Clean drinking water is one of the world's most precious resources. In the United States, clean drinking water is something that we don't think about enough. Usually, it's free of contaminants and isn't a source of illness. However, drinking water-related outbreaks do occur. In fact, in 2001 and 2002, there were at least 31 reported outbreaks causing over 1000 cases of illness and 7 deaths. In parts of the developing world, clean water has never been easy to come by. As a result, millions of people become ill every year and millions more die from parasites, bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants found in drinking water.

Take a moment to consider the following questions about drinking water:

1 Are you among the more than 30% of Americans who depend on ground water for their drinking water, either from a public source or a private well?

If you receive your drinking water from a private well, we suggest that every year you schedule a well checkup. Why is this important? Over 90% of the disease outbreaks linked to drinking water reported to CDC in 2001-2002 were ground water-related. Most occurred because the ground water was either untreated or improperly treated.

For more information on wells and healthy drinking water, see

• DPD Drinking Water Website
• NCEH Drinking Water Website
• Chemical Contaminants in Drinking Water and Public Health
  From NCEH
• Information for Consumers about Ground Water and Water Wells
  From Wellowner.org
• Surveillance for Waterborne-Disease Outbreaks in the United States
  MMWR article

2 Does your water come from a public source, such as a water utility?

If so, contact your water utility. Ask for a copy of their Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), sometimes also called a Water Quality Report. Water providers now must produce this report every year. It tells you what substances have been found in the water and whether or not it's safe to drink. Your cities Water Quality Report may be posted on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) website. See the EPA Consumer Confidence Reports page for details.

3 Did you know that people are processing safe, clean water with inexpensive, easy-to-get materials, in areas of the world where clean water is hard to find?

The Safe Water System (SWS) is one way this is done. A collaborative project of CDC and public and private organizations, the SWS helps people learn how to make their own drinking water safe with inexpensive tools and materials they already have around them.

• Visit the CDC Safe Water System website to learn how and why it was developed, how it works, and how to start a new Safe Water System project or how to connect with an existing project.

4 Learn more about healthy drinking water through National Ground Water Awareness Week and World Water Day.

It's National Ground Water Awareness Week, March 13-19, 2005. Go to the National Ground Water Association website for information about ground water, well safety, and maintenance. Plus, you can participate in awareness week activities.

March 22, 2005 is World Water Day and this year the theme is “Water for Life.” This day will be the starting day for the International Decade for Action, "Water for Life" 2005 - 2015, proclaimed during the 58th session of the United Nations General Assembly. The purpose of the Decade is a greater focus on water-related issues to achieve internationally agreed water-related goals. Go to the World Water Day 2005 website for information on events around the world.

Note: CDC is not responsible for the content of Web pages found at these links. Links to nonfederal organizations are provided solely as a service to our users. These links do not indicate an endorsement of these organizations by CDC or the federal government.