TABLE 5.
Deficiencies (n = 801) identified in drinking water outbreaks (n = 780), 1971 to 2006
| Deficiency | No.a |
|---|---|
| Contamination at points under the jurisdiction of a public water utilityb | |
| Untreated surface water | 21 |
| Untreated groundwater | 243 |
| Treatment deficiency (e.g., inadequate disinfection, no filtration) | 312 |
| Current treatment not expected to remove a chemical contaminant | |
| Surface water | 0 |
| Ground water | 1 |
| Distribution system deficiency (e.g., cross-connection, contamination of water mains or storage facility) | 79 |
| Contamination of plumbing and pipes not under the jurisdiction of a public water utilityc | |
| Legionella spp. in drinking water system (reported only during 2001 to 2006) | 24 |
| Plumbing system deficiency after the water meter or property line (e.g., cross-connection, corrosion products) | 55 |
| Deficiency in building/home-specific water treatment | 1 |
| Deficiency or contamination of equipment using or distributing water (e.g., drink mix machines) | 9 |
| Contamination of water at point of usec | |
| Container, bottle, or pitcher | 5 |
| Tap or hose | 4 |
| Commercially bottled water | 2 |
| Unknown source | 1 |
| Contamination during shipping, hauling, or storage | |
| Tap water stored in containers | 1 |
| Commercially bottled water | 1 |
| Contamination or treatment deficiency during commercial bottling | 5 |
| Insufficient information about deficiency | |
| Tap water | 33 |
| Commercially bottled water | 4 |
More than one deficiency was identified during the investigation of some outbreaks.
Contamination of water and deficiencies occurring in the drinking water system at or in the water source, treatment facility, or distribution system of pipes and storage facilities. For a community water system, the distribution system refers to the pipes and storage infrastructure prior to the water meter or property line; for noncommunity and individual water systems, the distribution system refers to the pipes and storage infrastructure prior to entry into a house or other building (47).
Contamination of drinking water and deficiencies occurring in plumbing and pipes that are not part of the distribution system. For community systems, the contamination occurred after the water meter or service connection; for noncommunity and individual water systems, contamination occurred in a service line leading to a house or building or in the plumbing inside a house or other building (47).