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Giardia
Cysts,
Bacteria and Water Treatment:
Controlling Parasites At Your Tap
Despite efforts by the U.S. EPA to make drinking waters safe,
disease-causing organisms, called pathogens, still remain a threat in some areas. In
particular, Giardia can cause outbreaks of giardiasis, an intestinal illness that can
cause nausea, anorexia, fever, and severe diarrhea. The symptoms can last for several
days, and giardiasis can be treated with antibiotics. If left untreated, the body will
naturally rid itself of the parasite within a few months in most cases. To reduce the
chances of outbreaks, EPA established an acceptable level for Giardia in drinking waters
in the surface water treatment rule, promulgated in 1989. In November 1998, the agency
plans on establishing regulations that further regulate the parasite. Successful water
treatment is necessary to eliminate this risk.
OMNI's CBF1 and CBF3 filters
are NSF certified to remove 99.99% of the Giardia cysts from your drinking waters.
Giardia is a pathogenic parasite that is commonly found in
lakes and rivers, particularly those contaminated by sewage and animal wastes. The
parasite exists as a cyst, an egg-shell-like covering that protects the microorganism from
such hazards as chlorine, a disinfectant. The cyst also protects the microorganism from
destruction outside the host, leaving it viable. When this is ingested, viable cysts can
infect their new hosts.
What does it do?
Giardia causes giardiasis, an intestinal illness. When solutions contaminated with
Giardia cysts are ingested, stomach acid dissolves the cyst and frees the microorganism
inside. The microorganism usually infects the upper intestinal tract and causes
discomfort.
Although most people can recover from a case of giardiasis,
the illness can be life-threatening to some people, such as infants, the elderly, pregnant
women, or those with compromised immune systems.
How does it get into drinking water?
Giardia is typically found in surface bodies, like lakes, reservoirs, rivers, and streams
or in bodies of water with a slow water cycle. It is found in human and animal fecal
matter, so bodies that are contaminated with sewage or animal waste likely contain
Giardia. For this reason, sources near farms are particularly vulnerable to Giardia
contamination.
Shallow aquifers that are recharged by surface waters may
also be susceptible to Giardia contamination. But generally, only surface sources are
affected by the cyst.
If you do not know where your drinking waters comes from,
call your utility and ask. Surface waters source are much more likely to become
contaminated with Giardia than underground aquifers.
Don't government facilities eliminate parasites?
Current EPA drinking waters and standards require the removal or disinfection of Giardia.
The current national primary drinking waters standards require plants to both filter and
disinfect waters to ensure 99.9% of the Giardia cysts are removed or disinfected. But
sometimes the protective cyst prevents plants from killing the microorganism with
disinfection. To effectively control Giardia, the cysts must be physically removed from
drinking waters. OMNI's CBF1 and CBF3 filters
are NSF certified to remove 99.99% of the Giardia cysts from your drinking waters.
Is it in well waters?
Giardia can be found in well waters, particularly if the well is located on a farm. But
the most common sources of Giardia and other types of water pollution are surface sources,
like rivers, streams, lakes, and reservoirs.
What can you do?
If you think your source may be susceptible to Giardia contamination, or if you are
concerned about the possible health effects of contamination, EPA recommends you consider
one of these options:
Boil your drinking and cooking liquids for at least one
minute. or
Install a filter under your sink that is certified by the National Sanitation Foundation
to remove Giardia. The filter cartridge should be a carbon block with micron size of 1.0
or smaller.
OMNI's CBF1 and CBF3 filters
are NSF certified to remove 99.99% of the Giardia cysts from your drinking source.
Give your home the water treatment system
that is right for you.
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