May 15, 2007
by Brian Lefferts, Environmental Health Officer / Injury Control & EMS Manager
Clean drinking water is a priority for residents of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. But what is clean water? For many people it is water obtained from the rain, ice, springs, streams, and tundra ponds. This water looks very clear and tastes great. Unfortunately, tiny germs that go unseen to the human eye can hide in water taken from these sources.
These germs can make you very sick. By drinking this water you run the risk of developing diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. These illnesses usually last four to seven days, and most people recover without treatment. However, in some cases the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. The elderly, infants, and those with weakened immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness.
Careful research has been done by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on these germs, and regulations have been put into place to help protect us from them. These regulations are enforced by the State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).
According to Doug Zellmer with DEC Drinking Water Program, "Any water obtained from above ground needs to be treated to kill harmful germs. This includes water from rivers, creeks, ponds, rain catchment, or ice and snow melt." Also, YKHC's Office of Environmental Health and Engineering (OEHE) and village tribal and city staff all recognize the importance of clean drinking water. They work together to ensure that the hidden germs found in community water supplies are removed or destroyed. This is done by treating the water at your community water treatment plant with filters and chlorine.
Please be safe. Protect yourselves and your families by only drinking water from your community water treatment plant. If you can't get drinking water from the water treatment plant, bring drinking water to a rolling boil for at least one minute to purify it.