You’ve heard about it, read about, and watched the videos of the devastation left by the recent Hurricanes that wrested civilization from some areas of the United States and the Carribean.
The destruction had an impact on power, and structures, removing aspects of comfort and safety from many people’s lives.
Clean water is one of those bastions of safety we realize quickly is missing, when such a disaster uproots us.
Under non-disaster circumstances, our environmental safety infrastructure is in place for providing us with clean, potable water, to keep the wastewater from mixing with what comes out of our faucets and bathtubs.
But after a hurricane’s destructive force electrical grids are compromised and with them, loss of water pumps at water treatment centers, with the influx of bacterial and other contaminants leaking into potable water supplies.
Disease from Bad Water
Some of the causes for disease outbreaks from contaminated drinking water are as follows:
Giardia: Giardia is a microscopic parasite that causes the diarrheal illness known as giardiasis. Giardia (also known as Giardia intestinalis, Giardia lamblia, or Giardia duodenalis) is found on surfaces or in soil, food, or water that has been contaminated with feces (poop) from infected humans or animals.
Giardia is protected by an outer shell that allows it to survive outside the body for long periods of time and makes it tolerant to chlorine disinfection. While the parasite can be spread in different ways, water (drinking water and recreational water) is the most common mode of transmission.
Legionella: Legionnaires’ (LEE-juh-nares) disease is caused by a type of bacterium called Legionella (LEE-juh-nell-a). The bacterium is named after a 1976 outbreak, during which some people who went to a Philadelphia convention of the American Legion suffered from a new type of pneumonia (lung infection) that became known as Legionnaires’ disease. A milder infection, also caused by Legionella, is called Pontiac fever. The term “legionellosis” (LEE-juh-nuh-low-sis) may be used to refer to either Legionnaires’ disease or Pontiac fever.
Salmonella – Salmonellosis is a type of food poisoning caused by the Salmonella enterica bacterium. There are many different kinds of these bacteria. Salmonella serotype Typhimurium and Salmonella serotype Enteritidis are the most common types in the United States.
Shigella – Shigellosis is an infectious disease caused by a group of bacteria called Shigella (shih-GEHL-uh). Most who are infected with Shigella develop diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps starting a day or two after they are exposed to the bacteria. Shigellosis usually resolves in 5 to 7 days. Some people who are infected may have no symptoms at all, but may still pass the Shigella bacteria to others. The spread of Shigella can be stopped by frequent and careful handwashing with soap and taking other hygiene measures.
Norovirus is a very contagious virus that can infect anyone. You can get it from an infected person, contaminated food or water, or by touching contaminated surfaces. The virus causes your stomach or intestines or both to get inflamed. This leads you to have stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea and to throw up. These symptoms can be serious for some people, especially young children and older adults..
Cryptosporidium is a microscopic parasite that causes the diarrheal disease cryptosporidiosis. Both the parasite and the disease are commonly known as “Crypto.”
While this parasite can be spread in several different ways, water (drinking water and recreational water) is the most common way to spread the parasite. Cryptosporidium is a leading cause of waterborne disease among humans in the United States.
What You Can Do to Bring Drinking Water to Disaster Areas
Help Buy Filtration Straws
GoFundMe allows you to purchase water filtration straws for victims of Hurricane Maria. “This is a LifeStraw and, with it, you can drink up to a thousand liters of water from almost any water source,”.
Donate to Fund UNICEF Emergency Kits
UNICEF USA is collecting donations for Emergency Relief Kits that will provide the country with essential supplies to help children and their families who are currently without clean water. You can purchase a kit for a family in need here.
Support the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross hopes to send as much water as possible to those affected by Hurricane Maria. Volunteers and community members are working to send water and supplies by air and by sea. You can contribute to the cause here.
Donate to World Vision
World Vision is a Christian charity organization that plans to equip local partners in Puerto Rico with the water and supplies necessary to help children and their families affected by the Hurricane. Among World Vision’s top priorities are providing food, water, and temporary shelter for those in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. You can contribute to their relief efforts here.
Support the Salvation Army
Go to the Salvation Army website. You can contribute to the cause by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY, texting STORM to 51555, or by mailing in your donation via check with the designation “Hurricane 2017.” Find more information about how to help here.
Contribute to Mercy Corps
Global humanitarian aid organization Mercy Corps has put together an emergency response team in an effort to provide water and supplies to Puerto Rico. Mercy Corps’ emergency response team seeks to immediately provide support to children and their families through clean drinking water, cash, and other necessary supplies. The organization also plans to help rebuild as much as possible after the devastation of the hurricane. You can donate to Mercy Corps’ relief efforts here.
Back the “Water Filters for Puerto Rico” Campaign
GoFundMe campaign “Water Filters for Puerto Rico” hopes to deliver as many Wave To Water filters to the island as possible. The filters are lightweight and can be easily transported. A single $50 filter can provide clean drinking water for up to 100 people. You can contribute to the fundraiser here.