Classification
- Deficiency Classification
- 2011-2012 Supplemental Tables
- 2011-2012 Supplemental Figures
- Selected Outbreak Descriptions
2009-2010
- CDC. Surveillance for waterborne disease outbreaks associated with drinking water and other nonrecreational water — United States, 2009–2010. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2013;62(35):714-20.
- Strength-of-Evidence Classification
- Deficiency Classification
- Supplemental Data Tables
- Supplemental Figures
- Selected Outbreak Descriptions
2007-2008
- Surveillance for waterborne disease outbreaks associated with drinking water— United States, 2007–2008. (MMWR, 2011)
- Surveillance for Waterborne Disease and Outbreaks — United States, 2007—2008 [PDF – 80 pages]
2005-2006
- Surveillance for Waterborne Disease and Outbreaks Associated with Drinking Water and Water not Intended for Drinking — United States, 2005–2006 (MMWR, 2008)
- Surveillance for Waterborne Disease and Outbreaks — United States, 2005–2006
2003-2004
- Surveillance for Waterborne Disease and Outbreaks Associated with Drinking Water and Water not Intended for Drinking — United States, 2003–2004 (MMWR, 2006)
- Surveillance for Waterborne Disease and Outbreaks — United States, 2003–2004 [PDF – 68 pages]
2001-2002
1999-2000
- Surveillance for Waterborne-Disease Outbreaks — United States, 1999–2000 (MMWR, 2002)
- Surveillance for Waterborne-Disease Outbreaks — United States, 1999–2000 [PDF – 52 pages]
1997-1998
- Surveillance for Waterborne-Disease Outbreaks — United States, 1997–1998 (MMWR, 2000)
- Surveillance for Waterborne-Disease Outbreaks — United States, 1997–1998 [PDF – 44 pages]
1995-1996
- Surveillance for Waterborne-Disease Outbreaks — United States, 1995-1996 (MMWR, 1998)
- Surveillance for Waterborne-Disease Outbreaks — United States, 1995-1996 [PDF – 80 pages]
1993-1994
- Surveillance for Waterborne-Disease Outbreaks — United States, 1993-1994 (MMWR, 1996)
- Surveillance for Waterborne-Disease Outbreaks — United States, 1993-1994 [PDF – 40 pages]
1991-1992
1989-1990
1986-1988
1985
1984
1983
1982
1981
1980
1979
Water-related Diseases Surveillance Annual Summary 1979 [PDF – 25 pages]*
1978
Water-related Diseases Surveillance Annual Summary 1978 [PDF – 38 pages]*
1977
Foodborne and Waterborne Disease Outbreaks 1977 [PDF – 25 pages]*
1976
Foodborne and Waterborne Disease Outbreaks 1976 [PDF – 27 pages]*
1975
Foodborne and Waterborne Disease Outbreaks 1975 [PDF – 24 pages]*
1974
Foodborne and Waterborne Disease Outbreaks 1974 [PDF – 26 pages]*
1973
Foodborne and Waterborne Disease Outbreaks 1973 [PDF – 12 pages]*
1971-1972
Foodborne and Waterborne Disease Outbreaks 1971-1972 [PDF – 16 pages]*
* Some of the documents on this page, due to their historical nature, are not able to be provided in an accessible (508-compliant) format. People with disabilities experiencing problems accessing these documents should contact CDC-INFO at CDC-INFO@cdc.gov, 800-232-4636 or the TTY number at (888) 232-6348 and ask for a 508 Accommodation PR#9342. If emailing please type “508 Accommodation PR#9342” without quotes in the subject line of the email.