| | Table 1 Causes and Symptoms of Some Waterborne Diseases
| Disease | Microbiological Agent | Symptoms |
| Bacterial gastroenteritis | Bacteria - various organisms including E. coli | Diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever, nausea, vomiting |
| Campylobacteriosis | Bacteria - campylobacter jejuni | Fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, nausea, vomiting |
| Cryptosporidiosis | Protozoa - cryptosporidia | Diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, slight fever, nausea, vomiting, headaches |
| Cyclospora infection | Protozoa - cyclospora | Diarrhea, bloating, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever |
| Giardiasis | Protozoa - giardia | Diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, chills, headache, fever |
| Hepatitis | Virus - hepatitis A | Fever, chills, abdominal pains, jaundice, dark urine |
| Shigellosis | Bacteria - shigella | Diarrhea, or bloody diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps |
| Typhoid fever | Bacteria - samonella typhi | High fever, headache, constipation, loss of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal rash |
| Viral gastroenteritis | Viruses - Norwalk type, rotaviruses, adenoviruses, enteroviruses | Diarrhea, vomiting, fever, headache, abdominal cramps |
Table 2 Chemicals and Their Associated Risk to Human Health
| Chemical | Source | Potential Health Effect | Canadian Drinking Water
Quality Guideline (mg/L) |
| Aluminum | Natural deposits in earth and aluminum-based coagulants | Unknown; unproven links to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases | Under review |
| Barium | Natural deposits in earth | Circulatory system effects | 1 |
| Boron | Natural deposits in earth | Damage to reproductive system | 5 |
| Copper | Natural deposits; corrosion products from piping | Gastrointestinal irritation at levels much higher than guideline | 1* |
| Lead | Natural deposit and corrosion products from piping, solder, and some brass alloys | Damage to kidneys, reproductive and nervous systems; development damage in young children | 0.01 |
| Nitrate | Fertilizers; human or animal wastes | Methemoglobinemia in infants under six months; unproven link to some cancers | 45 |
| Pesticides (including various fungicides, herbicides, rodenticides and insecticides) | Agricultural activities (spraying and water runoff) | Various effects depending upon type of pesticide; suggested links to cancers, damage to liver, kidneys, nervous and reproductive systems | Varies depending upon pesticide (see Health Canada website or contact local health authority for specific details) |
| Petroleum hydrocarbons | Leak in fuel oil or gasoline tanks allowing seepage into water | Some hydrocarbons have been linked to various cancers, damage to liver, kidneys, nervous system | Under review |
| Phytoplankton toxins | Natural toxins produced and released by microscopic plants and algae | Liver and nervous system damage | Under review |
| Sodium* | Natural deposits in earth | Health risk only for individuals on salt-restricted
diets | 200** |
| Sulphate | Natural deposits in earth; some flocculants | At elevated levels causes laxative effect leading to dehydration | 500*** |
| Trihalomethanes | By-products of disinfection of water | Cancer | 0.1**** |
| Turbidity | Suspended mineral or organic material | Shelters pathogens from disinfection.
Increases requirement for disinfectant | 1 NTU***** |
* Guideline established based on aesthetic quality. Adverse health effects are possible at levels much higher than guideline.
** Guideline established based on aesthetic quality. Adverse health effects possible only for those on salt-restricted diets.
*** Guideline established based on aesthetic quality. Consumption of water with elevated levels of sulphates may result in gastrointestinal irritation including diarrhea.
**** Average of four quarterly samples.
***** Nethelometric Turbidity Units
Table 3 Chemical Agents and Microbiological Species Affecting Aesthetic Quality of Water
| Chemical/Species | Source | Symptom |
| Calcium | Natural deposits (limestone) | Hard water; scales and deposits in kettles and water heaters |
| Copper | Natural deposits; corrosion products from piping | Green staining of fixtures; metallic taste |
| Hydrogen Sulphide | Present in water with high iron content and low pH | Rotten egg odour |
| Iron | Natural deposits and iron-based coagulants | Rusty reddish-brown staining of fixtures and laundry; metallic taste |
| Iron bacteria | Bacteria feeding on iron in water | Reddish-brown slime on fixtures |
| Magnesium | Natural deposits | Hard water; scales and deposits in kettles and water heaters |
| Manganese | Natural deposits | Black staining of fixtures and laundry; metallic taste |
| Sodium | Natural deposits | Salty taste |
| Sulphate | Natural deposits; some flocculants | Objectionable taste |
| Sulphate | Bacteria feeding on sulphates in water | Rotten egg odour; blackish slime on fixtures |
| Tannins and Humic Acids | Natural organic matter (decaying plants and animals) | Various odours (aromatic, fishy, musty, earthy, woody) and tastes |
| Turbidity | Excessively fine sand or silt; runoff from soil | Abrasive texture to water; residue left in sink and tub |
| Zinc | Natural deposits; corrosion products from plumbing | Objectionable metallic taste |
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