Overview of Water Epidemiology Program
The drinking water epidemiology program is the centerpiece of a unique collaboration between the San Francisco Department of Public Health and the Public Utilities Commission. Our aim is to ensure a safe drinking water supply by acting as a resource to the Public Utilities Commission with regard to health issues related to drinking water. We provide immediate support and response to events that raise health implications and concerns. This includes coordinating surveillance in the event of water quality problems, providing fact sheets or press releases in response to public concerns when water quality study results are reported in the media, responding to media and customer inquiries regarding water information related to San Francisco's Public Utilities Commission water quality and providing health perspective on legislative measures concerning the San Francisco's Public Utilities Commission Water Quality Bureau.
Projects:
Cryptosporidiosis Surveillance Project
The San Francisco Bay Area Cryptosporidiosis Surveillance Project is coordinated by the San Francisco Department of Public Health in cooperation with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, the California Emerging Infections Program, and local health departments. This is an active surveillance program, using phone, email, and fax to obtain reports of confirmed cryptosporidiosis from clinical laboratories serving patients in the counties served by SFPUC: San Francisco, Alameda, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Tuolumne. There are three main goals of the project:Enhance reporting of human cases of cryptosporidiosis
Monitor trends over time
Detect increases in the number of reported cases or outbreaks early enough to allow timely investigation and possible intervention.
Fact Sheets and Public Information
The water epidemiology program develops fact sheets on a number of topics. These may be found by clicking on the water epidemiology publications link.Legionella: Impact of drinking water disinfectant conversion from chlorine to monochloramine
This study was a collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control, the California Emerging Infections Program, the California Department of Health Services, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Water Quality Bureau and the San Francisco Department of Public Health. The study found that switching from chlorine to monochloramine dramatically reduced Legionella colonization in buildings that receive municipal water. The complete results of the study are found in the manuscript Reducing Legionella Colonization of Water Systems with Monochloramine in the Emerging Infectious Diseases journal.Emergency Planning
We collaborate with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission on developing emergency plans. Some of the plans we have developed include an action plan in the event of detecting viable cryptosporidium oocysts in the drinking water, a plan for response to a flooding event, and a plan for responding to intentional contamination. We provide information about the possible risks posed and the appropriate public health responses that could be implemented in each scenario.Regulatory support
We provide regulatory support by interpreting relevant medical literature to assist with regulatory compliance issues and by providing comments on proposed new regulations. We have provided regulatory support for the Lead and Copper Rule, the Disinfection Byproducts and the Long Term Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rules, as well as providing input into the annual Consumer Confidence Report.Chloramine Conversion Support
The drinking water epidemiology program has been providing information and support to the SFPUC since the conversion to monochloramine for residual disinfection in 2004, to ensure a safe drinking water supply. SFDPH continues to support the use of chloramine for secondary disinfection in the SFPUC water system. Please click for more information on SFDPH work relevant to chloramine.