Environmental Health Environmental Health Specialist Network: Drinking Specialist Network: Drinking

Water ProgramWater Program

By:By:

Joyce Tuttle, REHS, PHMJoyce Tuttle, REHS, PHM

The ProgramThe Program Environmental Health Specialist Network Environmental Health Specialist Network

Drinking Water Program – EHS-Net WaterDrinking Water Program – EHS-Net Water Working under a grant from the Centers Working under a grant from the Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Main interest water systems not regulated Main interest water systems not regulated

by Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) by Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) EHS-Net Water started 2005EHS-Net Water started 2005 Five states involvedFive states involved California received funding 2007California received funding 2007

EHS-Net GoalsEHS-Net Goals Identify contributing factors and Identify contributing factors and

environmental precursors to waterborne environmental precursors to waterborne illness and disease outbreaksillness and disease outbreaks

Translate findings into improved prevention Translate findings into improved prevention efforts using a systems approachefforts using a systems approach

Offer training opportunities to current and Offer training opportunities to current and future environmental health specialistsfuture environmental health specialists

Strengthen collaboration among Strengthen collaboration among epidemiology, laboratory, environmental epidemiology, laboratory, environmental health, and water safety programshealth, and water safety programs

Goals of CA ProgramGoals of CA Program Increase awareness of waterborne Increase awareness of waterborne

disease outbreaks in Californiadisease outbreaks in California Encourage better communication between Encourage better communication between

environmental health, public health, environmental health, public health, epidemiologists, and laboratoriesepidemiologists, and laboratories

Be available for assistance in case of a Be available for assistance in case of a waterborne disease outbreak (WBDO)waterborne disease outbreak (WBDO)

Assist training new environmental health Assist training new environmental health specialistsspecialists

CA EHS-NetCA EHS-Net Working with five states to develop Working with five states to develop

investigation toolinvestigation tool Working with six counties on individual Working with six counties on individual

projectsprojects Training new EHSTraining new EHS Available to all counties for assistanceAvailable to all counties for assistance

HISTORY WBDO IN HISTORY WBDO IN CACA

Waterborne illness has been under-Waterborne illness has been under-reportedreported

Fifty-four reported cases in the last thirty-Fifty-four reported cases in the last thirty-six yearssix years

This includes recreational and drinking This includes recreational and drinking waterwater

Good News: the cases of unknown WBDO Good News: the cases of unknown WBDO has gone significantly down from the has gone significantly down from the 1970’s to present1970’s to present

WBDO REPORTING IN WBDO REPORTING IN CACA

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

1970'S 1980'S 1990'S 2000

Unknown

E coli

Shigela

Crypto

Schisto

Giardia

NoroVirus

Lepto

County Data on WBDOCounty Data on WBDO Contacting counties regarding WBD Contacting counties regarding WBD

investigationsinvestigations Procedures on how to handle possible Procedures on how to handle possible

waterborne illnesswaterborne illness Develop procedures with referencesDevelop procedures with references

County ProjectsCounty Projects Sacramento – Labor Camp Water SurveySacramento – Labor Camp Water Survey San Joaquin – State Small Water SystemsSan Joaquin – State Small Water Systems Yolo – State Small Water SystemsYolo – State Small Water Systems Monterey – Data from State Small and Monterey – Data from State Small and

Local Small Water SystemsLocal Small Water Systems Tulare – Private Well Water SurveyTulare – Private Well Water Survey

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?

Contact InformationContact Information

Joyce TuttleJoyce Tuttle 916-445-5194916-445-5194 Joyce.Tuttle@cdph.ca.govJoyce.Tuttle@cdph.ca.gov P. O. Box 997377, MS 7402P. O. Box 997377, MS 7402 Sacramento, CA 95899-7377Sacramento, CA 95899-7377

Funding for this presentation was made possible by the Funding for this presentation was made possible by the cooperative agreement award #5R01EH000080-04 from the cooperative agreement award #5R01EH000080-04 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The views Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The views expressed in these written materials and by speakers and expressed in these written materials and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U. S. Government.organizations imply endorsement by the U. S. Government.

DISCLAIMERDISCLAIMER