This page lists water-borne pathogens commonly found in a community water supply. These pathogens are sterilized by the drinking water purification system installed by volunteers from Clean Water For The World.

Data on this page provided by Brandon Neblett.

VIRUSES Diseases Symptoms
Enteroviruses
polio, coxsackie,
and echoviruses		 respiratory illness, meningitis, diarrhea, encephalitis, paralytic
disease
Hepatitis A virus Hepatitis A fever, malaise, jaundice, anorexia, nausea
Norovirus Gastroenteritis acute gastroenteritis
Rotaviruses Viral gastroenteritis acute gastroenteritis
BACTERIA Disease Symptoms
Campylobacter
jejuni		 Gastroenteritis acute gastroenteritis,
possible Guillain-Barre syndrome, possible reactive arthritis
E. coli Gastroenteritis watery diarrhea
E. coli O157:H7 Severe gastro-
intestinal illness		 watery, then bloody diarrhea;
vomiting, possible hemolytic
uremic syndrome
Legionellae Legionellosis Legionnaire’s disease: pneumonia with anorexia, headache, chills, cough, chest pain, and diarrhea
Pontiac fever: fever, chills, muscle pain
Pseudomonas Bacterial pneumonia Dermatitis, ear infections,
eye infections
Salmonellae Typhoid fever
(enteric fever)		 loose, watery diarrhea;
possible reactive arthritis
Shigellae Shigellosis
(bacillary dysentry)		 dysentery with fever;
possible reactive arthritis
Vibrio cholerae Cholera profuse, watery diarrhea,
vomiting, rapid dehydration
PARASITES Disease Symptoms
Cryptosporidium Cryptosporidiosis profuse, watery diarrhea
Entamoeba Amoebiasis abdominal pain, occasional mucoid or bloody diarrhea
Giardia lamblia Giardiasis abdominal pain, bloating;
loose, pale, greasy stools
Naegleria Primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) meningoencephalitis, headache,
fever, nausea, vomiting,
usually fatal