Enteric illness risks before and after water treatment improvements

This study evaluated whether occurrence of acute gastrointestinal illnesses declined after filtration and ozonation were added to a previously unfiltered, chlorinated high-quality surface water source in a northwest United States city. Enteric and other illnesses were recorded for two 6-month periods for control and intervention sites in the same city. During phase 1, chlorinated, unfiltered drinking water for both sites was obtained from protected watersheds. During phase 2, the intervention site received chlorinated, filtered and ozonated drinking water. The water was not altered in the control site. No overall differences were found in the risk of any of the illnesses after the new water treatment plant was completed. There was a significantly increased risk of diarrhoea and highly credible gastrointestinal illness in participants with three or more episodes of the same type of illness during phase 1.