What is cryptosporidium? Is it a germ?
Cryptosporidium is a microscopic, protozoan parasite which was first recognized as an agent of human waterborne disease in 1987. It is present in the digestive system of livestock, particularly calves and sheep. The parasite exists in the body of the host animal and is expelled in its feces in an encapsulated form, called an oocyst. Like the giardia cyst(see description of giardia following cryptosporidium Q & A's), the oocyst is particularly difficult to inactivate by conventional disinfection when it is present in water.

What are the symptoms of cryptosporidiosis?
Cryptosporidiosis causes severe abdominal cramping, vomiting, fever and/or diarrhea which may last for several weeks in healthy people. It may be life-threatening in people who are immunocompromised. AIDS patients, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, the very young, and the elderly all are at risk from the active symptoms of this disease. The incubation period is between 2 and 14 days.

How is cryptosporidiosis spread?
In general, cryptosporidiosis is spread by a fecal to oral route and person-to-person transmission.

Can we get this disease from our drinking water?
Not likely. Cryptospridium is a surface water parasite. Most of Mount Pleasant's water comes from an underground aquifer that is protected from surficial contamination. There is no reason to believe Mount Pleasant's deep wells could be contaminated with this organism.

Is Charleston CPW's water supply safe from cryptosporidium?
According to John P. Cook, Charleston Commissioners of Public Works' Director of Engineering. CPW "...has monitored both its raw water sources and has yet to find any viable Crypto organisms." Our neighbor utility confirmed that there is no evidence of a waterborne disease outbreak ever occurring in its service area even though it is from a surface water source. The Hanahan water treatment plant has new filters, with with monitoring devices at the bottom of each one that measure the water turbidity. If a breakthrough of unfiltered water occurs, the filter will be isolated and taken out of service until it can properly treat the water.

Does the Commission use proper water treatment?
We have the technology in reverse osmosis water treatment to remove microbiological organisms the size of the giardia cyst and the cryptosporidium oocyst even if they were detected.

What is Giardiasis?
Giardiasis is an inflammation of the bowel caused by an organism call Giardia Lamblia. Symptoms can include diarrhea with accompanying nausea, gas and weight loss. There may also be no symptoms. Anyone can get it, although children usually have it more often than adults. Children in diapers have it more than anyone else.

Do we have Giardia cysts in our water?
NO. The Commission's well water was tested by the state and county health departments for the Giardia Lamblia organism. There was no indication of the presence of this protozoan parasite. Giardia is similiar to cryptosporidium in that it is transmitted through the feces of warm-blooded animals and contaminated surface water supplies.

What type of treatment is necessary to get rid of crypto and giardia in drinking water?
There are basically two lines of defense to achieve removal or inactivation of viable cysts and oocysts.

- 1. The first is the coaglulation/filtration process in which suspended solids in the water are collected and removed. The success of this process can be measured by monitoring the turbidity of the water being filtered.
- 2. The second is to provide sustained disinfection prior to the water entering the distribution system. The Commission's water system is not a source for either "cryptosporidiosis" or "giardiasis."

Symptoms of these parasitic infections may be difficult to distinguish from other causes of gastroenteritis. Medical diagnosis can be confirmed only by laboratory examination of stool samples.

What is the best way to assure that my family does not come down with either infection?
Be scrupulous in personal cleaning habits. Wash hands with soap and water after using the bathroom or changing diapers. Don't drink water that you are unsure of.