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"This new process for detecting Cryptosporidium has vast potential for the world's water treatment and public health," said MWD General Manager John R. Wodraska.
"While this new detection method doesn't offer a cure for Cryptosporidiosis," Wodraska said, "it will provide agencies with the opportunity to take preventive action to protect public health more effectively than currently possible."
Cryptosporidium is the water-borne pathogen that caused widespread illness and approximately 100 deaths in Milwaukee in 1993 and a smaller, more recent outbreak in Las Vegas.
Currently, scientists are aware of seven species of the microscopic parasite, but only one -- Cryptosporidium parvum -- is known to cause illness in humans.
However, present methods make it extremely difficult and time-consuming to determine the species of any crypto organisms that are found in untreated -- or treated -- water, and whether those organisms are dead or alive, according to MWD Water Quality Director Mark D. Beuhler.
Additionally, Beuhler said, crypto is almost completely resistant to chlorine, the most commonly used chemical for drinking- water disinfection in the United States.
In the new process for which a patent is pending, researchers at the district's water-quality laboratory are using DNA amplification and hybridization techniques to speed up the processes of identifying crypto organisms, and determine whether they are dead or alive and if they can cause illness.
"This is one of Metropolitan's first forays into patenting technology we have developed, with the intention of earning revenues to reduce costs to our customers," Wodraska said. "Due to its potential value, and because the Patent Office is still reviewing our application, details of the method are being kept confidential."
Southern Californians are fortunate that levels of the pathogen found in regular testing of Metropolitan's source water have been far lower than levels found in other parts of the nation, Beuhler said.
Nevertheless, he said, Metropolitan has embarked on a $1.5 million Cryptosporidium Action Plan that includes increased water testing, research and public information, and has joined with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the Partnership for Safe Water, a voluntary effort to reassess water-treatment processes to better protect against water-borne pathogens.
The Metropolitan Water District is a regional water agency that imports water from Northern California and the Colorado River, and delivers it on a wholesale basis to the coastal plain of Southern California.
Through its 27 member public agencies, the district provides almost 60 percent of the water used by nearly 16 million people living in portions of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura counties. The MWD Web site is located at http://www.mwd.dst.ca.us.
CONTACT: Metropolitan Water District, Los Angeles Bob Gomperz, 213/217-6866 (office) 818/797-5478 (home) rgomperz@mwd.dist.ca.us Bob Muir, 213/217-6930 (office) 714/879-7478 (home) rmuir@mwd.dst.ca.us Rob Hallwachs, 213/217-6450 (office) 818/398-7697 (home) rhallwachs@mwd.dst.ca.us Sal Vazquez, 213/217-6752 (office) 818/951-4364 (home) svazquez@mwd.dst.ca.us
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