Flood water safety: 6 steps to avoid disease

Water is a source of rest for many of us, whether it holds a bottle of full water in our hands all day or swimming to update our minds and bodies. The destructive floods in Texas and the closure of the beach throughout the country are a reminder, however, the water may put our health at times. Unfortunately, the risk of flooding and subsequent water pollution increases. It is important to understand the reason for this and how you can take to enjoy water while maintaining activity and health.

Climate change increases the frequency of flood

like Climate Heats the atmosphere, the air carries more moisture, and the rain falls heavier and faster than it was in the past. While the most urgent and destructive threats during flooding are death and physical injury, the risk can continue after the rain stops.

When more water falls from the sky in a shorter period, storms of storms and masts fight to keep up with it. Flood water ends with sewage from inspection, waste from amazing treatment plants, pesticides and fertilizers from farm fields, gasoline and oil from roads, and sometimes chemicals from industrial sites.

As a result, the water we use for drinking, cooking, fishing, and entertainment can end with a group of bacteria, viruses and toxins. Here are some of the most important ways in which you can stay safe from this.

1. Pay attention to water consulting

Local environmental and health agencies test the entertainment water sources of pollution marks. They check bacteria like Cola Enterococci, which is common in the intestine of humans and animals. If the levels of these bacteria are high, this indicates that the agricultural sewers or waste overflowed in the entertainment water. Health officials will then issue orders to close the beaches to prevent skin, eye, ear, and gastrointestinal infections. Before swimming, check the local government websites or the marks published on the site.

2. Avoid swimming after heavy rains

Even if there is no official consultant, it is good to wait 24-48 hours after the storm before swimming in natural water sources. The water may seem clean but still carry dangerous levels of bacteria. Stay away from water if it seems cloudy, or smells unusual, or has a wreck, visible foam or scum. Be particularly careful about lakes or rivers near large farms, because compost and fertilizers from these farms can be poured after heavy rains.

3. If you swim, protect your mouth, eyes and skin open

The most common method that people get sick from contaminated water is to swallow it. Consider keeping your head over water when swimming in rivers or lakes after rain. Avoid diving or spraying water in your mouth. If you have discounts, abrasions, hole, or tattoo recently, cover the waterproof bands. After swimming, rinse it with clean water, wash your hands with soap (or use the handicraft) before eating or drinking.

4. Be careful about drinking water after flooding

If you live in an area affected by the heavy floods, follow the local consultations about whether the tap water is safe to drink. In some cases, societies may issue boiling water consulting or distributing bottled water.

If you are using a special well system for your water, you may need to cleanse your well or test your water. Boiling water for at least one minute (or more if it is high) is effective against most bacteria and viruses. Using a candidate the size of 0.2 microns or protects younger than parasites such as Giardia, high -levels and reverse osmosis systems can reduce viruses.

5. Do not hunt or harvest oysters during consultations

If a local health agency warns of swimming or contacting water, it usually applies to fishing as well. Oyster, especially those that are harvested from coastal water, are vulnerable to algae and pollution of wastewater. Red islands and similar conditions can release vital toxins that accumulate in shellfish and make you sick. Check the government websites and its signs before harvesting or eating oysters if they are caught in the wilderness after the rain.

6. Defender of the infrastructure that protects you

When I worked in Asia and Africa on public health, I spent a great time working on diseases that most Americans do not think, such as typhoid and cholera. This is because the systems that were built in the United States are largely in the 1950s and sixties, to maintain clean water separate from waste and disinfect water pipelines in our homes.

Our sewage systems are aging, and climate change puts more pressure They have ever. The cuts in the government budget also make it difficult to invest in the promotion of storms, wastewater treatment plans, and other water infrastructure, as well as keeping people working in the water alerts testing and issuing them. Pushing attention To the discussions that take place in your community and consider defending investments that keep the water and beaches you use safe.