essay about drink water

Type 2 Diabetes
Heart Disease
Digestive Health
Multiple Sclerosis
COVID-19 Vaccines
Occupational Therapy
Healthy Aging
Health Insurance
Public Health
Patient Rights
Caregivers & Loved Ones
End of Life Concerns
Health News
Thyroid Test Analyzer
Doctor Discussion Guides
Hemoglobin A1c Test Analyzer
Lipid Test Analyzer
Complete Blood Count (CBC) Analyzer
What to Buy
Editorial Process
Meet Our Medical Expert Board

Why Is Water So Important? Here’s What You Need to Know

How water works in your body, how much water do you need, how to stay hydrated.

Water is a major component of your body, accounting for 50–60% of your total weight. It is vital for many important body functions, from flushing out waste to lubricating your joints.

Your body constantly loses water throughout the day through urinating, sweating, and breathing. You should consume enough water from foods and beverages daily to prevent dehydration .

This article covers research-backed reasons why your body needs water and how much you need each day.

Klaus Vedfelt / Getty Images

All body cells, organs, and tissues require water to function. Generally, a person can only survive without water for a few days.

It Maintains a Normal Body Temperature

Water regulates our internal temperature by distributing heat throughout the body and cooling it through perspiration (sweat).

When the body becomes too hot, it loses water through sweat . The evaporation of sweat from the skin cools the body, keeping its temperature within a normal range.

If a person becomes dehydrated, they can't produce enough sweat to cool their body. This can cause the body's temperature to reach dangerous levels, leading to heat stroke .

Avoid dehydration by drinking plenty of water if you're working outside or sweating more than usual.

It Protects Your Joints, Spinal Cord, and Other Tissues

Water acts as a lubricant in the mouth (through saliva ) and the eyes (through tears) to help prevent dryness. It's necessary to produce synovial fluid , which lubricates, cushions, and protects the joints.

Water also helps protect the spinal cord and prevents injuries by increasing tissue flexibility and elasticity.

It Transports Nutrients and Gets Rid of Waste

As a major component of blood, water helps transport nutrients and oxygen to cells throughout the body. Water also helps carry waste from the body for excretion through perspiration, urination, and bowel movements.

The kidneys need water to effectively filter waste from the blood and flush it from the body as urine. Staying adequately hydrated helps prevent kidney stones and urinary tract infections (UTIs) , which can harm the kidneys.

Prevents Dehydration

Drinking water daily can help prevent dehydration, a condition that occurs when you lose more fluids than you absorb.

Early signs of dehydration include:

Feeling thirsty
Dark-colored urine
Urinating less than usual

Because water is involved in so many body functions, dehydration can eventually cause life-threatening symptoms, including:

Rapid breathing
Rapid heartbeat
Inability to urinate

People who exercise in the heat, work outdoors, or have certain health conditions that cause them to urinate or sweat more than usual are at a greater risk of dehydration.

It Aids Digestion

Your saliva is primarily made up of water. Saliva is a digestive juice that moistens food, allowing it to move easily through the esophagus into your stomach. Saliva also contains enzymes that help break down starches in food.

As the digestive process continues, water helps break down food, allowing your body to absorb nutrients. Water also makes bowel movements easier.

It Protects Against Chronic Illness and Boosts Longevity

Adequate hydration is linked to healthy aging and longevity. One potential reason for this is that decreased water intake can lead to higher sodium concentrations in the blood, which raises the risk of chronic disease.

Studies suggest that adults who stay hydrated are healthier and less likely to develop chronic diseases, including heart and lung disease . Well-hydrated adults also seem to live longer than adults who don't consume enough fluids.

It Improves Mood and Cognitive Function

Dehydration may cause fatigue and confusion and may be linked to symptoms of anger and depression. In a small study, it was linked to poor cognitive function, potentially affecting attention span and working memory.

One study of young adults looked at the effects of water on cognitive performance and mood after 12 hours of water restriction. Researchers found that 200 milliliters of water improved thirst, anger, fatigue, and overall mood. However, 500 milliliters was optimal, improving mood and cognitive performance.

The amount of water you need depends on several factors, including age, sex, activity level, and health status.

For healthy individuals, the adequate daily water intake is around 11.5 cups for women and about 15.5 cups for men. This includes fluids consumed from all foods and beverages.

Experts estimate that most people get around 20% of their daily water intake from food. This means women should drink about 9 cups of fluid daily, while men should aim for 13 cups to maintain adequate hydration.

People who live in warmer climates, are more physically active, or are experiencing an illness that causes fever and/or diarrhea or vomiting have increased fluid needs.

One easy way to see if you are properly hydrated is to check the color of your urine. If you are drinking enough water, your urine will be pale yellow. If it is dark, you may need to increase your consumption.

Individuals with heart failure or kidney disease may need to limit their fluid intake.

Can You Drink Too Much Water?

Drinking too much water can lead to water intoxication or overhydration, which occurs when the kidneys cannot flush out excess water. This can cause a medical emergency due to decreased sodium concentrations in the blood ( hyponatremia ). To avoid water intoxication, do not drink more than 48 ounces, or six cups, per hour.

If you find it challenging to stay hydrated, here are some helpful tips to keep in mind:

Keep a reusable water bottle with you and refill it throughout the day
Choose water or sparkling water instead of sugary beverages
When you feel thirsty, drink water
Change things up by squeezing fresh lemon or lime into your water or adding a few berries or cucumber slices
Snack on water-rich fruits and vegetables , including watermelon, cantaloupe, lettuce, and celery, throughout the day
Keep track of your water intake by using a water tracker app
Drink water with all meals

Water is vital for your health. It is necessary for temperature regulation, digestion, nutrient absorption, and body waste removal. Drinking water daily can prevent dehydration, a condition that can cause mood and memory problems, constipation, and kidney stones.

People who work in high temperatures, exercise at high intensities, or are sick are at a greater risk of dehydration. Talk to a healthcare provider or registered dietitian to determine the right amount of water for you.

Zhou HL, Wei MH, Cui Y, et al. Association between water intake and mortality risk-evidence from a national prospective study . Front Nutr . 2022;9:822119. doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.822119

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. How much water do you need?

MaineDOT. The importance of hydration .

Johns Hopkins Medicine. Dehydration and heat stroke .

Lorenzo I, Serra-Prat M, Yébenes JC. The role of water homeostasis in muscle function and frailty: a review . Nutrients . 2019;11(8):1857. doi:10.3390/nu11081857

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Water and healthier drinks .

National Kidney Foundation. 6 tips to be "water wise" for healthy kidneys .

MedlinePlus. Dehydration .

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Your digestive system & how it works .

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Eating, diet, & nutrition for constipation .

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Good hydration linked to healthy aging .

Zhang J, Zhang N, He H, et al. Different amounts of water supplementation improved cognitive performance and mood among young adults after 12 h water restriction in Baoding, China: a randomized controlled trial (RCT) . Int J Environ Res Public Health . 2020;17(21):7792. doi:10.3390/ijerph17217792

National Kidney Foundation. The dos and don'ts of fluid management for kidney disease .

MedlinePlus. Heart failure .

Joo MA, Kim EY. Hyponatremia caused by excessive intake of water as a form of child abuse . Ann Pediatr Endocrinol Metab . 2013;18(2):95-98. doi:10.6065/apem.2013.18.2.95

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Heat stress: hydration .

By Lindsey DeSoto, RD, LD Lindsey Desoto is a registered dietitian with experience working with clients to improve their diet for health-related reasons. She enjoys staying up to date on the latest research and translating nutrition science into practical eating advice to help others live healthier lives.

Talk to our experts

1800-120-456-456

Importance of water

An English Essay on the Importance of Water for the Students

Without water there cannot be life on our planet, that is to say on earth. Because every living organism needs water, and therefore having a good understanding and care for the water is a must for all of us. Hence, students should write an essay discussing the importance of water in the English language.

Writing an essay on such a topic opens a series of good ideas in the mind of the students regarding the role that water plays in our lives, and it can also make the students aware of the importance of water.

Also, if you wish to write an English essay on the topic My aim in life you may find this link helpful My Aim in Life Essay in English for Students | Easy Essay on My Aim in Life (vedantu.com)

Advantages of Writing an Essay on the Importance of Water.

Writing an essay on any topic helps the students be good writers, and the same goes for the topic of, Importance of water, but there are quite a few more advantages to writing the essay.

One of the most important things for everyone is to express oneself, and the practice of doing so must be given to the child from a very young age. And writing an essay helps the students in this very important thing.

For writing a good essay on any topic, the students must have a good understanding of the subject of the essay. And hence, writing an essay on the Importance of water, helps the students in learning about the value of water, not just our lives, which is to say humans, but the life of the whole planet.

In his famous play Hamlet Shakespeare writes, Brevity is the soul of wit, meaning being short or concise is very important in speech, or shortness of words is the essence of intelligence. The same rule applies in writing the essay, and doing as clear an understanding of the topic at hand is required as possible. And hence composing an essay on the importance of water helps the students understand the same.

One of the most important gifts that humans are blessed with is the gift of language, and this gift has to be used effectively. Writing an essay helps the students in learning the methods of using the language in such a manner that it makes everything clear to the reader. A good essay does not only touch the heart of the readers but it opens the mind of the reader, it can move them, that is to say, if a good essay is written on the importance of water it can make the readers aware about the same, and not just aware but also careful about using the water.

Water means Life. Water is a prime natural resource. It is a basic need for humans and a precious asset that living beings have. Water is equally vital for the survival of the plant and animal kingdoms. Soil needs water for sustaining plants. The water cycle is essential for ecological balance too. Though a big portion of the Earth is covered with water, only a small portion of it can be used for various human activities. So we need to be judicious and rational, regarding the usage of water.

Why is water important for our bodies?

Water is important for our body for the following reasons.

Above 70% of our body contains water so it is pivotal for the human race to survive.

Water helps in regulating our body temperature.

Water helps in the digestion of solid food.

It also keeps our skin healthy and hydrated.

Water helps in excreting waste from our body through sweat, urination, and defecation. So replenishing the water in our body is essential to prevent dehydration.

Drinking water also helps in reducing calories and maintaining body weight because it can increase the rate of metabolism.

Water consumption lubricates the joints, spinal cord, and tissues.

Importance of Water

All living organisms, plants, animals, and human beings contain water. Almost 70% of our body is made up of water. Our body gets water from the liquids we drink and the food we eat. Nobody can survive without water for more than a week. All plants will die if they do not get water. This would lead to the death of all the animals that depend on plants for their food. So the existence of life would come to an end.

Role of Water In Life Processes

Water plays an important role in most of the life processes by acting as a solvent. The absorption of food in our body takes place in solution form with water as the solvent. Also, many waste products are excreted in the form of solutions through urine and perspiration.

Water helps in regulating our body temperature. In hot weather, we drink a lot of water. This maintains our body temperature. Also, water evaporates from the surface of our body as sweat. This takes away heat and cools the body.

Water is essential for plants to grow. Plants need water to prepare food. They also absorb dissolved nutrients from the soil through their roots.

Aquatic plants and animals use the nutrients and oxygen dissolved in water for their survival.

Uses of Water In Everyday Life

Water is used for drinking, washing, cooking, bathing, cleaning, in our day-to-day life.

It is used to generate electricity in hydroelectric power stations.

Water is used for irrigating fields and in the manufacture of various products.

Other Uses of Water

Water serves as a means of transportation for goods and people.

It provides a medium for recreational sports such as swimming, boating, and water skiing.

Water is also used to extinguish fires.

Importance of Oceans

Oceans are of immense use to man. They are useful in many ways, directly and indirectly. They not only play a significant role in the climate of adjoining countries but also serve mankind in many ways. They are a storehouse of several resources.

An ocean is a major source of water and forms a major part of the water cycle. Oceans contribute water vapor to the atmosphere and we get the same in the form of precipitation.

The oceans are the biggest storehouse of edible forms of marine food, fish being most important. In addition to food, sea animals provide other products like oil, glue, etc.

Oceans have enormous mineral and chemical wealth. A variety of dissolved salts like sodium chloride (common salt), magnesium chloride, and potassium chloride are found in plenty in the oceans.

Oil and gas are important fuels obtained from oceans.

Importance of Lakes and Rivers

Economic and industrial development

Water storage

Hydroelectric power generation

Agricultural purposes

Modern multipurpose dams

Source of food

Source of minerals

Tourist attractions and health resorts

Rivers provide fresh drinking water

Ports can be built on them as they form good natural harbors

Major Concerns

Although our planet Earth is covered with 71% percent of water and 29% of the land, the fast-growing contamination of water is affecting both humans as well as marine life. The unequal distribution of water on the Earth and its increasing demand due to the increasing population is becoming a concern for all.

Water pollution makes it difficult for marine animals to sustain themselves.

Covering over 71% of Earth’s surface, water is undoubtedly the most precious natural resource that exists on our planet. Without the seemingly invaluable compound comprising Hydrogen and Oxygen, life on Earth would be non-existent.

We are slowly but harming our planet at a very alarming rate.

Characteristics of a Good Essay.

It must be brief: As pointed out earlier, a good essay must be short, and also to the point. So, if students are writing an essay on the importance of water it must only deal with the water, and anything which does not directly serve the purpose must be excluded.

Must cover the whole topic: Though it may seem a little contradicting to the first point, what is meant by covering the whole topic is that the maximum number of aspects dealing with the importance of water must be covered in this essay. For instance, water is important for all living organisms and not just humans, and so the same has to be covered in one or the other way in the essay on the importance of the water.

Must be to the point: The essay must remain true to the central idea of the topic, which is the importance of water in this case. Hence, almost all the sentences written in the essay must serve the main topic in one or another way. And also, writing should not be vague or ambiguous, or illogical.

Human beings should realize how important and precious water is. At the individual level, you can be more responsible and avoid wasting water so that our future generation can make the best use of this natural resource abundantly.

FAQs on Importance of water

1. Why is water important?

Water is important because it sustains all living organisms on Earth.

2. How is ocean water useful to Mankind?

Ocean water is useful to mankind in the following ways.

Oceans are a major source of water through the water cycle.

Oceans have direct control over the climate.

Oceans are the biggest storehouse of marine food.

Oceans have enormous mineral and chemical wealth.

3. How is water important for our Body?

Water helps to carry nutrients and oxygen to each and every cell of our body. It helps in digestion. It keeps our skin healthy and hydrated. Water consumption lubricates the joints, spinal cord, and tissues.

4. What are the uses of water in our Daily Life?

Water is used for drinking, bathing, cooking, cleaning, and irrigation of crops and manufacturing various products.

5. Why should I use the essay provided by Vedantu on the Importance of water?

The essay that Vedantu provides on the topic of the Importance of water is prepared by expert teachers, for the students of the English language. And hence this essay can be used by the students as an outline or an example of the essay on the Importance of water, it does not necessarily mean that the students have to copy it completely, but it serves the purpose of guiding the students in attempting the essay. Furthermore, the essay is completely free for download for all the students and also it is available in a PDF file format.

Why is water important?

We're often told that we need to drink more water, but exactly why is water important?

Why do we need to drink water?

What happens if you don’t drink enough water, what effect does water have on the body, drinking enough water.

If you’ve been pondering the question ‘why is water important?’ rest assured, you’re not alone. While it probably won’t come as a surprise to hear that everyone needs to drink water to survive, most of us invest in one of the best water bottles and commit to guzzling down our daily water intake without really understanding what makes water so vital.

There are quite a few things that make water necessary to the human body, from cellular functions, to aiding digestion, and even improving concentration and exercise performance. You’ve probably even heard the recommendation to drink a certain amount of water every day (usually about 8 glasses or so), but where does that number come from? And what happens if you don’t drink enough?

This article will tackle everything and anything you would need to know about why water is important, including why we need to drink water, what happens when we don’t get enough and the effect water has on our body. Let’s dive in!

Knowing how to stay hydrated with water is super important. Why? Well, largely because the human body is about 60% water and because we are continuously losing water through urine, sweat and even just breathing, we need to ensure we’re replacing that fluid so that our cells, tissues and organs can all function optimally.

Water is a solvent, which means that other substances can dissolve in it, which allows for their transportation between cells in the body. Substances like glucose (the body’s preferred fuel source) and amino acids (the building blocks of protein) dissolve very effectively in water, and use water as a carrier for them throughout the body.

Water also carries vitamins and minerals to and from the cells, and is vital in removing waste products from individual cells, as shown by research in the Biochemical Journal . Further, water consumption ensures appropriate blood volume, viscosity, and circulation, which is vital for the proper function of all organs and tissues of the body, according to a paper in Nutrition Reviews .

Water is also vitally important for regulating body temperature. It has a great capacity to store heat, preventing large, rapid drops in internal temperature, and through sweating, water has arguably the most efficient avenue to lose heat when environmental temperature is higher than body temperature, as per an article in Military Medicine .

Finally, water is essential to form many bodily fluids: tears, saliva, sweat, urine, and blood, amongst others. Water is also a highly effective lubricant for joints helping to produce synovial fluid and cartilage, which help keep joints healthy through smooth movements. Water also helps with joint health by maintaining cells’ shapes, acting as a shock absorber during impacting activities like walking or running, which even protects the brain and spinal cord, according to a review article in Nature .

Not drinking enough water can lead to dehydration very quickly, and it’s more common than we think. According to a 2020 paper in StatPearls , between 28% and 75% of adults in the US are dehydrated at any given moment. This is

attributed to a number of factors, notably overconsumption of caffeinated drinks like coffee and soft drinks, which a 2018 study in Nutrients lists as common replacements for water that act as a diuretic that cause the body to lose even more water.

Even ‘mild’ dehydration (a loss of water corresponding to 1-2% of body weight) can lead to significant impairments in cognitive function, concentration, alertness, memory, physical performance, sport-specific skills, and physical endurance, according to research in Nutrition Reviews .

According to a study in the Journal of Applied Physiology , larger losses in water corresponding to 4% of body weight (which research still considers ‘mild’) can lead to poor cardiovascular function as blood plasma volume drops which causes an increase in heart rate and stroke volume (the amount of blood the heart perfuses per beat). Dehydration of this level can also cause decreases in skin blood flow and sweating, which leads to an increase in body temperature, which can complicate any heat-induced dehydration, as per another study from the Journal of Applied Physiology .

As you may be able to tell, drinking water will have more or less the opposite effect to not drinking water, for all the reasons outlined earlier in the article. In an ideal world, we would all stay hydrated by drinking water regularly, and so we may never notice the effect that drinking water has because we’d never be dehydrated. However, we know that not to be the case.

Given the host of cognitive problems that dehydration can have on the body, drinking water can often improve your ability to focus, concentrate, and retain information. A lot of people also ask the question ‘does drinking water help you to lose weight?’ and evidence suggests that it absolutely can. Not only that, it aids in digestion, due to its role in nutrient absorption, and creation of digestive fluids and enzymes like hydrochloric acid. Drinking water can also reduce joint pain or wear and tear, due to its role in joint cushioning and maintenance of synovial fluid and cartilage.

woman getting a glass of water from the tap

Clearly, drinking water is utterly vital for a whole host of reasons, and unfortunately, just drinking water when thirsty isn’t going to be enough. Thirst is only triggered when water losses correspond to 1-3% body weight, which is enough to lead to mental and physical impairments. Plus, the issue with only drinking when thirsty is that thirst can be quenched before proper hydration is achieved, according to Nature .

The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recommend drinking 92 fluid ounces (11.5 cups) per day for women, and 124 fluid ounces (15.5 cups) of water per day for men. However, many factors can affect how much water someone needs to drink: warmer environments increase sweating and water loss, drinking caffeinated drinks leads to a diuretic affect, and when exercising, sweat and respiration-induced water losses can reach 65 fluid ounces per hour according to a paper in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition .

It’s important to adjust your water intake appropriately to get all of its benefits, and avoid the potential downfalls of dehydration. If you’re keen to find new and novel ways to increase your water intake, check out our guide to how to drink more water.

HÄUSSINGER, D. (1996). The role of cellular hydration in the regulation of cell function. Biochemical Journal, 313(3), 697–710. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8611144/

Jéquier, E., & Constant, F. (2009). Water as an essential nutrient: the physiological basis of hydration. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 64(2), 115–123. https://www.nature.com/articles/ejcn2009111

José, G. A., Mora-Rodríguez, R., Below, P. R., & Coyle, E. F. (1997). Dehydration markedly impairs cardiovascular function in hyperthermic endurance athletes during exercise. Journal of Applied Physiology, 82(4), 1229–1236. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9104860/

Montain, S. J., Latzka, W. A., & Sawka, M. N. (1999). Fluid Replacement Recommendations for Training in Hot Weather. Military Medicine, 164(7), 502–508. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10414066/

Murray, B. (2007). Hydration and Physical Performance. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 26(sup5), 542S-548S. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17921463/

Nishiyasu, T. S., Shi, X. G., Mack, G. W., & Nadel, E. R. (1991). Effect of hypovolemia on forearm vascular resistance control during exercise in the heat. Journal of Applied Physiology, 71(4), 1382–1386. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1757361/

Reyes, C., & Cornelis, M. (2018). Caffeine in the Diet: Country-Level Consumption and Guidelines. Nutrients, 10(11), 1772. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30445721/

Ritz, P., & Berrut, G. (2005). The Importance of Good Hydration for Day-to-Day Health. Nutrition Reviews, 63, S6–S13. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16028567/

Water: How much should you drink every day? (2020, October 14). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved April 14, 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256?reDate=14042022

Sign up for the Live Science daily newsletter now

Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox.

Will McAuley is a London-based Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach who’s writing has appeared in Men’s Fitness and GQ magazine, covering exercise, nutrition and health. He has a Master’s degree in Strength & Conditioning from Middlesex University in London, is a published scientific author in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics from Trinity College Dublin.

8-hour intermittent fasting tied to 90% higher risk of cardiovascular death, early data hint

PFAS 'forever chemicals' to officially be removed from food packaging, FDA says

Where does the solar system end?

The Importance of Water: The Vital Essence

Categories: Nutrition Water

About this sample

Words: 652 |

Published: Sep 7, 2023

Words: 652 | Page: 1 | 4 min read

Water and human health, environmental balance, agriculture and food security, industrial and economic significance, challenges of water scarcity and pollution, responsible water management.

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Prof Ernest (PhD)

Verified writer

Expert in: Nursing & Health Environment

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

1 pages / 623 words

1 pages / 559 words

4 pages / 1718 words

5 pages / 2919 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Water

Water, the elixir of life, is a finite resource essential for all living organisms on Earth. Yet, despite its undeniable importance, water shortage has become a critical global issue. This essay delves into the causes, [...]

Water is a ubiquitous substance that plays a crucial role in shaping our world in numerous ways, including its impact on time. From the rhythmic ebb and flow of tides to the soothing sound of raindrops on a windowpane, water has [...]

Water is a fundamental substance for all living organisms on Earth. It plays a crucial role in various biological processes, including metabolism, digestion, and temperature regulation. One of the unique properties of water is [...]

A Long Walk to Water is a compelling novel by Linda Sue Park that tells the story of two young individuals, Nya and Salva, who are living in Sudan and struggling to access clean water. The novel sheds light on the harsh [...]

In conclusion, the origin of water remains an intriguing and complex puzzle. While the cometary delivery hypothesis, proto-Earth hypothesis, and planetary embryo hypothesis offer compelling explanations, they also face [...]

Keeping hydrated is one of the most essential aspects of sport and physical activity, whether you are an athlete or someone who does sport for fitness. It plays so many roles to keep your body functioning properly that without [...]

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

Instructions Followed To The Letter
Deadlines Met At Every Stage
Unique And Plagiarism Free

CBSE Class 10th
CBSE Class 12th
UP Board 10th
UP Board 12th
Bihar Board 10th
Bihar Board 12th
Top Schools in India
Top Schools in Delhi
Top Schools in Mumbai
Top Schools in Chennai
Top Schools in Hyderabad
Top Schools in Kolkata
Top Schools in Pune
Top Schools in Bangalore

Products & Resources

JEE Main Knockout April
Free Sample Papers
Free Ebooks
NCERT Notes
NCERT Syllabus
NCERT Books
RD Sharma Solutions
Navodaya Vidyalaya Admission 2024-25
NCERT Solutions
NCERT Solutions for Class 12
NCERT Solutions for Class 11
NCERT solutions for Class 10
NCERT solutions for Class 9
NCERT solutions for Class 8
NCERT Solutions for Class 7
JEE Main 2024
JEE Advanced 2024
BITSAT 2024
View All Engineering Exams
Colleges Accepting B.Tech Applications
Top Engineering Colleges in India
Engineering Colleges in India
Engineering Colleges in Tamil Nadu
Engineering Colleges Accepting JEE Main
Top IITs in India
Top NITs in India
Top IIITs in India
JEE Main College Predictor
JEE Main Rank Predictor
MHT CET College Predictor
AP EAMCET College Predictor
GATE College Predictor
KCET College Predictor
JEE Advanced College Predictor
View All College Predictors
JEE Main Question Paper
JEE Main Mock Test
JEE Main Registration
JEE Main Syllabus
Download E-Books and Sample Papers
Compare Colleges
B.Tech College Applications
GATE 2024 Result
MAH MBA CET Exam
View All Management Exams

Colleges & Courses

MBA College Admissions
MBA Colleges in India
Top IIMs Colleges in India
Top Online MBA Colleges in India
MBA Colleges Accepting XAT Score
BBA Colleges in India
XAT College Predictor 2024
SNAP College Predictor
NMAT College Predictor
MAT College Predictor 2024
CMAT College Predictor 2024
CAT Percentile Predictor 2023
CAT 2023 College Predictor
CMAT 2024 Registration
TS ICET 2024 Registration
CMAT Exam Date 2024
MAH MBA CET Cutoff 2024
Download Helpful Ebooks
List of Popular Branches
QnA - Get answers to your doubts
IIM Fees Structure
AIIMS Nursing
Top Medical Colleges in India
Top Medical Colleges in India accepting NEET Score
Medical Colleges accepting NEET
List of Medical Colleges in India
List of AIIMS Colleges In India
Medical Colleges in Maharashtra
Medical Colleges in India Accepting NEET PG
NEET College Predictor
NEET PG College Predictor
NEET MDS College Predictor
DNB CET College Predictor
DNB PDCET College Predictor
NEET Application Form 2024
NEET PG Application Form 2024
NEET Cut off
NEET Online Preparation
Download Helpful E-books
LSAT India 2024
Colleges Accepting Admissions
Top Law Colleges in India
Law College Accepting CLAT Score
List of Law Colleges in India
Top Law Colleges in Delhi
Top Law Collages in Indore
Top Law Colleges in Chandigarh
Top Law Collages in Lucknow

Predictors & E-Books

CLAT College Predictor
MHCET Law ( 5 Year L.L.B) College Predictor
AILET College Predictor
Sample Papers
Compare Law Collages
Careers360 Youtube Channel
CLAT Syllabus 2025
CLAT Previous Year Question Paper
AIBE 18 Result 2023
NID DAT Exam
Pearl Academy Exam

Animation Courses

Animation Courses in India
Animation Courses in Bangalore
Animation Courses in Mumbai
Animation Courses in Pune
Animation Courses in Chennai
Animation Courses in Hyderabad
Design Colleges in India
Fashion Design Colleges in Bangalore
Fashion Design Colleges in Mumbai
Fashion Design Colleges in Pune
Fashion Design Colleges in Delhi
Fashion Design Colleges in Hyderabad
Fashion Design Colleges in India
Top Design Colleges in India
Free Design E-books
List of Branches
Careers360 Youtube channel
NIFT College Predictor
UCEED College Predictor
NID DAT College Predictor
IPU CET BJMC
JMI Mass Communication Entrance Exam
IIMC Entrance Exam
Media & Journalism colleges in Delhi
Media & Journalism colleges in Bangalore
Media & Journalism colleges in Mumbai
List of Media & Journalism Colleges in India
CA Intermediate
CA Foundation
CS Executive
CS Professional
Difference between CA and CS
Difference between CA and CMA
CA Full form
CMA Full form
CS Full form
CA Salary In India

Top Courses & Careers

Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com)
Master of Commerce (M.Com)
Company Secretary
Cost Accountant
Charted Accountant
Credit Manager
Financial Advisor
Top Commerce Colleges in India
Top Government Commerce Colleges in India
Top Private Commerce Colleges in India
Top M.Com Colleges in Mumbai
Top B.Com Colleges in India
IT Colleges in Tamil Nadu
IT Colleges in Uttar Pradesh
MCA Colleges in India
BCA Colleges in India

Diploma Colleges

Top Diploma Colleges in Maharashtra
UPSC IAS 2024
SSC CGL 2024
IBPS RRB 2024
Previous Year Sample Papers
Free Competition E-books
Sarkari Result
QnA- Get your doubts answered
UPSC Previous Year Sample Papers
CTET Previous Year Sample Papers
SBI Clerk Previous Year Sample Papers
NDA Previous Year Sample Papers

Upcoming Events

NDA Application Form 2024
UPSC IAS Application Form 2024
CDS Application Form 2024
CTET Admit card 2024
HP TET Result 2023
SSC GD Constable Admit Card 2024
UPTET Notification 2024
SBI Clerk Result 2024

Other Exams

SSC CHSL 2024
UP PCS 2024
UGC NET 2024
RRB NTPC 2024
IBPS PO 2024
IBPS Clerk 2024
IBPS SO 2024
Top University in USA
Top University in Canada
Top University in Ireland
Top Universities in UK
Top Universities in Australia
Best MBA Colleges in Abroad
Business Management Studies Colleges

Top Countries

Study in USA
Study in UK
Study in Canada
Study in Australia
Study in Ireland
Study in Germany
Study in China
Study in Europe

Student Visas

Student Visa Canada
Student Visa UK
Student Visa USA
Student Visa Australia
Student Visa Germany
Student Visa New Zealand
Student Visa Ireland
CUET PG 2024
IGNOU B.Ed Admission 2024
DU Admission
UP B.Ed JEE 2024
DDU Entrance Exam
IIT JAM 2024
IGNOU Online Admission 2024
Universities in India
Top Universities in India 2024
Top Colleges in India
Top Universities in Uttar Pradesh 2024
Top Universities in Bihar
Top Universities in Madhya Pradesh 2024
Top Universities in Tamil Nadu 2024
Central Universities in India
CUET PG Admit Card 2024
IGNOU Date Sheet
CUET Mock Test 2024
CUET Application Form 2024
CUET PG Syllabus 2024
CUET Participating Universities 2024
CUET Previous Year Question Paper
CUET Syllabus 2024 for Science Students
E-Books and Sample Papers
CUET Exam Pattern 2024
CUET Exam Date 2024
CUET Syllabus 2024
IGNOU Exam Form 2024
IGNOU Result
CUET PG Courses 2024

Engineering Preparation

Knockout JEE Main 2024
Test Series JEE Main 2024
JEE Main 2024 Rank Booster

Medical Preparation

Knockout NEET 2024
Test Series NEET 2024
Rank Booster NEET 2024

Online Courses

JEE Main One Month Course
NEET One Month Course
IBSAT Free Mock Tests
IIT JEE Foundation Course
Knockout BITSAT 2024
Career Guidance Tool

Top Streams

IT & Software Certification Courses
Engineering and Architecture Certification Courses
Programming And Development Certification Courses
Business and Management Certification Courses
Marketing Certification Courses
Health and Fitness Certification Courses
Design Certification Courses

Specializations

Digital Marketing Certification Courses
Cyber Security Certification Courses
Artificial Intelligence Certification Courses
Business Analytics Certification Courses
Data Science Certification Courses
Cloud Computing Certification Courses
Machine Learning Certification Courses
View All Certification Courses
UG Degree Courses
PG Degree Courses
Short Term Courses
Free Courses
Online Degrees and Diplomas
Compare Courses

Top Providers

Coursera Courses
Udemy Courses
Edx Courses
Swayam Courses
upGrad Courses
Simplilearn Courses
Great Learning Courses

Access premium articles, webinars, resources to make the best decisions for career, course, exams, scholarships, study abroad and much more with

Plan, Prepare & Make the Best Career Choices

Essay On Water

More than 70% of the Earth is covered by water, which is essential to life as we know it. The human body contains up to 60% water. There is a lot of water on the planet, but not all of it can be absorbed by humans or other animals. It is sad that freshwater, which is portable and safe to drink, makes up only 3% of the world's total water supply. Here are a few sample essays on water.

100 Words Essay On Water

Water is necessary for our survival as well as for a healthy and happy life. Everyone is familiar with the picture of people living in misery in nations without access to water, such as Africa. It's time for everyone to wake up and understand how important water conservation is. Without water, all of the vegetation on earth will perish and become a desolate landscape. Different seasons won't exist for much longer. The entire planet will experience one very long summer. Additionally, aquatic species will lose their habitat. That implies we won't be able to view any fish or whales. Most significantly, if we do not immediately practice water conservation, all forms of life will go extinct. In conclusion, it is imperative to immediately stop wasting water. Water conservation and ecosystem restoration require the cooperation of everyone.

200 Words Essay On Water

Our bodies are made up of about 60% water, and without fluids, we can only survive for three to five days. Water is essential for digestion as well as many other vital bodily functions, including cleaning out waste and controlling body temperature. Life is not possible without water. It is necessary for the health of our planet as well as for our own survival. Water is present in large quantities in all fruits and vegetables. It is important to drink plenty of water, or about 3 to 4 liters every day, to be healthy. Water is essential to human health and a shortage of it can have serious negative effects on wellbeing. Insufficient water consumption is a severe health issue that can result in kidney stones.

During my school days I witnessed many people wasting water while washing hands by not closing it after use and spilling water on the floor. Schools should provide proper water management and saving lessons to students to generate such social ethics governing their behavior. Water is essential for life and has the power to heal. Water and all the other necessary components for life are only available on our planet, making it the only place where life is conceivable.

500 Words Essay On Water

One of the most crucial elements for the survival of life on earth is water. Both humans and animals need it just as much. Water is important for our daily functioning in addition to just helping us survive. When we think about it, there are a lot of uses for it. Although water makes up the majority of our planet, not all of it is suitable for human consumption. It is crucial that we use this resource appropriately as a result. Water is a miraculous substance that gives life to germs, viruses, plants, animals, and other organisms. Furthermore, it is much more crucial to conserve water right away when we consider the water scarcity that is currently occurring in our nation.

Uses Of Water | India uses water extensively because agriculture is the country's primary industry. Water is essential for cattle rearing and irrigation. As a result, many farmers' livelihoods rely on it. Water is also used by companies for a variety of purposes. When manufacturing, chilling, and transporting various items, it is useful. Thermal power plants, for instance, use a significant amount of water to operate. Water is used essentially in all our daily activities ranging from washing our clothes to cooking our food. Moreover, living beings cannot exist without drinking water and will perish if we run out of fresh water supply which is already so limited.

Do Not Waste Water | People don't understand that water is very important but also quite scarce. They waste water, giving little or no thought to the consequences of their actions. There are many different strategies to prevent water waste. All homes must first have their leaking taps checked. They need to be fixed right away because every drop is valuable.

Similarly, when bathing, we must choose buckets rather than showers. It's important to settle this hotly contested issue. People must favor buckets because showers waste a lot of water. Most houses have this particular habit, which is fairly widespread—while washing dishes and brushing their teeth, people do not turn off their taps. Always keep in mind to turn off the tap while brushing teeth or washing clothes or utensils. A huge amount of water gets wasted when we leave the tap open.

Since water is a finite resource, it should be used responsibly. When I was at school, I saw a lot of people splash water on the floor after washing their hands by failing to close the faucet afterward. Students should learn good water management and conservation techniques in schools to develop the social ethics that will guide their behaviour. It is imperative that we as people be educated about water scarcity and its uses in a sustainable way. Not many people are aware of water being a finite source and therefore go about wasting it without giving it much thought.

For living things to survive, water is essential. Even while water naturally recycles, the amount of freshwater on Earth is quickly running out. All of this is the result of human negligence. Every day, we utilize water for a variety of purposes. But we're not making the best use of it. We use less of it than we waste. Water is rapidly evaporating as a result of this. It is past time for us to curb activities that contaminate the water and use it responsibly.

Explore Career Options (By Industry)

Construction
Entertainment
Manufacturing
Information Technology

Bio Medical Engineer

The field of biomedical engineering opens up a universe of expert chances. An Individual in the biomedical engineering career path work in the field of engineering as well as medicine, in order to find out solutions to common problems of the two fields. The biomedical engineering job opportunities are to collaborate with doctors and researchers to develop medical systems, equipment, or devices that can solve clinical problems. Here we will be discussing jobs after biomedical engineering, how to get a job in biomedical engineering, biomedical engineering scope, and salary.

Data Administrator

Database professionals use software to store and organise data such as financial information, and customer shipping records. Individuals who opt for a career as data administrators ensure that data is available for users and secured from unauthorised sales. DB administrators may work in various types of industries. It may involve computer systems design, service firms, insurance companies, banks and hospitals.

Ethical Hacker

A career as ethical hacker involves various challenges and provides lucrative opportunities in the digital era where every giant business and startup owns its cyberspace on the world wide web. Individuals in the ethical hacker career path try to find the vulnerabilities in the cyber system to get its authority. If he or she succeeds in it then he or she gets its illegal authority. Individuals in the ethical hacker career path then steal information or delete the file that could affect the business, functioning, or services of the organization.

Data Analyst

The invention of the database has given fresh breath to the people involved in the data analytics career path. Analysis refers to splitting up a whole into its individual components for individual analysis. Data analysis is a method through which raw data are processed and transformed into information that would be beneficial for user strategic thinking.

Data are collected and examined to respond to questions, evaluate hypotheses or contradict theories. It is a tool for analyzing, transforming, modeling, and arranging data with useful knowledge, to assist in decision-making and methods, encompassing various strategies, and is used in different fields of business, research, and social science.

Geothermal Engineer

Individuals who opt for a career as geothermal engineers are the professionals involved in the processing of geothermal energy. The responsibilities of geothermal engineers may vary depending on the workplace location. Those who work in fields design facilities to process and distribute geothermal energy. They oversee the functioning of machinery used in the field.

Remote Sensing Technician

Individuals who opt for a career as a remote sensing technician possess unique personalities. Remote sensing analysts seem to be rational human beings, they are strong, independent, persistent, sincere, realistic and resourceful. Some of them are analytical as well, which means they are intelligent, introspective and inquisitive.

Remote sensing scientists use remote sensing technology to support scientists in fields such as community planning, flight planning or the management of natural resources. Analysing data collected from aircraft, satellites or ground-based platforms using statistical analysis software, image analysis software or Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a significant part of their work. Do you want to learn how to become remote sensing technician? There's no need to be concerned; we've devised a simple remote sensing technician career path for you. Scroll through the pages and read.

Geotechnical engineer

The role of geotechnical engineer starts with reviewing the projects needed to define the required material properties. The work responsibilities are followed by a site investigation of rock, soil, fault distribution and bedrock properties on and below an area of interest. The investigation is aimed to improve the ground engineering design and determine their engineering properties that include how they will interact with, on or in a proposed construction.

The role of geotechnical engineer in mining includes designing and determining the type of foundations, earthworks, and or pavement subgrades required for the intended man-made structures to be made. Geotechnical engineering jobs are involved in earthen and concrete dam construction projects, working under a range of normal and extreme loading conditions.

Cartographer

How fascinating it is to represent the whole world on just a piece of paper or a sphere. With the help of maps, we are able to represent the real world on a much smaller scale. Individuals who opt for a career as a cartographer are those who make maps. But, cartography is not just limited to maps, it is about a mixture of art , science , and technology. As a cartographer, not only you will create maps but use various geodetic surveys and remote sensing systems to measure, analyse, and create different maps for political, cultural or educational purposes.

Budget Analyst

Budget analysis, in a nutshell, entails thoroughly analyzing the details of a financial budget. The budget analysis aims to better understand and manage revenue. Budget analysts assist in the achievement of financial targets, the preservation of profitability, and the pursuit of long-term growth for a business. Budget analysts generally have a bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, economics, or a closely related field. Knowledge of Financial Management is of prime importance in this career.

Product Manager

A Product Manager is a professional responsible for product planning and marketing. He or she manages the product throughout the Product Life Cycle, gathering and prioritising the product. A product manager job description includes defining the product vision and working closely with team members of other departments to deliver winning products.

Underwriter

An underwriter is a person who assesses and evaluates the risk of insurance in his or her field like mortgage, loan, health policy, investment, and so on and so forth. The underwriter career path does involve risks as analysing the risks means finding out if there is a way for the insurance underwriter jobs to recover the money from its clients. If the risk turns out to be too much for the company then in the future it is an underwriter who will be held accountable for it. Therefore, one must carry out his or her job with a lot of attention and diligence.

Finance Executive

Operations manager.

Individuals in the operations manager jobs are responsible for ensuring the efficiency of each department to acquire its optimal goal. They plan the use of resources and distribution of materials. The operations manager's job description includes managing budgets, negotiating contracts, and performing administrative tasks.

Bank Probationary Officer (PO)

Investment director.

An investment director is a person who helps corporations and individuals manage their finances. They can help them develop a strategy to achieve their goals, including paying off debts and investing in the future. In addition, he or she can help individuals make informed decisions.

Welding Engineer

Welding Engineer Job Description: A Welding Engineer work involves managing welding projects and supervising welding teams. He or she is responsible for reviewing welding procedures, processes and documentation. A career as Welding Engineer involves conducting failure analyses and causes on welding issues.

Transportation Planner

A career as Transportation Planner requires technical application of science and technology in engineering, particularly the concepts, equipment and technologies involved in the production of products and services. In fields like land use, infrastructure review, ecological standards and street design, he or she considers issues of health, environment and performance. A Transportation Planner assigns resources for implementing and designing programmes. He or she is responsible for assessing needs, preparing plans and forecasts and compliance with regulations.

An expert in plumbing is aware of building regulations and safety standards and works to make sure these standards are upheld. Testing pipes for leakage using air pressure and other gauges, and also the ability to construct new pipe systems by cutting, fitting, measuring and threading pipes are some of the other more involved aspects of plumbing. Individuals in the plumber career path are self-employed or work for a small business employing less than ten people, though some might find working for larger entities or the government more desirable.

Construction Manager

Individuals who opt for a career as construction managers have a senior-level management role offered in construction firms. Responsibilities in the construction management career path are assigning tasks to workers, inspecting their work, and coordinating with other professionals including architects, subcontractors, and building services engineers.

Urban Planner

Urban Planning careers revolve around the idea of developing a plan to use the land optimally, without affecting the environment. Urban planning jobs are offered to those candidates who are skilled in making the right use of land to distribute the growing population, to create various communities.

Urban planning careers come with the opportunity to make changes to the existing cities and towns. They identify various community needs and make short and long-term plans accordingly.

Highway Engineer

Highway Engineer Job Description: A Highway Engineer is a civil engineer who specialises in planning and building thousands of miles of roads that support connectivity and allow transportation across the country. He or she ensures that traffic management schemes are effectively planned concerning economic sustainability and successful implementation.

Environmental Engineer

Individuals who opt for a career as an environmental engineer are construction professionals who utilise the skills and knowledge of biology, soil science, chemistry and the concept of engineering to design and develop projects that serve as solutions to various environmental problems.

Naval Architect

A Naval Architect is a professional who designs, produces and repairs safe and sea-worthy surfaces or underwater structures. A Naval Architect stays involved in creating and designing ships, ferries, submarines and yachts with implementation of various principles such as gravity, ideal hull form, buoyancy and stability.

Orthotist and Prosthetist

Orthotists and Prosthetists are professionals who provide aid to patients with disabilities. They fix them to artificial limbs (prosthetics) and help them to regain stability. There are times when people lose their limbs in an accident. In some other occasions, they are born without a limb or orthopaedic impairment. Orthotists and prosthetists play a crucial role in their lives with fixing them to assistive devices and provide mobility.

Veterinary Doctor

Pathologist.

A career in pathology in India is filled with several responsibilities as it is a medical branch and affects human lives. The demand for pathologists has been increasing over the past few years as people are getting more aware of different diseases. Not only that, but an increase in population and lifestyle changes have also contributed to the increase in a pathologist’s demand. The pathology careers provide an extremely huge number of opportunities and if you want to be a part of the medical field you can consider being a pathologist. If you want to know more about a career in pathology in India then continue reading this article.

Speech Therapist

Gynaecologist.

Gynaecology can be defined as the study of the female body. The job outlook for gynaecology is excellent since there is evergreen demand for one because of their responsibility of dealing with not only women’s health but also fertility and pregnancy issues. Although most women prefer to have a women obstetrician gynaecologist as their doctor, men also explore a career as a gynaecologist and there are ample amounts of male doctors in the field who are gynaecologists and aid women during delivery and childbirth.

An oncologist is a specialised doctor responsible for providing medical care to patients diagnosed with cancer. He or she uses several therapies to control the cancer and its effect on the human body such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy and biopsy. An oncologist designs a treatment plan based on a pathology report after diagnosing the type of cancer and where it is spreading inside the body.

Audiologist

The audiologist career involves audiology professionals who are responsible to treat hearing loss and proactively preventing the relevant damage. Individuals who opt for a career as an audiologist use various testing strategies with the aim to determine if someone has a normal sensitivity to sounds or not. After the identification of hearing loss, a hearing doctor is required to determine which sections of the hearing are affected, to what extent they are affected, and where the wound causing the hearing loss is found. As soon as the hearing loss is identified, the patients are provided with recommendations for interventions and rehabilitation such as hearing aids, cochlear implants, and appropriate medical referrals. While audiology is a branch of science that studies and researches hearing, balance, and related disorders.

Hospital Administrator

The hospital Administrator is in charge of organising and supervising the daily operations of medical services and facilities. This organising includes managing of organisation’s staff and its members in service, budgets, service reports, departmental reporting and taking reminders of patient care and services.

For an individual who opts for a career as an actor, the primary responsibility is to completely speak to the character he or she is playing and to persuade the crowd that the character is genuine by connecting with them and bringing them into the story. This applies to significant roles and littler parts, as all roles join to make an effective creation. Here in this article, we will discuss how to become an actor in India, actor exams, actor salary in India, and actor jobs.

Individuals who opt for a career as acrobats create and direct original routines for themselves, in addition to developing interpretations of existing routines. The work of circus acrobats can be seen in a variety of performance settings, including circus, reality shows, sports events like the Olympics, movies and commercials. Individuals who opt for a career as acrobats must be prepared to face rejections and intermittent periods of work. The creativity of acrobats may extend to other aspects of the performance. For example, acrobats in the circus may work with gym trainers, celebrities or collaborate with other professionals to enhance such performance elements as costume and or maybe at the teaching end of the career.

Video Game Designer

Career as a video game designer is filled with excitement as well as responsibilities. A video game designer is someone who is involved in the process of creating a game from day one. He or she is responsible for fulfilling duties like designing the character of the game, the several levels involved, plot, art and similar other elements. Individuals who opt for a career as a video game designer may also write the codes for the game using different programming languages.

Depending on the video game designer job description and experience they may also have to lead a team and do the early testing of the game in order to suggest changes and find loopholes.

Radio Jockey

Radio Jockey is an exciting, promising career and a great challenge for music lovers. If you are really interested in a career as radio jockey, then it is very important for an RJ to have an automatic, fun, and friendly personality. If you want to get a job done in this field, a strong command of the language and a good voice are always good things. Apart from this, in order to be a good radio jockey, you will also listen to good radio jockeys so that you can understand their style and later make your own by practicing.

A career as radio jockey has a lot to offer to deserving candidates. If you want to know more about a career as radio jockey, and how to become a radio jockey then continue reading the article.

Choreographer

The word “choreography" actually comes from Greek words that mean “dance writing." Individuals who opt for a career as a choreographer create and direct original dances, in addition to developing interpretations of existing dances. A Choreographer dances and utilises his or her creativity in other aspects of dance performance. For example, he or she may work with the music director to select music or collaborate with other famous choreographers to enhance such performance elements as lighting, costume and set design.

Videographer

Multimedia specialist.

A multimedia specialist is a media professional who creates, audio, videos, graphic image files, computer animations for multimedia applications. He or she is responsible for planning, producing, and maintaining websites and applications.

Social Media Manager

A career as social media manager involves implementing the company’s or brand’s marketing plan across all social media channels. Social media managers help in building or improving a brand’s or a company’s website traffic, build brand awareness, create and implement marketing and brand strategy. Social media managers are key to important social communication as well.

Copy Writer

In a career as a copywriter, one has to consult with the client and understand the brief well. A career as a copywriter has a lot to offer to deserving candidates. Several new mediums of advertising are opening therefore making it a lucrative career choice. Students can pursue various copywriter courses such as Journalism , Advertising , Marketing Management . Here, we have discussed how to become a freelance copywriter, copywriter career path, how to become a copywriter in India, and copywriting career outlook.

Careers in journalism are filled with excitement as well as responsibilities. One cannot afford to miss out on the details. As it is the small details that provide insights into a story. Depending on those insights a journalist goes about writing a news article. A journalism career can be stressful at times but if you are someone who is passionate about it then it is the right choice for you. If you want to know more about the media field and journalist career then continue reading this article.

For publishing books, newspapers, magazines and digital material, editorial and commercial strategies are set by publishers. Individuals in publishing career paths make choices about the markets their businesses will reach and the type of content that their audience will be served. Individuals in book publisher careers collaborate with editorial staff, designers, authors, and freelance contributors who develop and manage the creation of content.

In a career as a vlogger, one generally works for himself or herself. However, once an individual has gained viewership there are several brands and companies that approach them for paid collaboration. It is one of those fields where an individual can earn well while following his or her passion.

Ever since internet costs got reduced the viewership for these types of content has increased on a large scale. Therefore, a career as a vlogger has a lot to offer. If you want to know more about the Vlogger eligibility, roles and responsibilities then continue reading the article.

Individuals in the editor career path is an unsung hero of the news industry who polishes the language of the news stories provided by stringers, reporters, copywriters and content writers and also news agencies. Individuals who opt for a career as an editor make it more persuasive, concise and clear for readers. In this article, we will discuss the details of the editor's career path such as how to become an editor in India, editor salary in India and editor skills and qualities.

Linguistic meaning is related to language or Linguistics which is the study of languages. A career as a linguistic meaning, a profession that is based on the scientific study of language, and it's a very broad field with many specialities. Famous linguists work in academia, researching and teaching different areas of language, such as phonetics (sounds), syntax (word order) and semantics (meaning).

Other researchers focus on specialities like computational linguistics, which seeks to better match human and computer language capacities, or applied linguistics, which is concerned with improving language education. Still, others work as language experts for the government, advertising companies, dictionary publishers and various other private enterprises. Some might work from home as freelance linguists. Philologist, phonologist, and dialectician are some of Linguist synonym. Linguists can study French , German , Italian .

Public Relation Executive

Travel journalist.

The career of a travel journalist is full of passion, excitement and responsibility. Journalism as a career could be challenging at times, but if you're someone who has been genuinely enthusiastic about all this, then it is the best decision for you. Travel journalism jobs are all about insightful, artfully written, informative narratives designed to cover the travel industry. Travel Journalist is someone who explores, gathers and presents information as a news article.

Quality Controller

A quality controller plays a crucial role in an organisation. He or she is responsible for performing quality checks on manufactured products. He or she identifies the defects in a product and rejects the product.

A quality controller records detailed information about products with defects and sends it to the supervisor or plant manager to take necessary actions to improve the production process.

Production Manager

Merchandiser.

A QA Lead is in charge of the QA Team. The role of QA Lead comes with the responsibility of assessing services and products in order to determine that he or she meets the quality standards. He or she develops, implements and manages test plans.

Metallurgical Engineer

A metallurgical engineer is a professional who studies and produces materials that bring power to our world. He or she extracts metals from ores and rocks and transforms them into alloys, high-purity metals and other materials used in developing infrastructure, transportation and healthcare equipment.

Azure Administrator

An Azure Administrator is a professional responsible for implementing, monitoring, and maintaining Azure Solutions. He or she manages cloud infrastructure service instances and various cloud servers as well as sets up public and private cloud systems.

AWS Solution Architect

An AWS Solution Architect is someone who specializes in developing and implementing cloud computing systems. He or she has a good understanding of the various aspects of cloud computing and can confidently deploy and manage their systems. He or she troubleshoots the issues and evaluates the risk from the third party.

Computer Programmer

Careers in computer programming primarily refer to the systematic act of writing code and moreover include wider computer science areas. The word 'programmer' or 'coder' has entered into practice with the growing number of newly self-taught tech enthusiasts. Computer programming careers involve the use of designs created by software developers and engineers and transforming them into commands that can be implemented by computers. These commands result in regular usage of social media sites, word-processing applications and browsers.

ITSM Manager

Information security manager.

Individuals in the information security manager career path involves in overseeing and controlling all aspects of computer security. The IT security manager job description includes planning and carrying out security measures to protect the business data and information from corruption, theft, unauthorised access, and deliberate attack

Business Intelligence Developer

Applications for admissions are open..

JEE Main Important Chemistry formulas

As per latest 2024 syllabus. Chemistry formulas, equations, & laws of class 11 & 12th chapters

Aakash iACST Scholarship Test 2024

Get up to 90% scholarship on NEET, JEE & Foundation courses

Resonance Coaching

Enroll in Resonance Coaching for success in JEE/NEET exams

ALLEN JEE Exam Prep

Start your JEE preparation with ALLEN

NEET 2024 Most scoring concepts

Just Study 32% of the NEET syllabus and Score upto 100% marks

JEE Main high scoring chapters and topics

As per latest 2024 syllabus. Study 40% syllabus and score upto 100% marks in JEE

Everything about Education

Latest updates, Exclusive Content, Webinars and more.

Download Careers360 App's

Regular exam updates, QnA, Predictors, College Applications & E-books now on your Mobile

Cetifications

We Appeared in

Essay on Save Water Save Life for Students and Children

500+ words essay on save water save life.

Water has become a highly necessary part of human being’s existence on Earth. Thus, the importance of water can be compared to the importance of air. All living organisms whether it is human, animals, or plants. Everyone is completely depending on fresh and potable water. Thus, essay on save water save a life is an insight into some of the unknown and important benefits of water for human beings.

Water is perhaps the second most important substance on Earth after the air. Apart from drinking, there are other benefits of water as well. Thus, it includes cooking, washing, cleaning, etc. Water is not a vital part of the human being’s survival. Also, it important for the survival of trees and plants. Additionally, it is a precious element required for the agricultural as well as various other industrial sectors.

Currently, the biggest problem related to global warming is a huge water depreciation on Earth. This is mainly caused due to misuse of water happening at various places. In the current scenario, it is important to understand the formula for the conversation of water and thereby save water. Because pure water resources are the primary sources for all our necessities. And when it becomes depreciated, it can lead to huge catastrophic conditions for human beings.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Need to Save Water

Currently, there are many regions in the world that are facing extreme water scarcity due to deÃ§line of groundwater and scanty rainfalls. Also, in some areas, the groundwater is contaminated or it has been overused. Thus, these factors have to lead to drought situations and in these areas it has lead to water scarcity. Furthermore, urbanization and industrialization have added to the problems where groundwater has been overused to fulfill the increasing demands of the population.

According to the WHO report, 1 out of people does not have access to safe drinking water. Seeing this, the water crisis in the future does seem inevitable. Also, it calls for an immediate action plan in order to conserve water so that precious resource can be saved for today as well for future generations.

Save Water Initiative

This initiative can help and promote the conservation of water . Also, it can be spread awareness among the people about the importance of water. Additionally, the save water campaign helps people realize that the sources of fresh and pure water are very limited. So, if it is overused that there are chances that they might not be able to fulfill the increasing demands of the population. Through this campaign, we can create awareness among the people about the benefits and preserving water and using it diligently.

Customize your course in 30 seconds

Which class are you in.

Travelling Essay
Picnic Essay
Our Country Essay
My Parents Essay
Essay on Favourite Personality
Essay on Memorable Day of My Life
Essay on Knowledge is Power
Essay on Gurpurab
Essay on My Favourite Season
Essay on Types of Sports

Download the App

There are many options for what to drink , but water is the best choice for most people who have access to safe drinking water. It is calorie-free and as easy to find as the nearest tap.

Water helps to restore fluids lost through metabolism, breathing, sweating, and the removal of waste. It helps to keep you from overheating, lubricates the joints and tissues, maintains healthy skin, and is necessary for proper digestion. It’s the perfect zero-calorie beverage for quenching thirst and rehydrating your body.

How Much Water Do I Need?

Water is an essential nutrient at every age, so optimal hydration is a key component for good health. Water accounts for about 60% of an adult’s body weight. We drink fluids when we feel thirst, the major signal alerting us when our body runs low on water. We also customarily drink beverages with meals to help with digestion. But sometimes we drink not based on these factors but on how much we think we should be drinking. One of the most familiar sayings is to aim for “8 glasses a day,” but this may not be appropriate for every person.

General recommendations

The National Academy of Medicine suggests an adequate intake of daily fluids of about 13 cups and 9 cups for healthy men and women, respectively, with 1 cup equaling 8 ounces. [1] Higher amounts may be needed for those who are physically active or exposed to very warm climates. Lower amounts may be needed for those with smaller body sizes. It’s important to note that this amount is not a daily target, but a general guide. In the average person, drinking less will not necessarily compromise one’s health as each person’s exact fluid needs vary, even day-to-day.
Fever, exercise, exposure to extreme temperature climates (very hot or cold), and excessive loss of body fluids (such as with vomiting or diarrhea) will increase fluid needs.
The amount and color of urine can provide a rough estimate of adequate hydration. Generally the color of urine darkens the more concentrated it is (meaning that it contains less water). However, foods, medications, and vitamin supplements can also change urine color. [1] Smaller volumes of urine may indicate dehydration, especially if also darker in color.
Alcohol can suppress anti-diuretic hormone, a fluid-regulating hormone that signals the kidneys to reduce urination and reabsorb water back into the body. Without it, the body flushes out water more easily. Enjoying more than a couple of drinks within a short time can increase the risk of dehydration, especially if taken on an empty stomach. To prevent this, take alcohol with food and sips of water.
Although caffeine has long been thought to have a diuretic effect, potentially leading to dehydration, research does not fully support this. The data suggest that more than 180 mg of caffeine daily (about two cups of brewed coffee) may increase urination in the short-term in some people, but will not necessarily lead to dehydration. Therefore, caffeinated beverages including coffee and tea can contribute to total daily water intake. [1]

Keep in mind that about 20% of our total water intake comes not from beverages but from water-rich foods like lettuce, leafy greens, cucumbers, bell peppers, summer squash, celery, berries, and melons.

Aside from including water-rich foods, the following chart is a guide for daily water intake based on age group from the National Academy of Medicine:

Preventing Dehydration: Is Thirst Enough?

As we age, however, the body’s regulation of fluid intake and thirst decline. Research has shown that both of these factors are impaired in the elderly. A Cochrane review found that commonly used indicators of dehydration in older adults (e.g., urine color and volume, feeling thirsty) are not effective and should not be solely used. [3] Certain conditions that impair mental ability and cognition, such as a stroke or dementia, can also impair thirst. People may also voluntarily limit drinking due to incontinence or difficulty getting to a bathroom. In addition to these situations, research has found that athletes, people who are ill, and infants may not have an adequate sense of thirst to replete their fluid needs. [2] Even mild dehydration may produce negative symptoms, so people who cannot rely on thirst or other usual measures may wish to use other strategies. For example, aim to fill a 20-ounce water bottle four times daily and sip throughout the day, or drink a large glass of water with each meal and snack.

Symptoms of dehydration that may occur with as little as a 2% water deficit:

Confusion or short-term memory loss
Mood changes like increased irritability or depression

Dehydration can increase the risk of certain medical conditions:

Urinary tract infections
Kidney stones
Constipation

Like most trends of the moment, alkaline water has become popular through celebrity backing with claims ranging from weight loss to curing cancer. The theory behind alkaline water is the same as that touting the benefits of eating alkaline foods, which purportedly counterbalances the health detriments caused by eating acid-producing foods like meat, sugar, and some grains.

From a scale of 0-14, a higher pH number is alkaline; a lower pH is acidic. The body tightly regulates blood pH levels to about 7.4 because veering away from this number to either extreme can cause negative side effects and even be life-threatening. However, diet alone cannot cause these extremes; they most commonly occur with conditions like uncontrolled diabetes, kidney disease, chronic lung disease, or alcohol abuse.

Alkaline water has a higher pH of about 8-9 than tap water of about 7, due to a higher mineral or salt content. Some water sources can be naturally alkaline if the water picks up minerals as it passes over rocks. However, most commercial brands of alkaline water have been manufactured using an ionizer that reportedly separates out the alkaline components and filters out the acid components, raising the pH. Some people add an alkaline substance like baking soda to regular water.

Scientific evidence is not conclusive on the acid-alkaline theory, also called the acid-ash theory, stating that eating a high amount of certain foods can slightly lower the pH of blood especially in the absence of eating foods supporting a higher alkaline blood pH like fruits, vegetables, and legumes. Controlled clinical trials have not shown that diet alone can significantly change the blood pH of healthy people. Moreover, a direct connection of blood pH in the low-normal range and chronic disease in humans has not been established.

BOTTOM LINE: If the idea of alkaline water encourages you to drink more, then go for it! But it’s likely that drinking plain regular water will provide similar health benefits from simply being well-hydrated—improved energy, mood, and digestive health

Is It Possible To Drink Too Much Water?

There is no Tolerable Upper Intake Level for water because the body can usually excrete extra water through urine or sweat. However, a condition called water toxicity is possible in rare cases, in which a large amount of fluids is taken in a short amount of time, which is faster than the kidney’s ability to excrete it. This leads to a dangerous condition called hyponatremia in which blood levels of sodium fall too low as too much water is taken. The excess total body water dilutes blood sodium levels, which can cause symptoms like confusion, nausea, seizures, and muscle spasms. Hyponatremia is usually only seen in ill people whose kidneys are not functioning properly or under conditions of extreme heat stress or prolonged strenuous exercise where the body cannot excrete the extra water. Very physically active people such as triathletes and marathon runners are at risk for this condition as they tend to drink large amounts of water, while simultaneously losing sodium through their sweat. Women and children are also more susceptible to hyponatremia because of their smaller body size.

Fun Flavors For Water

Pitcher of water filled with orange slices and mint leaves

Infused water

Instead of purchasing expensive flavored waters in the grocery store, you can easily make your own at home. Try adding any of the following to a cold glass or pitcher of water:

Sliced citrus fruits or zest (lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit)
Crushed fresh mint
Peeled, sliced fresh ginger or sliced cucumber
Crushed berries

Sparkling water with a splash of juice

Sparkling juices may have as many calories as sugary soda. Instead, make your own sparkling juice at home with 12 ounces of sparkling water and just an ounce or two of juice. For additional flavor, add sliced citrus or fresh herbs like mint.

TIP: To reduce waste, reconsider relying on single-use plastic water bottles and purchase a colorful 20-32 ounce refillable water thermos that is easy to wash and tote with you during the day.

Are seltzers and other fizzy waters safe and healthy to drink?

BOTTOM LINE: Carbonated waters, if unsweetened, are safe to drink and a good beverage choice. They are not associated with health problems that are linked with sweetened, carbonated beverages like soda.

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health is a member of the Nutrition and Obesity Policy Research and Evaluation Network’s (NOPREN) Drinking Water Working Group. A collaborative network of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the NOPREN Drinking Water Working Group focuses on policies and economic issues regarding free and safe drinking water access in various settings by conducting research and evaluation to help identify, develop and implement drinking-water-related policies, programs, and practices. Visit the network’s website to access recent water research and evidence-based resources.
The Harvard Prevention Research Center on Nutrition and Physical Activity provides tools and resources for making clean, cold, free water more accessible in environments like schools and afterschool programs, as well as tips for making water more tasty and fun for kids.
The National Academy of Sciences. Dietary References Intakes for Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfate. https://www.nap.edu/read/10925/chapter/6#102 Accessed 8/5/2019.
Millard-Stafford M, Wendland DM, O’Dea NK, Norman TL. Thirst and hydration status in everyday life. Nutr Rev . 2012 Nov;70 Suppl 2:S147-51.
Hooper L, Abdelhamid A, Attreed NJ, Campbell WW, Channell AM, et al. Clinical symptoms, signs and tests for identification of impending and current water-loss dehydration in older people. Cochrane Database Syst Rev . 2015 Apr 30;(4):CD009647.

Terms of Use

The contents of this website are for educational purposes and are not intended to offer personal medical advice. You should seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The Nutrition Source does not recommend or endorse any products.

Press Release | Water crises threaten world peace (report)

Paris, 22 March 2024 – The United Nations World Water Development Report 2024, published by UNESCO on behalf of UN-Water, highlights that tensions over water are exacerbating conflicts worldwide. To preserve peace, States must boost international cooperation and transboundary agreements.

Click here to view the full report

“As water stress increases, so do the risks of local or regional conflict. UNESCO’s message is clear: if we want to preserve peace, we must act swiftly not only to safeguard water resources but also to enhance regional and global cooperation in this area,” said Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO.

“Water, when managed sustainably and equitably, can be a source of peace and prosperity. It is also the literal lifeblood of agriculture, the major socio-economic driver for billions of people,” said Alvaro Lario, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and Chair of UN-Water.

According to the new report published by UNESCO, on behalf of UN-Water, today 2.2 billion people still live without access to safely managed drinking water and 3.5 billion lack access to safely managed sanitation. The UN goal of ensuring this access for all by 2030 is therefore far from being attained, and there is reason to fear that these inequalities may continue to rise.

Between 2002 and 2021 droughts affected more than 1.4 billion people. As of 2022, roughly half of the world’s population experienced severe water scarcity for at least part of the year, while one quarter faced ‘extremely high’ levels of water stress, using over 80% of their annual renewable freshwater supply. Climate change is projected to increase the frequency and severity of these phenomena, with acute risks for social stability.

Girls and women are the first victims of a lack of water

The first impact is the deterioration of living conditions, leading to heightened food insecurity and health risks. Water scarcity also has consequences on social development, particularly for girls and women. In many rural areas, they are the primary water collectors, spending up to several hours a day on this task. Reduced access to water supply exacerbates this burden, which undermines women’s education, economic participation and safety. This may also contribute to the higher secondary school dropout rate among girls compared to boys.

The lack of water security has also been identified as one of the drivers of migration. This displacement can, in turn, contribute to water insecurity by placing added strain on water systems and resources in settlement locations, thereby fuelling social tensions. A study conducted in Somalia indicates a 200% increase in gender-based violence against a group of displaced people.

An urgent need for transboundary agreements

This water scarcity can increase the risk of conflict. In the Sahel region, wetland degradation – often due to ill-advised water development projects – has exacerbated local disputes over access to water and productive land, causing tensions.

While approximately 40% of the world’s population lives in transboundary river and lake basins, only a fifth of countries have cross border agreements to jointly manage these shared resources equitably. Many transboundary basins are already located in areas marked by current or past interstate tensions. In the Arab region, seven countries were in conflict in 2021 – some dating back many years –which has had wide-ranging implications for water supply, infrastructure, and potential cooperation on water-related issues.

Africa remains especially vulnerable to interstate tensions relating to water: 19 out of 22 states studied suffer from water scarcity, and two-thirds of the continent’s freshwater resources are transboundary. Of the 106 transboundary aquifers mapped in Africa, interstate cooperation has only been formalized in seven.

Concrete progress in cooperation in several regions

In this context, cooperation on transboundary water management appears to be a powerful lever for maintaining peace. By creating conditions for regular dialogue between all parties and instituting the necessary legal frameworks, this cooperation has the potential to resolve most disputes relating to water, and therefore prevent the emergence or exacerbation of wider-ranging conflicts.

The Framework Agreement on the Sava River Basin (FASRB), signed in 2002 by Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia, was the first multilateral, development-oriented agreement in South-East Europe. It has successfully laid the groundwork for sustainable water management. Two decades after its adoption, it has become a key driver of stability in the region, and now serves as an example of best practice for other regions of the world.

The decline in volume of Lake Chad – which has decreased in size by 90% over 60 years – has led to a broad range of economic and security challenges in the region. Yet in recent years, Cameroon, Chad, the Central Africa Republic, Libya, Niger and Nigeria have given a new impetus to the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC). LCBC’s mandate has expanded to ensure the most efficient use of the basin’s waters, coordinate local development, and prevent the emergence of disputes that might arise among these countries and local communities. LCBC is today the most appropriate institution for addressing the specific needs of the basin, including socio-economic development and security issues.

These two examples highlight the fact that, even in complex situations, states have the means to enact policies around access to water and shared resource management that are both fair and equitable thanks to international cooperation and the support of the United Nations system.

The United Nations World Water Development Report is published by UNESCO on behalf of UN-Water and its production is coordinated by the UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme. The report gives insight into the main trends concerning the state, use and management of freshwater and sanitation, based on work by Members and Partners of UN-Water. Launched in conjunction with World Water Day, the report provides decision-makers with knowledge and tools to formulate and implement sustainable water policies. It also offers best practice examples and in-depth analyses to stimulate ideas and actions for better stewardship in the water sector and beyond.

About UNESCO

With 194 Member States, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization contributes to peace and security by leading multilateral cooperation on education, science, culture, communication and information. Headquartered in Paris, UNESCO has offices in 54 countries and employs over 2300 people. UNESCO oversees more than 2000 World Heritage sites, Biosphere Reserves and Global Geoparks; networks of Creative, Learning, Inclusive and Sustainable Cities; and over 13 000 associated schools, university chairs, training and research institutions. Its Director-General is Audrey Azoulay.

“Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed” – UNESCO Constitution, 1945.

More information: www.unesco.org

About UN-Water

UN-Water is the United Nations inter-agency coordination mechanism for all freshwater-related matters, including sanitation. It represents 36 UN Agencies, Funds and Programs and 47 international organizations who work together to address the cross-cutting nature of water and sanitation issues, to identify gaps and opportunities and to maximise system-wide coordinated action at the global, regional and country levels and across the United Nations pillars.

More information: https://www.unwater.org/

Media Contacts

News from the Columbia Climate School

Strategies for Safe Drinking Water: Ensuring Lead-Free Taps for All

Emily Mitchell, Vaishnavi Koyilath Nandakumar, Shinyoung Park and Upmanu Lall

Adrienne Day

In 1861, Charles F. Chandler, an American chemist and the first dean of Columbia University’s School of Mines, argued that the threat of lead poisoning outweighed the usefulness of lead as a material to construct water pipes. “The problem…is to provide a pipe which shall possess all the good qualities of lead, and be free from the one great objection, namely, the danger of lead poisoning from its use,” said Chandler in a lecture to a local civic organization.

More than 160 years later, we are still plagued by toxic chemicals in our water. To that end, President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law targets more than $50 billion in investment through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a 100% replacement of the nation’s lead service lines within 10 years. Additionally, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), forever chemicals that impact reproductive and developmental health in humans, are “new, emerging toxins” that are targeted by the administration. As of now, $5 billion is allocated to address emerging contaminants such as PFAS. Comprehensively, the law extends to cover the emerging threat of microplastics to safeguard water and public health as well.

Are these the best investments? Will they be enough?

Violations of drinking water standards are increasing , especially in poorer, rural areas, and in less resourced city schools, with Flint, Mich., and Jackson, Miss., serving as visible examples. Urgent action is required to protect children and underprivileged neighborhoods as 56% of the US population is exposed to lead levels exceeding the recommended limit . Lead exposure causes intellectual and behavioral disorders , contributing to socioeconomic distress. In Jackson, 83% of the population who face ongoing challenges from lead-contaminated drinking water is African-American. The Flint water crisis had catastrophic effects on children’s health, where nearly 30,000 schoolchildren were exposed to lead-contaminated water. General intelligence loss from lead poisoning in children is estimated to cost the US $43.4 billion annually , while lead mitigation is estimated to create $50,000 in benefits per child/year.

Aging water infrastructure is also a concern. Every day, 850 water mains break in North America at a total annual repair cost of over $3 billion. Each break contaminates the water supply and leads to a suspension of service. Beyond the main pipes, lead plumbing and fixtures are expensive to replace for homeowners. Pipe replacement is needed, but it also has significant labor and material costs, disrupts traffic, residential communities and elevates noise levels.

Lead pipelines could be replaced with chlorinated PVC pipes (CPVC), a long-term solution that would also solve aging water mains breaking. Alternately, one could line lead pipes with epoxy resin. This would prevent lead getting into the water supply and can be completed within 12 hours , but has harsh cleaning requirements and does not last as long as a new pipe.

A third solution is a point-of-use reverse osmosis (RO) system installed in each home. RO has proven to be efficient for lead removal, with residential-grade RO filters removing up to 99% of lead. RO also stands out as the optimal choice for the removal of PFAS and microplastics. Notably, key EPA findings show RO systems are effective at removing more than 90 percent of PFAS .

Epoxy lining is the most expensive option, with lead pipe replacement being a close second. RO stands out as the least expensive. We find that RO is a promising solution, with high removal of lead and other toxic chemicals, with integrated UV disinfection targeting microbes. Our financial analysis for schools, apartments and single-family households shows that its long-term costs are one-third of those for pipe replacement, while providing more benefits. A common concern is that users will not replace filters, and this could lead to unsafe water. Maintaining filters can be simplified with a subscription service included in the water bill.

Government funding currently budgeted for the lead problem should consider paying for RO installation since it would cover three times as many people as currently targeted. Increased demand for RO would create a new market for filter production and recycling, filter performance certification and technology to detect and limit microbial growth. As communities struggle to address unsafe water, of which lead is a major but not the only concern, a comprehensive strategy considering cost, efficiency and public support is essential for making informed budgeting decisions for safe drinking water. Currently government aid is only available for pipe replacement. At present, CPVC pipes emerge as the most cost-effective and durable option to replace lead pipes. However, pipe degradation is inevitable regardless of the material, slowly polluting the water that passes through. That is why we must also focus on implementing RO systems that can tackle any contaminant to fully ensure the safety of our drinking water.

We applaud bipartisan efforts on drinking water quality but stress the need for a proactive focus on the safety of water where it is used, rather than for regulated utility improvements, as is the current focus of legislators. We urge the EPA, state and local agencies overseeing water safety to integrate RO treatment and water quality verification at the point of use into policies for schools and homes. Spending $50 billion on pipe replacement alone and not integrating RO projects for communities is a mistake. The country’s aging, failing service lines beg for replacement, but we also need protection at the tap. It is time for action to ensure clean and safe drinking water for all.

The authors of this article are affiliated with the Columbia Water Center , which is leading intellectual inquiry into the assessment, understanding and resolution of the most pressing global water issues, combining multidisciplinary academic research with solutions-based fieldwork in collaboration with other Columbia Climate School centers and programs as well as strategic partners.

Views and opinions expressed here are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Columbia Climate School, Earth Institute or Columbia University.

For This Graduating Senior, Climate, Culture and Community Go Hand in Hand

Finishing the Coastal Service Run

Land Subsidence in the Netherlands

Science for the Planet: In these short video explainers, discover how scientists and scholars across the Columbia Climate School are working to understand the effects of climate change and help solve the crisis.

Get the Columbia Climate School Newsletter →

Surveillance of Waterborne Disease Outbreaks Associated with Drinking Water — United States, 2015–2020

Surveillance Summaries / March 14, 2024 / 73(1);1–23

Jasen M. Kunz, MPH 1 ; Hannah Lawinger, MPH 1 ; Shanna Miko, DNP 1 ; Megan Gerdes, MPH 2 ; Muhammad Thuneibat, MPH 2 ; Elizabeth Hannapel, MPH 3 ; Virginia A. Roberts, MSPH 1 ( View author affiliations )

Introduction

Limitations, future directions, acknowledgments.

Article PDF

Problem/Condition: Public health agencies in U.S. states, territories, and freely associated states investigate and voluntarily report waterborne disease outbreaks to CDC through the National Outbreak Reporting System (NORS). This report summarizes NORS drinking water outbreak epidemiologic, laboratory, and environmental data, including data for both public and private drinking water systems. The report presents outbreak-contributing factors (i.e., practices and factors that lead to outbreaks) and, for the first time, categorizes outbreaks as biofilm pathogen or enteric illness associated.

Period Covered: 2015–2020.

Description of System: CDC launched NORS in 2009 as a web-based platform into which public health departments voluntarily enter outbreak information. Through NORS, CDC collects reports of enteric disease outbreaks caused by bacterial, viral, parasitic, chemical, toxin, and unknown agents as well as foodborne and waterborne outbreaks of nonenteric disease. Data provided by NORS users, when known, for drinking water outbreaks include 1) the number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths; 2) the etiologic agent (confirmed or suspected); 3) the implicated type of water system (e.g., community or individual or private); 4) the setting of exposure (e.g., hospital or health care facility; hotel, motel, lodge, or inn; or private residence); and 5) relevant epidemiologic and environmental data needed to describe the outbreak and characterize contributing factors.

Results: During 2015–2020, public health officials from 28 states voluntarily reported 214 outbreaks associated with drinking water and 454 contributing factor types. The reported etiologies included 187 (87%) biofilm associated, 24 (11%) enteric illness associated, two (1%) unknown, and one (<1%) chemical or toxin. A total of 172 (80%) outbreaks were linked to water from public water systems, 22 (10%) to unknown water systems, 17 (8%) to individual or private systems, and two (0.9%) to other systems; one (0.5%) system type was not reported. Drinking water-associated outbreaks resulted in at least 2,140 cases of illness, 563 hospitalizations (26% of cases), and 88 deaths (4% of cases). Individual or private water systems were implicated in 944 (43%) cases, 52 (9%) hospitalizations, and 14 (16%) deaths.

Enteric illness-associated pathogens were implicated in 1,299 (61%) of all illnesses, and 10 (2%) hospitalizations. No deaths were reported. Among these illnesses, three pathogens (norovirus, Shigella , and Campylobacter) or multiple etiologies including these pathogens resulted in 1,225 (94%) cases. The drinking water source was identified most often (n = 34; 7%) as the contributing factor in enteric disease outbreaks. When water source (e.g., groundwater) was known (n = 14), wells were identified in 13 (93%) of enteric disease outbreaks.

Most biofilm-related outbreak reports implicated Legionella (n = 184; 98%); two nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) (1%) and one Pseudomonas (0.5%) outbreaks comprised the remaining. Legionella -associated outbreaks generally increased over the study period (14 in 2015, 31 in 2016, 30 in 2017, 34 in 2018, 33 in 2019, and 18 in 2020). The Legionella -associated outbreaks resulted in 786 (37%) of all illnesses, 544 (97%) hospitalizations, and 86 (98%) of all deaths. Legionella also was the outbreak etiology in 160 (92%) public water system outbreaks. Outbreak reports cited the premise or point of use location most frequently as the contributing factor for Legionella and other biofilm-associated pathogen outbreaks (n = 287; 63%). Legionella was reported to NORS in 2015 and 2019 as the cause of three outbreaks in private residences ( 2 ).

Interpretation: The observed range of biofilm and enteric drinking water pathogen contributing factors illustrate the complexity of drinking water-related disease prevention and the need for water source-to-tap prevention strategies. Legionella -associated outbreaks have increased in number over time and were the leading cause of reported drinking water outbreaks, including hospitalizations and deaths. Enteric illness outbreaks primarily linked to wells represented approximately half the cases during this reporting period. This report enhances CDC efforts to estimate the U.S. illness and health care cost impacts of waterborne disease, which revealed that biofilm-related pathogens, NTM, and Legionella have emerged as the predominant causes of hospitalizations and deaths from waterborne- and drinking water-associated disease.

Public Health Action: Public health departments, regulators, and drinking water partners can use these findings to identify emerging waterborne disease threats, guide outbreak response and prevention programs, and support drinking water regulatory efforts.

Access to and provision of safe water in the United States is critical to protecting public health ( 1 ). Disruptions to water service caused by drinking water contamination can negatively impact public health and erode public trust in drinking water quality. Each year in the United States, waterborne pathogens cause an estimated 7.15 million illnesses, 118,000 hospitalizations, and 6,630 deaths, resulting in $3.33 billion in direct health care costs ( 2 ). Drinking water exposures are associated with 40% of hospitalizations and 50% of deaths and are primarily linked with biofilm pathogens such as Legionella and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), costing the United States $1.39 billion annually ( 3 ). Biofilms are microbial communities that attach to moist surfaces (e.g., water pipes) and provide protection and nutrients for many different types of pathogens, including Legionella and NTM ( 3 , 4 ). Biofilm can grow when water becomes stagnant or disinfectant residuals are depleted, resulting in pathogen growth ( 3 ). Furthermore, biofilm pathogens are difficult to control because of their resistance to water treatment processes (e.g., disinfection) ( 3 ). Exposure to biofilm pathogens can occur through contact with, ingestion of, or aerosol inhalation of contaminated water from different fixtures (e.g., showerheads) and devices (e.g., humidifiers) ( 3 ).

Public health surveillance and other prevention programs support water treatment, regulations, and building or household water management practices in reducing waterborne diseases. Public health agencies in the United States, District of Columbia, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Marshall Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands investigate and can voluntarily report waterborne disease outbreaks to CDC through the National Outbreak Reporting System (NORS) ( https://www.cdc.gov/nors/about.html ).

This report summarizes data on drinking water-associated outbreaks reported to NORS during 2015–2020. Drinking water, also called tap or potable water, includes water collected, treated, stored, or distributed in public and individual water systems or commercially bottled and distributed for individual use. Drinking water is used for consumption and other domestic uses (e.g., drinking, bathing, showering, handwashing, food preparation, dishwashing, and maintaining oral hygiene). This report summarizes outbreak contributing factors (i.e., practices and factors that lead to outbreaks) and, for the first time, categorizes outbreaks as biofilm pathogen or enteric illness associated ( 5 – 9 ). Public health departments, regulators, and drinking water partners can use the findings in this report to guide outbreak response and prevention programs and drinking water regulatory efforts.

Data Source

CDC’s Waterborne Disease and Outbreak Surveillance System began in 1971, with reporting via paper forms through 2008. CDC launched NORS ( https://www.cdc.gov/nors/about.html ) in 2009 as a web-based platform for state, local, and territorial health departments to enter reports of all waterborne and foodborne disease outbreaks and all enteric disease outbreaks resulting from transmission by contact with contaminated environmental sources, infected persons or animals, or unknown modes. Most outbreaks in the United States are investigated by state, local, and territorial health departments. Outbreak information is then voluntarily reported to CDC by the public health agency that conducted the investigation. CDC might be involved in outbreak investigations that involve more than one state, are particularly large, or for which the state or local health department requests assistance.

Waterborne Outbreak Definitions and Specifications

NORS users enter a confirmed or suspected etiology, if known, including species, serotype, or other characteristics. Etiologies for reported drinking water outbreaks in NORS can include infectious (e.g., Campylobacter , Cryptosporidium , Giardia , and Legionella ) and noninfectious (e.g., copper and nonbacterial toxins) agents.

For NORS reporting, an outbreak is defined as two or more cases of similar illness associated with a common exposure. Outbreaks reported to NORS must include two or more cases linked epidemiologically by time, location of water exposure, and illness characteristics; the epidemiologic evidence must implicate water exposure as the probable source of illness for an event to be defined as a waterborne disease outbreak. Premise plumbing refers to a building’s hot- and cold-water piping system. For this analysis, the premise plumbing pathogens NTM, Pseudomonas , and Legionella were defined as biofilm-associated pathogens ( 2 , 10 ). In addition, consistent with the literature, Campylobacter , Cryptosporidium , Giardia , norovirus, and Shigella were defined as infectious enteric pathogens ( 2 , 11 ). Outbreaks of unknown etiology and noninfectious illness (e.g., chemical or toxin), were classified in their own categories.

Community and noncommunity water systems are defined by the Environmental Protection Agency as public water systems that have ≥15 service connections or serve an average of ≥25 residents for ≥60 days per year. A community water system serves year-round residents of a community, subdivision, or mobile home park. A noncommunity water system serves an institution, industry, camp, park, hotel, or business and can be nontransient or transient. Nontransient systems serve ≥25 of the same persons for ≥6 months of the year but not year-round (e.g., factories and schools), whereas transient systems provide water to places in which persons do not remain for long periods (e.g., restaurants, highway rest stations, and parks). Individual water systems are small systems not owned or operated by a water utility that have <15 connections or serve <25 persons ( 12 ).

NORS encourages users to indicate, when known, the water source and water source description for drinking water outbreaks. Water sources for drinking water outbreaks listed in NORS include groundwater, surface water, groundwater under the influence of surface water, other, and unknown. Water source descriptions listed in NORS include lake or reservoir, ocean, pond, river or stream, spring, well, other, and unknown.

NORS defines water treatment as the treatment usually provided before water use or water consumption, regardless of whether these treatments were operating correctly at or just before the time of the outbreak. Possible water treatment methods listed for the drinking water systems in NORS include disinfection, filtration, coagulation, flocculation, no treatment, other, and unknown.

NORS includes options to indicate where the exposure to water occurred. Settings of exposure for drinking water outbreaks listed in NORS include apartment or condominium; assisted living or rehabilitation facility, camp or cabin setting; community or municipality; hospital or health care facility; hotel, motel, lodge, or inn; long-term care facility; mobile home park; private residence; resort, restaurant or cafeteria; school, college, or university; subdivision or neighborhood; and several other types of settings.

NORS encourages users to indicate which, if any, contributing factors led to the outbreak. Users can select contributing factors from a list related to drinking water outbreaks or enter their own factors. Contributing factors for this reporting period included documented or observed (if information is gathered during document reviews, direct observations or interviews) or suspected (if factors that might have occurred but for which no documentation or observable evidence is available). Contributing factors were categorized by factor types including source (water quality was affected by a problem occurring with the source water), treatment (water quality was affected by a problem occurring with water treatment), distribution (water quality was affected by a problem within the distribution system before entry into a building or house), and premise or point of use (water quality was affected by a problem after the water meter or outside the jurisdiction of the public water utility).

Data Analysis

CDC analyzed outbreaks reported in NORS as of October 18, 2022, (via CDC 52.12 Form) to provide information about drinking water-associated waterborne disease outbreaks in the United States in which the first illness occurred during 2015–2020. For each outbreak, NORS users provided data (when known) about: 1) number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths; 2) etiologic agent (confirmed or suspected); 3) implicated water system and treatment method; 4) setting of exposure (e.g., hospital or health care facility; hotel, motel, lodge, or inn; and private residence); and 5) relevant epidemiologic and environmental data needed to understand the outbreak occurrences and contributing factor classification.

CDC calculated descriptive statistics on characteristics of reported drinking water outbreaks. Data cleaning, management, and analysis were conducted using SAS (version 9.4; SAS Institute) and Microsoft Excel for Microsoft 365 Microsoft Office (version 2022; Microsoft Corporation). The analysis included both confirmed and suspected etiologies. Outbreaks with multiple etiologies were classified and analyzed as one outbreak.

All Outbreaks

Public health officials from 28 states reported 214 outbreaks associated with drinking water during the surveillance period ( Tables 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , and 6 ) ( Figure 1 ). Reported outbreaks included 187 biofilm-associated, 24 enteric illness-associated, and three other (two unknown and one chemical or toxin) etiologies ( Table 7 ) ( Figure 2 ). Outbreaks resulted in at least 2,140 cases of illness, 563 hospitalizations (26% of cases), and 88 deaths (4% of cases). At least one etiologic agent was identified in 212 (99%) outbreaks (Tables 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6).

Water Systems, Sources, and Contributing Factors

Community or noncommunity water systems (i.e., public) were linked with 172 (80%) outbreaks, 22 (10%) outbreaks with unknown water systems, 17 (8%) with individual or private systems (i.e., unregulated), and two (0.9%) with other systems; one system type (0.5%) was not reported. Water from individual or private water systems was implicated in 944 (44%) cases, 52 (9%) hospitalizations, and 14 (16%) deaths (Tables 1–6). Drinking water systems with groundwater sources accounted for 82 (38%) outbreaks, surface water sources accounted for 57 (27%) outbreaks, and unknown water sources accounted for 61 (29%) outbreaks (Table 7). A total of 454 contributing factors (practices and factors that led to the outbreak) were reported for 144 (67%) outbreaks ( Tables 8 and 9 ). A total of 393 contributing factors were reported for biofilm-associated outbreaks and 61 for enteric illness-associated outbreaks.

Enteric Illness-Associated Etiologies

Outbreaks of enteric illness included 24 (11%) reports implicating Campylobacter (n = 2; 1%), Cryptosporidium (n = 2; 1%), Escherichia coli (n = 1; 0.5%), Giardia (n = 3; 1%), norovirus (n = 7; 3%), Shigella (n = 4; 2%), and multiple etiologies (n = 5; 2%) (Tables 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6). The enteric illness outbreaks resulted in 1,299 (61%) cases, 10 (2%) hospitalizations, and no deaths. Seventeen outbreaks were linked to norovirus, Shigella , Campylobacter , or multiple etiology outbreaks including these three pathogens and were implicated in 1,225 (57%) cases.

Water System and Water Source

The largest number of cases reported for a single outbreak was 693 (32%). This outbreak was linked to water from an individual or private water system that was contaminated with norovirus and enteropathogenic E. coli (Table 4). When water source (e.g., groundwater) was known (n = 14), wells were identified in 13 (93%) of enteric illness outbreaks, regardless of water system (Tables 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6).

Contributing Factors

A total of 61 (13%) contributing factors were reported for enteric illness outbreaks (Table 9). Water source was the most cited contributing factor type for enteric illness outbreaks, described by 34 (56%) individual contributing factors. Contamination through limestone or fissured rock (e.g., karst) (n = 7; 11%), improper construction or location of a well or spring (n = 7; 11%), and flooding or heavy rains (n = 5; 8%) were the most reported source water contributing factors for enteric illness outbreaks. No disinfection (n = 9, 15%), no filtration (n = 5, 8%), and chronically inadequate disinfection (n = 2; 3%) were the most frequently reported treatment contributing factors for enteric disease outbreaks (Table 9).

Biofilm-Associated Etiologies

Biofilm-associated outbreaks comprised 184 Legionella (86%), two NTM (1%), and one Pseudomonas (0.5%) outbreaks (Table 7). Legionella -associated outbreaks generally increased in number over the study period (14 in 2015, 31 in 2016, 30 in 2017, 34 in 2018, 33 in 2019, and 18 in 2020). The Legionella outbreaks resulted in 786 (37%) cases (Table 7), 544 (97%) hospitalizations, and 86 (98%) deaths (Tables 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6).

Water System

Legionella was the most implicated etiology in public water system outbreaks, associated with 160 (92%) outbreaks, 666 (60%) cases, 462 (97%) hospitalizations, and 68 (97%) deaths related to community and noncommunity water systems (Tables 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6). Individual or private water system outbreaks associated with Legionella resulted in 71 (8%) cases, 48 (92%) hospitalizations, and 14 (100%) deaths.

A total of 393 (87%) contributing factors were reported for Legionella and other biofilm pathogen-associated outbreaks (Table 8). Premise or point of use was the most cited contributing factor type for all biofilm-associated pathogen outbreaks and was linked with 287 (73%) individual contributing factors. The most reported premise or point of use contributing factors were Legionella species in water system (n = 67; 17%), Legionella growth-promoting water temperatures and permissive chlorine levels within the building potable water system (n = 35; 9%), water temperature ≥86°F (≥30°C) (n = 28; 7%), and aging plumbing components (e.g., pipes, tanks, and valves) (n = 27; 7%) (Table 8).

Water Treatment and Water Treatment Methods

A total of 183 (86%) outbreak reports contained information about water treatment. Among all outbreaks, disinfection was the reported water treatment for 116 (54%) drinking water systems, unknown water treatment for 49 (23%) drinking water systems, and no water treatment for 17 (8%) drinking water systems (Tables 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6). Seventy-nine outbreak reports (37%) indicated that chlorine was the water treatment method (e.g., description), 99 (46%) reported unknown or no treatment description, and 12 (6%) reported chloramine as the treatment description.

Hospital or health care facility, long-term care facility, and assisted living or rehabilitation facility (i.e., health care) were identified as the exposure settings in 113 (53%) outbreaks, 456 (21%) cases, 372 (66%) hospitalizations, and 75 (87%) deaths ( Figure 3 ). Furthermore, in the health care facility setting, Legionella was implicated in 111 (52%) outbreaks, 444 (21%) cases, 364 (65%) hospitalizations, and 73 (85%) deaths. Hotels, motels, lodges, or inns were implicated in 35 (16%) outbreaks, 225 (11%) cases, 85 (15%) hospitalizations, and three (3%) deaths, all of which were caused by Legionella (Tables 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6). Finally, Legionella was reported to NORS in 2015 and 2019 as the cause of three outbreaks in private residences resulting in seven (0.3%) cases, four (0.7%) hospitalizations, and no deaths (Tables 1 and 4) (Figure 3) ( 2 ).

Drinking water treatment, regulations, and public health programs reduce the risk for exposure to drinking water pathogens, chemicals, and toxins in the United States. Recent estimates of waterborne infectious illness and health care cost effects in the United States have revealed that biofilm-associated pathogens, Legionella and NTM, have emerged as the predominant causes of hospitalizations and deaths from waterborne and drinking water-related disease ( 3 ). However, NTM infections are not nationally notifiable diseases and cases and outbreaks might remain undetected ( 3 ). Furthermore, during 2015–2020, Legionella -associated outbreaks continued to increase and were the leading cause of nationally reported drinking water-related outbreaks, hospitalizations, and deaths. This trend was primarily influenced by the increasing number and proportion of Legionella -associated outbreaks linked with community and noncommunity water systems ( Figures 4 and 5 ) ( 6 ). In addition, Legionella was implicated in all lodging and nearly all (n = 111; 98%) health care-associated biofilm-related outbreaks. Furthermore, Legionella -associated outbreaks in health care settings resulted in approximately two thirds (n = 364; 65%) of hospitalizations and three fourths (n = 73; 85%) of deaths reported during this period. These findings highlight the severity of Legionella infection in the health care setting ( 13 ). Legionella also was reported for the first time to NORS as the cause of three outbreaks in private residences. Legionella -associated outbreaks in private residences is an emerging concern. Additional data are needed to better characterize the role of premise plumbing systems in private homes as a potential source of exposure to Legionella and Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks ( 14 ). These outbreaks illustrate the importance of effective regulations, water management programs, and public health prevention programs that include communications to reduce the risk for biofilm pathogen growth and spread in public drinking water systems, building water systems, and private homes ( 4 , 15 , 16 ).

Enteric illness outbreaks represent 11% (n = 24) of the outbreaks, approximately 60% of the cases during this reporting period. Settings varied widely, including mobile home parks, lodging, amusement parks, farms, camps, and private residences. Enteric illness outbreaks associated with norovirus, Shigella , Campylobacter , or multiple etiology outbreaks were primarily associated with individual or private and community water systems. One outbreak of norovirus and enteropathogenic E. coli that resulted in 693 (32%) cases occurred in an amusement park setting because of an overly pumped, improperly constructed well with chronically inadequate disinfection. Wells also were identified as the water source when reported, regardless of water system type (i.e., community or individual or private) in nearly all (n = 13; 93%) enteric illness drinking water outbreaks. No disinfection was reported in nearly 75% (n = 11) of these outbreaks when water treatment was known, underscoring the importance of proper well construction, location (i.e., under the influence of surface water or proximity to wastewater disposal system), operation, and maintenance ( 17 – 20 ).

Understanding and communicating contributing factors related to waterborne outbreaks can lead to improved outbreak prevention, response, and communication practices ( 21 , 22 ). Most drinking water-associated outbreaks have multiple contributing factors, and the most frequently reported types vary between Legionella -associated and enteric illness outbreaks. For example, premise plumbing or point of use is the most cited contributing factor type for Legionella -associated outbreaks, whereas water source is most cited for enteric illness outbreaks. Furthermore, most Legionella -associated outbreak investigations are prompted by cases associated with premise plumbing systems. As a result, premise plumbing contributing factors (e.g., inadequate disinfection or Legionella -promoting water temperatures) are frequently identified. Determining the potential role of other upstream contributing factor types (e.g., water distribution systems) might be difficult. Whereas enteric illness investigations outbreaks frequently result from upstream contributing factors (e.g., disinfection failure or well or groundwater contamination) and can result in many cases of illness. The observed range of biofilm and enteric drinking water pathogen contributing factors illustrates the complexity of drinking water-related disease prevention and the need for water source-to-tap prevention strategies ( 16 , 20 , 23 ).

The findings in this report are subject to at least four limitations. First, reporting to NORS is voluntary, and surveillance, outbreak investigation, and reporting capabilities vary by jurisdiction. Outbreak surveillance data might not represent the characteristics of all outbreaks and likely underestimate the actual occurrence of outbreaks. Therefore, NORS data should not be used to estimate the actual number of outbreaks. Reports of investigated outbreaks vary, and data are limited to what is available and reported by jurisdictions. Second, Legionella -associated outbreak investigations can continue for years, with new cases of illness occurring after extended periods; jurisdictions might not report to NORS until conclusion of the investigation. Third, the COVID-19 pandemic might have affected jurisdictions’ ability to report waterborne disease outbreaks during 2019–2020. Finally, contributing factors were not available for 70 (33%) drinking water-associated outbreaks, and water treatment was unknown for 49 (23%) drinking water-associated outbreaks. Furthermore, certain Legionella and biofilm-associated pathogen outbreak contributing factors that were self-reported as distribution factor types by users align more closely with premise or point-of-use factor types, possibly resulting in misclassification bias. Legionella species in water systems was frequently reported as a contributing factor and does not provide insight into factors that led to Legionella growth and spread within the water system.

NORS was updated substantially (CDC 52.14 Form; https://www.cdc.gov/nors/forms.html ) in January 2023. The update streamlined the environmental sampling results section, added a section about outbreaks caused by Legionella and other biofilm-associated pathogens, revised the contributing factors section, and created a new interventions section to capture interventions that were recommended or implemented to help stop outbreaks. Future analyses can leverage these NORS updates to improve understanding of biofilm-associated outbreaks, contributing factors, interventions, and water management program failures. Previous studies have highlighted the importance of examining data from Legionella -associated outbreak investigations, including water management program failures which can lead to improved water management practices ( 13 , 21 , 22 ). Both the Veterans Health Administration and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have directives requiring the implementation of water management programs in specific health care facilities to reduce the risk related to biofilm-associated pathogens, including Legionella ( 24 , 25 ).

Improvements in biofilm-associated pathogen surveillance and outbreak reporting could lead to greater outbreak detection and guide disease prevention strategies. Recent efforts to estimate the illness and health care cost impacts of waterborne disease in the United States have revealed that Legionella , NTM, and biofilm-associated pathogens have emerged as the predominant causes of hospitalizations and deaths from waterborne diseases, including those linked to drinking water exposures ( 3 ). The Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists has a standardized case definition for extrapulmonary NTM infections (opportunistic infections of wounds, soft tissue, or joints) to ensure consistency in reporting, and to identify outbreaks ( 26 ). NTM case reporting, and definitions vary across state and local public health departments, with certain departments reporting pulmonary and extrapulmonary, extrapulmonary only, or NTM site and species not specified ( 27 – 29 ). Health departments could consider making extrapulmonary NTM infections reportable within their jurisdictions ( 26 ). In addition, active population-based NTM surveillance, currently occurring in certain jurisdictions, will provide important data for monitoring the illness and health care cost impacts of disease, identifying affected populations, and informing public health prevention strategies ( 26 , 28 ).

Public health surveillance is essential to monitor trends in waterborne disease and detect outbreaks related to drinking water exposures. During 2015–2020, public health officials from 28 states reported 214 outbreaks associated with drinking water. These outbreaks resulted in at least 2,140 cases of illness, 563 hospitalizations (26% of cases), and 88 deaths (4% of cases). Legionella -associated outbreaks increased in number and were the leading cause of drinking water-associated outbreaks reported to NORS during the surveillance period, including hospitalizations and deaths. Primary prevention of Legionella -associated outbreaks through biofilm control and water management remains critical in health care and nonhealth care settings. Outbreaks of enteric illness primarily linked to wells represented over half of the cases during the reporting period, underscoring the importance of disease prevention efforts related to groundwater. The emergence of biofilm-associated pathogens as the primary influence of drinking water-associated outbreaks, along with the risk for enteric illness outbreaks capable of causing large numbers of cases, highlights the need for agile waterborne disease surveillance, prevention, and outbreak response programs. Drinking water source-to-tap partnership and prevention strategies are critical to addressing the emerging issue of biofilm-associated disease and to guide holistic biofilm pathogen prevention strategies. Drinking water regulations and water management programs are essential to controlling pathogens in drinking water to prevent drinking water-associated outbreaks.

Amy Freeland, Vincent Hill, Jonathan Yoder, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, CDC; state, territory, and local waterborne disease investigators, epidemiologists, and environmental health personnel.

Corresponding author: Jasen Kunz, Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, CDC. Telephone: 770-488-7056; Email: [email protected] .

1 Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, CDC; 2 Chenega Corporation, Atlanta, Georgia; 3 Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, CDC

Conflict of Interest

All authors have completed and submitted the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors form for disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.

Sinclair M, O’Toole J, Gibney K, Leder K. Evolution of regulatory targets for drinking water quality. J Water Health 2015;13:413–26. https://doi.org/10.2166/wh.2014.242 PMID:26042974
Collier SA, Deng L, Adam EA, et al. Estimate of burden and direct healthcare cost of infectious waterborne disease in the United States. Emerg Infect Dis 2021;27:140–9. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2701.190676 PMID:33350905
Gerdes ME, Miko S, Kunz JM, et al. Estimating waterborne infectious disease burden by exposure route, United States, 2014. Emerg Infect Dis 2023;29:1357–66. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2907.230231 PMID:37347505
CDC. Developing a water management program to reduce Legionella growth and spread in buildings. A practical guide to implementing industry standards. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services; 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/legionella/downloads/toolkit.pdf
Benedict KM, Reses H, Vigar M, et al. Surveillance for waterborne disease outbreaks associated with drinking water—United States, 2013–2014. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2017;66:1216–21. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6644a3 PMID:29121003
Beer KD, Gargano JW, Roberts VA, et al. Surveillance for waterborne disease outbreaks associated with drinking water—United States, 2011–2012. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2015;64:842–8. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6431a2 PMID:26270059
CDC. Surveillance for waterborne disease outbreaks associated with drinking water and other nonrecreational water—United States, 2009–2010. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2013;62:714–20. PMID:24005226
Brunkard JM, Ailes E, Roberts VA, et al.; CDC. Surveillance for waterborne disease outbreaks associated with drinking water—United States, 2007–2008. MMWR Surveill Summ 2011;60(No. SS-12):38–68. PMID:21937977
Yoder J, Roberts V, Craun GF, et al.; CDC. Surveillance for waterborne disease and outbreaks associated with drinking water and water not intended for drinking—United States, 2005–2006. MMWR Surveill Summ 2008;57(No. SS-9):39–62. PMID:18784643
Falkinham JO 3rd, Hilborn ED, Arduino MJ, Pruden A, Edwards MA. Epidemiology and ecology of opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens: Legionella pneumophila, Mycobacterium avium , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Environ Health Perspect 2015;123:749–58. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1408692 PMID:25793551
Wikswo ME, Roberts V, Marsh Z, et al. Enteric illness outbreaks reported through the National Outbreak Reporting System—United States, 2009–2019. Clin Infect Dis 2022;74:1906–13. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciab771 PMID:34498027
Environmental Protection Agency. Drinking water requirements for states and public water systems. Washington, DC: Environmental Protection Agency; 2023. https://www.epa.gov/dwreginfo
Soda EA, Barskey AE, Shah PP, et al. Health care-associated Legionnaires’ disease surveillance data from 20 states and a large metropolitan area—United States, 2015. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2017;66:584–9. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6622e1 PMID:28594788
Schumacher A, Kocharian A, Koch A, Marx J. Fatal case of Legionnaires’ disease after home exposure to Legionella pneumophila serogroup 3—Wisconsin, 2018. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2020;69:207–11. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6908a2 PMID:32106217
Donohue MJ, Mistry JH, Donohue JM, et al. Increased frequency of nontuberculous mycobacteria detection at potable water taps within the United States. Environ Sci Technol 2015;49:6127–33. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b00496 PMID:25902261
Liu S, Gunawan C, Barraud N, Rice SA, Harry EJ, Amal R. Understanding, monitoring, and controlling biofilm growth in drinking water distribution systems. Environ Sci Technol 2016;50:8954–76. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6b00835 PMID:27479445
Lee D, Murphy HM. Private wells and rural health: groundwater contaminants of emerging concern. Curr Environ Health Rep 2020;7:129–39. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-020-00267-4 PMID:31994010
Woolf AD, Stierman BD, Barnett ED, et al.; Council on Environmental Health and Climate Change; Committee on Infectious Diseases. Drinking water from private wells and risks to children. Pediatrics 2023;151:e2022060644. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2022-060644 PMID:36995187
CDC. Private ground water wells. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/private/wells/index.html
Wallender EK, Ailes EC, Yoder JS, Roberts VA, Brunkard JM. Contributing factors to disease outbreaks associated with untreated groundwater. Ground Water 2014;52:886–97. https://doi.org/10.1111/gwat.12121 PMID:24116713
Clopper BR, Kunz JM, Salandy SW, Smith JC, Hubbard BC, Sarisky JP. A methodology for classifying root causes of outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease: deficiencies in environmental control and water management. Microorganisms 2021;9:89. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9010089 PMID:33401429
Garrison LE, Kunz JM, Cooley LA, et al. Deficiencies in environmental control identified in outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease—North America, 2000–2014. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2016;65:576–84. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6522e1 PMID:27281485
Donohue MJ, Vesper S, Mistry J, Donohue JM. Impact of chlorine and chloramine on the detection and quantification of Legionella pneumophila and Mycobacterium species. Appl Environ Microbiol 2019;85:e01942-19. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.01942-19 PMID:31604766
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Requirement to reduce Legionella risk in healthcare facility water systems to prevent cases and outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease. Baltimore, MD: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; 2017. https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Provider-Enrollment-and-Certification/SurveyCertificationGenInfo/Downloads/QSO17-30-HospitalCAH-NH-REVISED-.pdf
Department of Veterans Affairs. Prevention of healthcare-associated Legionella disease and scald injury from water systems. Washington, DC: US Department of Veterans Affairs; 2022. https://www.va.gov/vhapublications/publications.cfm?Pub=1
CDC. Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, CDC; 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/hai/organisms/ntm/health-departments.html
Shih DC, Cassidy PM, Perkins KM, Crist MB, Cieslak PR, Leman RL. Extrapulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial disease surveillance—Oregon, 2014–2016. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2018;67:854–7. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6731a3 PMID:30091968
Grigg C, Jackson KA, Barter D, et al. Epidemiology of pulmonary and extrapulmonary nontuberculous mycobacteria infections at 4 US emerging infections program sites: a 6-month pilot. Clin Infect Dis 2023;77:629–37. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciad214 PMID:37083882
Mercaldo RA, Marshall JE, Cangelosi GA, et al. Environmental risk of nontuberculous mycobacterial infection: strategies for advancing methodology. Tuberculosis (Edinb) 2023;139:102305. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tube.2023.102305 PMID:36706504

Abbreviation: S = suspected. * N = 23 outbreaks. † Etiologies listed are confirmed unless indicated as S. For multiple-etiology outbreaks, etiologies are listed in alphabetical order. § Community and noncommunity water systems are defined by the Environmental Protection Agency as public water systems that have ≥15 service connections or serve an average of ≥25 residents for ≥60 days per year. A community water system serves year-round residents of a community, subdivision, or mobile home park. A noncommunity water system serves an institution, industry, camp, park, hotel, or business and can be nontransient or transient. Nontransient systems serve ≥25 of the same persons for ≥6 months of the year but not year round (e.g., factories and schools), whereas transient systems provide water to places in which persons do not remain for long periods (e.g., restaurants, highway rest stations, and parks). Individual water systems are small systems not owned or operated by a water utility that have <15 connections or serve <25 persons. ¶ Two community water systems were reported for this outbreak.

Abbreviation: S = suspected. * N = 44 outbreaks. † Etiologies listed are confirmed unless indicated as S. For multiple-etiology outbreaks, etiologies are listed in alphabetical order. § Community and noncommunity water systems are defined by Environmental Protection Agency as public water systems that have ≥15 service connections or serve an average of ≥25 residents for ≥60 days per year. A community water system serves year-round residents of a community, subdivision, or mobile home park. A noncommunity water system serves an institution, industry, camp, park, hotel, or business and can be nontransient or transient. Nontransient systems serve ≥25 of the same persons for ≥6 months of the year but not year round (e.g., factories and schools), whereas transient systems provide water to places in which persons do not remain for long periods of time (e.g., restaurants, highway rest stations, and parks). Individual water systems are small systems not owned or operated by a water utility that have <15 connections or serve <25 persons.

Abbreviation: S = suspected. * N = 38 outbreaks. † Etiologies are confirmed unless indicated as S. § Community and noncommunity water systems are defined by the Environmental Protection Agency as public water systems that have ≥15 service connections or serve an average of ≥25 residents for ≥60 days per year. A community water system serves year-round residents of a community, subdivision, or mobile home park. A noncommunity water system serves an institution, industry, camp, park, hotel, or business and can be nontransient or transient. Nontransient systems serve ≥25 of the same persons for ≥6 months of the year but not year round (e.g., factories and schools), whereas transient systems provide water to places in which persons do not remain for long periods of time (e.g., restaurants, highway rest stations, and parks). Individual water systems are small systems not owned or operated by a water utility that have <15 connections or serve <25 persons.

Abbreviations: EAEC = enteroaggregative Escherichia coli ; EIEC = enteroinvasive Escherichia coli ; EPEC = enteropathogenic Escherichia coli ; S = suspected. * N = 44 outbreaks. † Etiologies listed are confirmed, unless indicated as S. For multiple-etiology outbreaks, etiologies are listed in alphabetical order. § Community and noncommunity water systems are defined by the Environmental Protection Agency as public water systems that have ≥15 service connections or serve an average of ≥25 residents for ≥60 days per year. A community water system serves year-round residents of a community, subdivision, or mobile home park. A noncommunity water system serves an institution, industry, camp, park, hotel, or business and can be nontransient or transient. Nontransient systems serve ≥25 of the same persons for ≥6 months of the year but not year round (e.g., factories and schools), whereas transient systems provide water to places in which persons do not remain for long periods of time (e.g., restaurants, highway rest stations, and parks). Individual water systems are small systems not owned or operated by a water utility that have <15 connections or serve <25 persons. ¶ Water system classified by the regulatory authority as a noncommunity water system because of the outbreak investigation.

Abbreviation: S = suspected. * N = 45 outbreaks. † Etiologies listed are confirmed, indicated as S. For multiple-etiology outbreaks, etiologies are listed in alphabetical order. § Community and noncommunity water systems are defined by the Environmental Protection Agency as public water systems that have ≥15 service connections or serve an average of ≥25 residents for ≥60 days per year. A community water system serves year-round residents of a community, subdivision, or mobile home park. A noncommunity water system serves an institution, industry, camp, park, hotel, or business and can be nontransient or transient. Nontransient systems serve ≥25 of the same persons for ≥6 months of the year but not year round (e.g., factories and schools), whereas transient systems provide water to places in which persons do not remain for long periods of time (e.g., restaurants, highway rest stations, and parks). Individual water systems are small systems not owned or operated by a water utility that have <15 connections or serve <25 persons.

Abbreviation: S = suspected. * N = 20 outbreaks. † Etiologies listed are confirmed unless indicated as S. § Community and noncommunity water systems are defined by the Environmental Protection Agency as public water systems that have ≥15 service connections or serve an average of ≥25 residents for ≥60 days per year. A community water system serves year-round residents of a community, subdivision, or mobile home park. A noncommunity water system serves an institution, industry, camp, park, hotel, or business and can be nontransient or transient. Nontransient systems serve ≥25 of the same persons for ≥6 months of the year but not year round (e.g., factories and schools), whereas transient systems provide water to places in which persons do not remain for long periods of time (e.g., restaurants, highway rest stations, and parks). Individual water systems are small systems not owned or operated by a water utility that have <15 connections or serve <25 persons.

FIGURE 1 . Number of reported drinking water-associated outbreaks,* by state of exposure — National Outbreak Reporting System, United States, 2015–2020

* N = 214 outbreaks.

* N = 214 outbreaks; N = 2,140 cases. † Biofilm-associated drinking water outbreaks in this analysis include outbreaks caused by Legionella (n = 184), nontuberculous Mycobacteria (n = 2), and Pseudomonas (n = 1). § Multiple-etiology outbreaks include two enteric bacterial and parasitic; two enteric bacterial and viral; and one enteric bacterial, parasitic, or viral etiologic category.

FIGURE 2 . Number of reported drinking water-associated outbreaks,* ,† by month of earliest illness onset — National Outbreak Reporting System, United States, 2015–2020

† Other outbreaks refers to two outbreaks of unknown etiology and one outbreak caused by a chemical or toxin.

* Biofilm-associated drinking water outbreaks in this analysis include outbreaks caused by Legionella (n = 184), nontuberculous Mycobacteria (n = 2), and Pseudomonas (n = 1). † N = 187 outbreaks. Outbreaks include those involving community (n = 158), unknown (n = 17), individual or private (n = 6), noncommunity (n = 3), and other (n = 2) water systems. § One outbreak might have multiple contributing factors reported. ¶ Percentage is calculated using a denominator of 393 because 393 is the total number of contributing factors reported for the 187 outbreaks. ** Reported as distribution factor types by users but aligns more closely with premise or point-of-use factor types.

* Enteric illness-associated drinking water outbreaks include outbreaks caused by Campylobacter (n = 2), Cryptosporidium (n = 2), Escherichia coli (n = 1), Giardia (n = 3), norovirus (n = 7), Shigella (n = 4), and multiple etiologies (n = 5). † N = 24 outbreaks. Outbreaks include those involving individual or private (n = 11), community (n = 8), and unknown (n = 5) water systems. § One outbreak might have multiple contributing factors reported. ¶ Percentage is calculated using a denominator of 61 because 61 is the total number of contributing factors reported for the 24 outbreaks.

FIGURE 3 . Number of reported drinking water-associated outbreaks,* by water setting of exposure †,§ — National Outbreak Reporting System, United States, 2015–2020 ¶

† Health care setting includes assisted living or rehabilitation facilities, hospital or health care facilities, and long-term care facilities.

§ Other setting includes grocery store, veterans’ home, shelter, and other (not specified).

¶ Other outbreaks refers to two outbreaks of unknown etiology and one outbreak caused by a chemical or toxin.

FIGURE 4 . Number of reported drinking water-associated outbreak etiologies,* by Legionella compared with all other etiologies — Waterborne Disease and Outbreak Surveillance System, United States, 2007–2020

* N = 366 outbreak etiologies.

FIGURE 5 . Number of reported drinking water-associated outbreaks in community and noncommunity water settings,* by Legionella compared with all other etiologies — Waterborne Disease and Outbreak Surveillance System, United States, 2007–2020

* N = 306 water settings.

Suggested citation for this article: Kunz JM, Lawinger H, Miko S, et al. Surveillance of Waterborne Disease Outbreaks Associated with Drinking Water — United States, 2015–2020. MMWR Surveill Summ 2024;73(No. SS-1):1–23. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.ss7301a1 .

MMWR and Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report are service marks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Use of trade names and commercial sources is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. References to non-CDC sites on the Internet are provided as a service to MMWR readers and do not constitute or imply endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. CDC is not responsible for the content of pages found at these sites. URL addresses listed in MMWR were current as of the date of publication.

All HTML versions of MMWR articles are generated from final proofs through an automated process. This conversion might result in character translation or format errors in the HTML version. Users are referred to the electronic PDF version ( https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr ) and/or the original MMWR paper copy for printable versions of official text, figures, and tables.

Exit Notification / Disclaimer Policy

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website.

70 million Americans drink water from systems reporting PFAS to EPA. Is yours on our map?

At least 70 million Americans get their water from a system where toxic PFAS "forever chemicals" were found at levels that require reporting to the Environmental Protection Agency.

That's according to new data the EPA released in its ongoing 5-year review of water systems across the nation. The number will almost certainly grow as new reports are released every three months.

PFAS, or per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, are nearly indestructible chemicals widely used across industries for decades. Found in drinking water, food, firefighting foam, and nonstick and water-repellent items, PFAS resist degradation, building up in both the environment and our bodies.

Salt Lake City; Sacramento, California; Madison, Wisconsin; and Louisville, Kentucky, were among the major systems reporting PFAS contamination to the EPA in the latest data release.

Map: Where the EPA found pollutants

This map shows water systems included in the EPA’s records, as of Jan. 11. It’s based on boundaries developed by SimpleLab , a water-testing company. Click on a system to see the number of pollutants detected at or above the EPA’s minimum reporting levels and how much the most concentrated pollutant exceeded those levels. Points represent systems where the exact boundaries are not available. If you don’t see a map, click here .

The man-made chemicals have turned up in water systems large and small, from those serving a few thousand customers to over half a million.

Of about 3,800 systems included so far, 1,245 measured at least one PFAS compound above the EPA’s reporting levels, according to USA TODAY’s analysis.

The EPA plans to collect data from thousands more systems through 2026 , including many of the nation's largest systems, such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston and Philadelphia.

Read our previous coverage: EPA detected "forever chemicals" in water systems serving 46 million. Is yours on our map?

What are forever chemicals?

PFAS can lead to serious health problems , including increased risk of some cancers, if people are exposed to them over a long period of time. Even at very low doses, PFAS can pose health risks .

The EPA’s minimum reporting level – the lowest concentrations reliably measured by most laboratories – for some PFAS are measured in parts per trillion. The current thresholds are near zero, replacing older limits that were higher and didn’t detect smaller concentrations of PFAS, said Shalene Thomas, a PFAS industry expert and emerging contaminants program manager at Battelle, a nonprofit research institute.

Read the story: PFAS contamination is Michigan's biggest environmental crisis in 40 years

“People hear that, and they think, ‘This is really, really low. Why are we concerning ourselves with this?’” Thomas said, referring to the detection levels. “The risk to individuals and the population is based on not just what the concentration is but what the frequency of that exposure is.”

“How often are you exposed, and what’s the duration of the exposure?”

The purpose of the reporting limits, Thomas said, is to trigger water utilities to react and find treatment solutions if needed.

“Why is there a limit? It’s not like if you’re above this number, you’re going to die, and if you’re below that number, you’re going to live,” Thomas said. “It’s about population protection. It’s an action level so that utilities can react and protect you.”

Read our previous coverage: Dangerous levels of PFAS detected in water for 27 million. Did the EPA find it near you?

Is there a national drinking water standard for PFAS?

There are no enforceable national drinking water standards in the U.S. for PFAS, but the EPA is expected to issue new regulations this year .

Last March, the EPA proposed the first-ever national drinking water standard for six PFAS. Though there are thousands of PFAS chemicals, the six compounds in the regulation had the highest manufacturing volume in the U.S. and are thought to be the most toxic, Thomas said.

If the rule is finalized and implemented, public water systems will be required to monitor for these chemicals, notify the public and reduce PFAS contamination if levels exceed the proposed standards.

Water utilities tasked with treating PFAS

Water utilities didn’t manufacture or use the chemicals, Thomas said, yet they are still tasked with cleaning them up and protecting the public.

Once the EPA’s regulation is finalized, the agency would likely use discretionary authority and focus its efforts on going after primary polluters, Thomas said.

However, not all water utilities are equipped to install advanced and costly treatment systems to reduce PFAS from treated water. Systems vary from region to region, each with their own water sources and technical challenges that can make treatment less feasible.

Adapting to changing climate conditions is a concern for Sacramento, California, where about 80% of water supplies come from the American and Sacramento rivers. During dry years, they use groundwater, but if those wells are contaminated with PFAS, the city might not be able to rely on them, said Carlos Eliason, a spokesperson from the City of Sacramento Department of Utilities.

The city has taken several groundwater sources out of service because they contained levels of PFAS above state guidelines. Upcoming federal regulations could increase the amount of groundwater sources that need to be shut down.

Similarly, 90% of Salt Lake City’s water supply is from surface water, but groundwater wells are still important during droughts. PFAS pollution was found in two wells, one of which is important for peak summertime use, said Laura Briefer, director of Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities.

“Water is such a priority for us in the western United States, where water is scarce,” Briefer said. "When we have challenges where contaminants can impact our ability to use water for public purposes, that is a really profound issue. We don’t have a lot of water to spare.”

More than 6,000 miles away in Guam, a U.S. island territory in Micronesia with a longtime military presence, civilians rely primarily on water produced from an aquifer in the northern half of the island. Should the aquifer become contaminated, there are no reasonable alternatives, as defined by the EPA .

Of nearly 100 water supply wells that provide water to the island, about a third had PFAS that exceeded the EPA’s proposed regulations.

The level of funding to U.S. territories to cover the cost of treatment is not enough, said Miguel Bordallo, the general manager of Guam Waterworks Authority. The authority will have to significantly raise the rates it charges its customers to finance these capital improvement projects, Bordallo said.

Guam also absorbs costs that most utilities on the U.S. mainland don’t feel, such as shipping hazardous byproducts from PFAS treatment off the island.

“It’s a huge concern, but the way we view it is that it’s the train that’s coming down the tracks and there’s no way to stop that,” Bordallo said of the imminent PFAS rule.

“Rather than trying to stop that train, we’re trying to get ahead of it.”

Austin Fast is a data reporter on the USA TODAY investigations team and Cecilia Garzella is a data fellow. Contact Austin at [email protected] or @a_fast on X and Cecilia at [email protected] or @ceciliagarzella on X.

Skip to primary navigation
Skip to main content
Skip to footer

7-DAY UNLIMITED ACCESS

Study: Colorado River states routinely overdraw water budget

By Jennifer Yachnin | 03/28/2024 01:26 PM EDT

A new study says it is provides “a more comprehensive and complete understanding of how the Colorado River Basin’s water is consumed.”

Water flows into a canal that feeds farms run by Tempe Farming in Casa Grande, Arizona, on July 22, 2021. Darryl Webb, File/AP

Despite two decades of persistent drought in the Colorado River Basin — and efforts to reduce water consumption among cities and farmers — the seven states that rely on the waterway have consistently overdrawn the supply, a new analysis shows.

The study, led by Brian Richter, president of Sustainable Waters, expands on a 2020 review of the Colorado River that examined consumptive water use by the municipal, commercial, industrial and agricultural sectors.

The new report, published Thursday in the journal Communications Earth & Environment , also evaluates water lost to evaporation from reservoirs and evapotranspiration — or the evaporation of water into the atmosphere from the soil or from soil to the air via plants — as well as water exported from the Colorado River Basin to areas outside its boundaries, including major cities like San Diego and Denver.

“This new accounting provides a more comprehensive and complete understanding of how the Colorado River Basin’s water is consumed,” the report states.

The transformation of the energy sector.

Policy. Science. Business.

Congress. Legislator. Politics.

The leader in energy and environment news.

Late-breaking news.

IMAGES

Essay on Water
An Essay on Importance of water in life (1000 words)
Water is Precious Essay
Essay on Water
The Amazing Benefits of Drinking Water
10 Amazing Benefits of Drinking Water and How it Makes Kids Smarter

VIDEO

When you drink water and here this (Animation Meme) #funny #shorts
drink water #drinking #drink #eatingshow #food #satisfying #forsleep #mrleeasmr #sleepaid
Drink water at night #love #shorts
Breaking 1 second Water Drink World Record ? #shorts
4 best times to Drink water💦#tips #aakook #viralshort #pakistani #aesthetic
How Much Water Should You Drink ?

COMMENTS

Essay on Drinking Water
500 Words Essay on Drinking Water Introduction. Water is the essence of life, a fundamental element for all living organisms on Earth. The significance of drinking water cannot be overstated. It is a critical component of our diet, directly linked to our health and wellbeing. This essay will delve into the importance of drinking water, its ...
Essay on Water for Students and Children
A.1 Water is of the utmost importance for human and animal life. It gives us water to drink. It also comes in great use for farmers and industries. Even common man requires water for various purposes like drinking, cleaning, bathing and more. Q.2 List the ways to avoid wastage of water.
Why Is Water So Important? Benefits of Drinking Water
Summary. Water is vital for your health. It is necessary for temperature regulation, digestion, nutrient absorption, and body waste removal. Drinking water daily can prevent dehydration, a condition that can cause mood and memory problems, constipation, and kidney stones. People who work in high temperatures, exercise at high intensities, or ...
Importance of Water Essay for Students and Children
500+ Words Essay on Importance of Water. Water is the basic necessity for the functioning of all life forms that exist on earth. It is safe to say that water is the reason behind earth being the only planet to support life. This universal solvent is one of the major resources we have on this planet. It is impossible for life to function without ...
Importance of Water Essay for Students in English
Water is important for our body for the following reasons. Above 70% of our body contains water so it is pivotal for the human race to survive. Water helps in regulating our body temperature. Water helps in the digestion of solid food. It also keeps our skin healthy and hydrated.
Why is water important?
Clearly, drinking water is utterly vital for a whole host of reasons, and unfortunately, just drinking water when thirsty isn't going to be enough. Thirst is only triggered when water losses ...
Essay on Drinking Water Is Healthy
Drinking Water 2. Drinking Water Keeps Us Healthy. Drinking a healthy amount of water is vital to our health. We can never imagine just by increasing our water intake, we gain tremendous health benefits, and sometimes we can even throw away our migraine medicine or pain killer. Before we can appreciate the benefits of water to our health, let ...
Water Essay for Students and Children in English
10 Lines on Water Essay in English. Water is the reason why life exists and grows on earth. 70% of earth's surface is made of water out of which only 3% is freshwater is for human consumption. Water supports all forms of life on the planet. Human beings use water for drinking, bathing, washing, in agriculture, industries and factories.
The Importance of Water: The Vital Essence
Sanitation: Access to clean and safe drinking water is paramount for preventing waterborne diseases. Proper sanitation and hygiene depend on a reliable water supply. ... How Does Water Affect The Time Essay. Water is a ubiquitous substance that plays a crucial role in shaping our world in numerous ways, including its impact on time. From the ...
Importance of Water
Functions of water in the body. Water has numerous bodily functions. Perhaps its most important is the fact that it is a constituent of most cells, organs and systems in the body. It is a fact that water makes up about 90% of the lungs, over ninety percent of the brain and about eighty percent of blood. There are plenty of fluids in the body ...
Essay On Water
Water Essay - More than 70% of the Earth is covered by water, which is essential to life as we know it. The human body contains up to 60% water. ... It is important to drink plenty of water, or about 3 to 4 liters every day, to be healthy. Water is essential to human health and a shortage of it can have serious negative effects on wellbeing ...
Essay on Save Water Save Life for Students
500+ Words Essay on Save Water Save Life. Water has become a highly necessary part of human being's existence on Earth. Thus, the importance of water can be compared to the importance of air. All living organisms whether it is human, animals, or plants. Everyone is completely depending on fresh and potable water.
15 benefits of drinking water and other water facts
Drinking water also keeps the mouth clean. Consumed instead of sweetened beverages, it can also reduce tooth decay. 3. It delivers oxygen throughout the body. Blood is more than 90 percent water ...
Drinking Water Essay
Nearly 4 billion had access to tap water while another 2.3 billion had access to wells or public taps. The amount of drinking water required is variable. For those working in a hot climate, up to 16 liters a day may be required. Infants are about 70% to 80% water while the elderly are around 45%. Typically.
The Importance of Water Essay
Water constitutes a significant portion of the human body, highlighting its vital importance. Approximately 60% of our body weight is comprised of water, emphasizing its role in maintaining bodily functions. It is involved in various physiological processes, such as digestion, absorption, circulation, and temperature regulation.
Drinking Water Essays: Examples, Topics, & Outlines
PAGES 19 WORDS 6106. Cadmium in Wastewater and Drinking Water. The importance of efficiently controlling and monitoring potential toxins in water systems is extremely important. The potential contaminant known as Cadmium (Cd) is a naturally occurring trace metal that is regularly found in various types of ores.
Drinking Water Essay
Drinking Water Essay. 757 Words4 Pages. Water is a fundamental need for entire life. It affects all facets of life. While the human can be starve a long period without death but nobody can survive without the water. Thus water has much broader influences on health, wellbeing and issues.
Water
Water is an essential nutrient at every age, so optimal hydration is a key component for good health. Water accounts for about 60% of an adult's body weight. We drink fluids when we feel thirst, the major signal alerting us when our body runs low on water. We also customarily drink beverages with meals to help with digestion.
Drinking Water and Sanitation Essay
Drinking Water and Sanitation Essay. This essay sample was donated by a student to help the academic community. Papers provided by EduBirdie writers usually outdo students' samples. Water is quintessential to lifestyles and it is of quintessential importance to all dwelling organisms.
Argumentative Essay on Water
There are four advantages of drinking water for our bodies, for example, it can accelerate our digestion systems, make our skin appear more rejuvenated, lose weight, and boost our energy. Drinking a healthy amount of water is vital to our health. We can become healthier just by expanding our water consumption, we increase medical advantages ...
The Importance of Drinking Water Essay
It helps us in our daily life. In addition, water is fundamental to good health, yet needs vary by individual to individual. Still, water is a key factor in the body, which helps in moisturizing the internal organs. Water is your body's main chemical ingredient and makes up about 60 percent of your body weight.
Environmental justice and drinking water: A critical review of primary
Our review focuses on primary data collection to understand how research on EJ and drinking water has captured the lived experiences of affected communities. Several EJ and drinking water papers represent the relationship between access and social vulnerability using secondary data (e.g., Balazs et al., 2011, 2012). Using secondary data such as ...
Press Release
According to the new report published by UNESCO, on behalf of UN-Water, today 2.2 billion people still live without access to safely managed drinking water and 3.5 billion lack access to safely ...
Strategies for Safe Drinking Water: Ensuring Lead-Free Taps for All
Violations of drinking water standards are increasing, especially in poorer, rural areas, and in less resourced city schools, with Flint, Mich., and Jackson, Miss., serving as visible examples. Urgent action is required to protect children and underprivileged neighborhoods as 56% of the US population is exposed to lead levels exceeding the ...
Is tap water safe to drink?
Public health officials in more than two dozen states voluntarily reported a total of 214 intestine-related disease outbreaks associated with drinking water between 2015 and 2020, according to a ...
Surveillance of Waterborne Disease Outbreaks Associated with Drinking
Abstract. Problem/Condition: Public health agencies in U.S. states, territories, and freely associated states investigate and voluntarily report waterborne disease outbreaks to CDC through the National Outbreak Reporting System (NORS).This report summarizes NORS drinking water outbreak epidemiologic, laboratory, and environmental data, including data for both public and private drinking water ...
EPA: PFAS forever chemicals found in drinking water systems for 70M
Map: Where the EPA found pollutants . This map shows water systems included in the EPA's records, as of Jan. 11. It's based on boundaries developed by SimpleLab, a water-testing company.Click ...
Study: Colorado River states routinely overdraw water budget
Water flows into a canal that feeds farms run by Tempe Farming in Casa Grande, Arizona, on July 22, 2021. Darryl Webb, File/AP
Two-thirds of young children in Chicago are exposed to dangerous lead
The EPA's current "action level" for lead in drinking water, where a municipality must take additional steps to educate the public and replace lead service lines, is 15 ppb in 10% of samples ...
The Importance of Drinking Water Essay
Copper is an important to human health as an essential nutrient in low ammounts . As increasing the Cu content in the amount of water quality, it causes vomting , stomach cramps and nausea as well as liver and kidney problems . The desirable limits of Cu content in quality of water is 1.0 mg/l (WHO) and 0.05 mg/l (BSI) .