| 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 waters treatment rule, promulgated in 1989. In November
1998, the agency plans on establishing regulations that further regulate the parasite. 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 sources?
Giardia is typically found in surface bodies, like lakes, reservoirs, rivers, and streams.
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 water comes from, call
your utility and ask. Surface waters source are much more likely to become contaminated
with Giardia than underground aquifers.
Don't water treatment plants eliminate it?
Current EPA drinking waters 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.
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