Community Health Impact of Extended Loss of Water Service--Alabama, January 2010.

The article discusses the impact of extended loss of water service on community health in Alabama in January 2010 based on a household survey conducted by the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The survey found that the prevalence of acute gastrointestinal illness (AGI) was higher among residents in areas that lost water service and water pressure. Increased cases of acute respiratory illness (ARI) were found associated with increasing duration of loss of pressure, but not with water service loss. The importance of investing in enhanced drinking water infrastructure to protect public health is tackled. INSET: What is already known on this topic?.