The CDC wants to study water contamination in a new way

There are an estimated 200 million cases of acute gastrointestinal illness in the U.S. each year, but there isn’t reliable data to nail down how often that’s tied to tainted drinking water. Now, the CDC is hoping to dig up U.S. data with a proposed new study of what happens when water pressure drops — like when a water main breaks — and whether that can lead to contamination that can make people sick. Studies in Norway and Sweden have linked drops in water pressure to an increased risk of gastrointestinal illness. The proposed cohort study would survey households across the U.S. about water use and health issues. The idea is open for public comment until Oct. 29.

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/08/29/2018-18699/proposed-data-collection-submitted-for-public-comment-and-recommendations?utm_source=STAT+Newsletters&utm_campaign=0b5b6a87aa-MR_COPY_12&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8cab1d7961-0b5b6a87aa-149692869