City of Alexandria

Cryptosporidium is a microbes pathogen sometimes seen in surface water throughout the entire United States. Although filtering removes Cryptosporidium, one of the most commonly used filtration strategies cannot guarantee 100 % removal. Fairfax Drinking water consistently maintains the filtration process according to regulatory guidelines to increase removal efficiency. Each of our monitoring indicates the casual presence of these microorganisms in the source of drinking water. Current test strategies do not allow us to ascertain whether the organisms are dead or if they happen to be capable of treating disease. Ingestion of Cryptosporidium may cause cryptosporidiosis, an abdominal disease. Symptoms of infection incorporate nausea, diarrhea and abdominal cramps. Many healthy individuals may overcome the disease in a few weeks. However, immunocompromised people, infants and small children, and the seniors are at a greater likelihood of developing life-threatening health issues. We encourage immuno-compromised individuals to consult all their doctors regarding suitable precautions to take to stop the infection. Cryptosporidium has to be ingested to trigger the disease. It may be propagated through means besides drinking water, such as others, animals, water, pools, fresh food, soils and any surface which has not been sanitized after exposure to waste. Fairfax Water happens to be monitoring the Potomac River and Occoquan Reservoir for conformity with Round two of the EPA Long-term 2 Enhanced Surface area Water Treatment Control (LT2ESWTR Round 2). The EPA produced this rule to supply for increased prevention of microbial pathogens, including Cryptosporidium, in public normal water systems that use area water sources. Fairfax Water’s LT2ESWTR Circular 2 monitoring system began in 04 2015 and included the collection of one test from water treatment plant sources every month for a period of 2 yrs. Monitoring for complying with the LT2ESWTR Circle 2 was designed in March 2017. Underneath the LT2ESWTR Round, a couple of, the average Cryptosporidium focus determines whether extra treatment measures will be needed. A Cryptosporidium concentration of zero. 075 oocysts/Liter causes additional water treatment measures. Fairfax Water’s raw water Cryptosporidium concentrations consistently had been below this tolerance. Results for LT2ESWTR Round 2 monitoring for the period of 2015 - 2017 are as follows:.

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