New report offers critical strategies to protect public health and safe drinking water amid climate change

The American Academy of Microbiology, the honorific leadership group and think tank within the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), and the American Geophysical Union (AGU) have released a new report, Water, Waterborne Pathogens and Public Health: Environmental Drivers.

Developed by leading scientists and informed by expert deliberations from a December 2024 colloquium organized by ASM and AGU, the report presents a holistic strategy to reduce waterborne infections and safeguard public health as climate change increasingly disrupts water systems worldwide.

"Water is a critical determinant of both ecosystem integrity and human health, yet it is increasingly compromised by anthropogenic pressures and broader environmental change," said Dr. Rita Colwell, Co-Chair of the Colloquium Steering Committee, former ASM President and past Chair of the Academy. "Addressing this public health risk requires coordinated, cross-disciplinary strategies for effective microbial and environmental surveillance, early-warning systems and support for resilient water infrastructure that can withstand intensifying climate stressors."

Each year, more than 3.5 million people die from waterborne illnesses, with the heaviest burden falling on low- and middle-income countries, where over 4 billion people rely on water sources that are often unmonitored and unsafe. While many microbes that exist in water are harmless, some can cause serious disease when humans drink or interact with contaminated water. Environmental changes through more frequent and intense floods, hurricanes and heat waves, coupled with aging infrastructure, are increasing human exposure to waterborne pathogens and threatening access to safe drinking water.

The report shares expert-driven insights and highlights key strategies to strengthen prevention and response to waterborne disease outbreaks, including:

• Enhancing surveillance and monitoring: Implementing robust systems to track water quality and pathogen presence.

• Modernizing water infrastructure: Investing in advanced water treatment and distribution systems to ensure safe drinking water.

• Promoting interdisciplinary research: Initiating collaboration across microbial sciences, hydrology and climate science to address health-relevant challenges.

• Improving public awareness and engagement: Raising awareness of the importance of safe water and sanitation and engaging local communities to develop collaborative solutions.

"Microbial datasets and environmental monitoring are foundational to explaining the dynamic interdependencies between ecological processes and human health outcomes," said Antarpreet Jutla, Ph.D., Co-Chair of the Colloquium Steering Committee, AGU member and recipient of AGU's 2023 Charles S. Falkenberg Award.

"Integrating these data streams within interdisciplinary, systems-based frameworks facilitates the design of adaptive infrastructure and predictive modeling platforms, ultimately strengthening public health resilience and promoting socio-economic stability in the context of accelerating environmental change."

While a wealth of environmental and weather data, public health information and waterborne pathogen monitoring exists, resources for this information are often siloed. The report emphasizes integrating data systems with technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning to develop predictive models for communities that allow proactive warning of waterborne disease outbreaks.

Investment in water infrastructure that addresses region-specific geographical and environmental conditions and meets the needs of local communities is critical. The report highlights the promise of microbes as a nature-based solution that improves water treatment, prevents infrastructure degradation and provides new ways to build systems that hold up against changing weather parameters.

Ultimately, addressing these challenges will require cross-disciplinary collaboration. The report calls for active engagement with local communities, especially those most affected by water insecurity, to co-develop effective and long-lasting solutions.

"Safeguarding global health demands an integrated perspective and coordinated action," said Jay Lennon, Ph.D., Chair of the Academy Climate Change Task Force. "Around the globe, scientists, public health advocates, policymakers, local leaders and philanthropists must work hand in hand to build a future where every person has access to safe and reliable water."