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Here you will find information on water-borne infections and how to help prevent infection in people whose immune systems are weakened.
Ask your doctor if you should take the following precautions.
If you have a weakened immune system or a serious illness, you can take precautions to make sure drinking water is as safe as possible.
Drinking water can contain a number of different organisms, including bacteria, viruses and parasites, which can cause disease.
These organisms can exist in the source water and survive through treatment, or they can enter the water supply in the distribution system. Well water can be contaminated if the well is not built properly or if it draws on water on the surface of the ground, such as shallow wells or wells drilled in (fractured) rock. Surface water, such as rivers, lakes and streams, can also contain disease causing organisms from animal feces.
If your immune system is weakened, you should not drink water from surface water sources, and try not to swallow water while swimming.
If there is a boil water advisory in your community, you should boil water for at least one minute before drinking it. You should not drink or use tap water to brush your teeth, rinse your mouth, mix drinks or make ice cubes without boiling it first.
Current water treatment practices in B.C. generally kill bacteria and viruses, but these may not kill certain parasites. Water that is safe to drink when it leaves a water treatment plant or deep well may become contaminated in the distribution system.
This can happen due to openings in storage reservoirs or contamination with unsafe water.
A full boil for at least one minute is recommended as the best way to disinfect water and kill bacteria, viruses and parasites. At elevations over 2,000 meters (6,500 feet), you should boil water for at least two minutes to disinfect it.
Always boil water for making infant formula.
Boiling water may not be effective for heavily polluted water or for water subject to chemical contamination.
Water treatment devices, such as jug-type or built-in devices, are also not an appropriate solution. The jug filter models are not effective in removing many disease causing organisms.
Filters built into the household water system are more effective and expensive, and these require regular maintenance to continue to work effectively. Check with a reliable and competent supplier who can help you with installation and ongoing maintenance.
If you plan to install a drinking water filter, you will need a system labeled as "Absolute" 1 micron or smaller, and labeled as meeting ANSI/NSF International Standard #53 for removal of parasites.
If you do not want to drink water from the tap, you may also choose to buy bottled water. You can still use tap water for cooking as long as you boil it. You can use bottled water for drinking, brushing teeth, making ice cubes, and for recipes where water is used but not boiled such as cold soups or salad dressings.
For more information, please contact your local environmental health officer or see the following BC HealthFiles:
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