The Associated Press - 3 May 1996

There are no federal standards for cryptosporidium in drinking water, which three years ago was blamed for the death of 110 people in Milwaukee when the city's drinking water became contaminated.

The new rule, which requires extensive monitoring and record keeping beginning no later than the end of the year, is a step in a long-range effort to write federal standards for protecting drinking water against the parasite.

About a third of the 300 large metropolitan water supply agencies covered by the rule already routinely check for cryptosporidium in their water supply, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

But a private advocacy group of AIDS patients said Thursday that its findings from a survey of 31 water systems showed many with inadequate surveillance and programs to notify and educate the public about cryptosporidium.

The parasite, which does not respond to disinfectants, causes most people simply to become ill and suffer cramps and intestinal disorders. But for people with weakened immune systems, such as AIDS patients, cryptosporidium easily can be fatal, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC has urged AIDS patients to boil their drinking water if they suspect possible water contamination.

The National Association of People With AIDS found in its survey of 31 metropolitan water districts than only three took what the group considered adequate measures to monitor, notify the public and educate consumers about the need to take precautions against cryptosporidium.

"People with compromised immune systems, especially people living with HIV, need to understand that their public drinking water may not be safe," said Cornelius Baker, executive director of the AIDS advocacy group.

Of the cities surveyed, it said only in Seattle; Tampa, Fla.; and Milwaukee are people with weakened immune systems at low risk. The group singled out Atlanta; Dallas; Minneapolis; Newark, N.J.; St. Petersburg, Fla.; and Washington D.C., as areas of special concern.

Diane VanDe Hei, executive director of the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, said the scientific community has yet to determine how to accurately detect and neutralize cryptosporidium. She said water systems are "encouraged to develop outreach programs ... to particularly sensitive people."

The parasite is commonly found in lakes and rivers, especially if the water has been contaminated with sewage or animal wastes. Often it enters the water system during or after stormy weather when sewers overflow.

The EPA directive announced Thursday calls on water supply systems that use surface water and serve at least 100,000 people to monitor and gather data about how frequently the bacteria is found in the water supply, the source of the bacteria, and the effectiveness of various treatment techniques.

The study is to begin by the end of the year and continue for 18 months, the agency said.

Many large water systems use various filtration methods to keep the parasite out of drinking water. Once it is in the system, it cannot be killed. The EPA advises water systems to notify the public, so that people with immune problems can take such precautions as boiling drinking water.

One problem is that not enough is known about the bacteria to develop federal standards for its control in drinking water.
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