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How does Vibrio cholerae enter drinking-water supplies?

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Diagram of a water treatment plant showing the process from water inlet through mixing, coagulation, flocculation, settling, filtering, chemical treatment with chlorine, storage, and high-lift pumping to the distribution system. — water purification Water from inlets located in the water supply, such as a lake, is sent to be mixed, coagulated, and flocculated and is then sent to the waterworks for purification by filtering and chemical treatment. After being treated, the water is pumped into water mains for storage or distribution.

Vibrio cholerae enters drinking-water supplies primarily through the fecal-oral route, which occurs when water sources become contaminated with feces containing the bacterium.12

This contamination typically happens in environments lacking modern sewerage systems, where human waste may leach into water supplies or where water is irrigated with raw sewage. Once the water is contaminated, the bacteria can persist in aquatic environments, particularly with the El Tor biotype, which is known for its hardiness.13

Public health efforts to prevent this entry focus on:
* Sanitation: Implementing the hygienic disposal of human waste and using latrines to prevent environmental contamination.32
* Water Treatment: Utilizing adequate chlorination of public water supplies and, where necessary, boiling water or using narrow-necked storage containers to prevent post-collection contamination.32

Ensuring a safe and clean supply of water is the fundamental requirement for preventing the transmission of this waterborne illness.32