Water is the fuel for everything

Water borne diseases and prevention

Water is the most important of all the necessities for the sustenance of life. It is necessary for drinking, cooking, bathing, washing, ablutions, domestic sanitations and human industries. For drinking and cooking require very pure water and remaining require pure or clear water. Water can become a vehicle of a group of diseases or infections because the fecal contamination of water is extremely common, so that a strict vigilance and control to be maintained at all times. Water may create also unhealthy conditions if some organic and inorganic poisons like lead and arsenic are present and also absenting of fluorides cause dental caries and absence of iodine causes goiter. The water borne infections are cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, typhoid group of fever, hepatitis, poliomyelitis and some intestinal worms. Fae cal contamination of water supplies can occur by direct surface pollution through sewage, through leaking pipes, washing linen soiled by excreta by persons whose hands are soiled by infective material. Water borne epidemics are explosive and continue for some time even after the original water supply ceases to be the sources of transmission of infection. Rain water constitutes the primary source. A part of water received is evaporated on the surface of the earth, and a part is held upon the surface to form surface water and rest goes into the earth to form under ground water, so classified as rain water, surface water and underground water. Rivers and streams are natural drainage channels of the land. Avoidance of contamination and its subsequent purification is very difficult at all times especially during rainy season.

Selection and protection of water source

It is very important that to achieve a purified and safe water supply for human consumption, for which the proper source and tapping site should be selected keeping in mind the liability and degree of pollution and its dilution, power of self purification, daily yield, duration for which available, wholesomeness of water and approach to the area. Periodical inspection and repairs of the well should be carried out. The area around the source, taping point and delivery point should be protected against pollution by fencing and prohibiting entry of animals and unauthorized persons bathing and washing. Springs should be provided with coping and parapet.

The aim of water purification is to diminish organic and inorganic suspended impurities, pathogenic organisms and harmful salts and poisons in water. Clarification of water followed by sterilization by various methods renders the water safe for human consumption. Clarification removes suspended matters and sterilization kills intestinal pathogenic organisms. The elimination of harmful salts from water is a problem and no simple method has been devised yet in the field. Sterilization with out clarification may be carried out if water is beyond any doubt of pollution and visibly clear or under urgency. Some times water may appear clear that clarification may seem to be unnecessary. Hence, minute particles of suspended impurities may be present in clear water which may produce ill effects when consumed and also increase the deviation of chlorine used for sterilization. Filtration is superior sedimentation if the suspended matter is not too dense.Sterilization of water is carried out by chlorine. Boiling is the best method of destroying all living organisms. But it is not practicable to boil water for urban population or in large communities. Chlorine has been found very efficient to achieve the objects of water sterilization to eliminate ova,cyst and pathogenic organisms.

Water sterilizing method

Water sterilizing powder(wsp)is used as mixture of 80% bleaching powder and 20% quick lime known as also 'stabilized bleach' is used for water sterilization.Its available chlorine should not be less than 25 percent. Chlorine solution can maintain its strength for weeks if properly corked in brown bottles.

Purification of water in swimming pools can be carried out once a week at least 10 to 20 percent of the water should be replaced by a fresh inflow daily,when the continuous inflow or daily change of water is not possible.When the bath is emptied,the sides and floor should be thoroughly scrubbed and washed with lime before refilling.

Examination of water and its source of supply

The appearance and taste of waters afford no warning of contamination.there are 3 inspection of the laboratory methods are available known as the physical, chemical and bacteriological examinations each having its own merits. They are necessary while investigating the out breaks of water borne diseases and for a routine check on supplies in cities and towns,etc.Hygiene inspection of source and surroundings and site of water supply is conducted by making a plan and following it regularly. This should include the presence of any habitation on the bank of the stream or near the water source, presence of any water logging nearby,sanitation of the surroundings,presence of any waste disposal area, latrines or urinals,cattle sheds or horse stables in the vicinity or surface pollution especially including human and animal waste products and industrial wastes effecting the portability and purity of water. And also presence of amount vegetation in the vicinity in the water source or reservoir,use of source by local people and their health including presence of enteric fevers,infective hepatitis,gastrointestinal infections and etc,should be considered.The site for obtaining water for human consumption from the selected source should also be  properly examined before final selection.

Control action on occurrence of the diseases.

Drinking water must be super chlorinated, washing and bathing water should be chlorinated, milk must be boiled if not pasteurized or if any doubt has to the efficiency of pasteurization or any possibility of contamination after pasteurization,cream and butter should be obtained from reliable sources only, consumption of ice cream unless its origin is absolutely beyond suspicion, should be prohibited. Notification of occurrence of water borne diseases like cholera should be carried out to higher health authorities.Control of food and drink is the most important method of control of an out break of major water borne diseases, namely, diarrheas, dysentery, cholera, salmonella infections like typhoid, polio and leptospirosis.

Prevention

A safe and purified and adequately chlorinated and protected water supply and proper disposal of sewage and night soil,safe and protected milk supply,protected wholesome food,washed raw vegetables and fruits in super chlorinated water,healthy habits as regards eating,drinking and defecating,personal hygiene,a prohibition on employment of persons who may be carriers to handle food and water are the main important preventive measures.Regular preventive inoculation in epidemic areas is a single effective important measure.