Waterborne viruses afflict millions of people each year who consume contaminated water, and according to the World Health Organization, at least two billion people use a contaminated drinking water source. As the global population increases and safe drinking water becomes scarcer, knowledge of waterborne viruses and other waterborne diseases will grow in importance. Below you will learn about waterborne viruses, how to know if your water is contaminated, and how to remove viruses from water and safeguard your water supply. How do viruses get into water? Viruses get into water when water is contaminated by the urine or feces of an infected human or animal. An improperly working sewage system, polluted storm water runoff, and floods heighten the risk. Well water and water from unsterilized sources, such as lakes and rivers, is especially vulnerable to contamination. In fact, all untreated water sources are at risk of viral contamination, and many developing nations suffer from viral outbreaks because of lack of access to clean water. Although even a municipal water source is not without risk. In the event of a flood or natural disaster, municipal disinfection processes could fail and leave your water supply susceptible to viruses and other dangerous pathogens. If the disinfection process fails, your water company will send out a boil water advisory, because they cannot guarantee the safety of your water supply. How do you test for viruses in water? The most accurate way to test for viruses in water is to send a water sample to a lab. In the lab, the water is concentrated into a smaller volume. Then, virus detection is achieved through nucleic acid extraction or molecular detection, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. If you are interested in having your water tested for viruses, contact a certified laboratory in your state. Although there are currently no home water test kits that detect viruses, a home coliform bacteria test can indicate if your water contains disease-causing organisms and alert you if further testing is required. Coliform bacteria are present in the feces of humans and animals. While they don’t usually cause illness, their presence signals that other pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites, may be present. Also, municipal water providers test their water regularly, but if you have a well, it is your responsibility to test for contaminants and to ensure a safe water supply. Given that wells are especially vulnerable to contaminants after heavy rain and flooding, vigilant water testing is highly recommended. Testing aside, any untreated water source is at risk of viral contamination, so it is advised to always take precautionary measures (e.g., install a water treatment system) to protect your home and family from illness. Learn More: How to Remove Bacteria from Drinking Water Types of waterborne viruses Hepatitis, Norovirus, and Rotavirus are the most common waterborne viruses worldwide. They can be spread by drinking, bathing, washing, or eating food exposed to contaminated water. Hepatitis There are five different types of viral Hepatitis (A, B, C, D, and E) and all cause inflammation of the liver. However, Hepatitis A and E are the only two that spread through contaminated water. Symptoms of both Hepatitis A and E include fever, weakness, loss of appetite, nausea, and jaundice. The good news is that the majority of patients fully recover and have no long-term side effects, but good hygiene, handwashing, and avoiding drinking tap water while abroad are good practices to avoid getting sick. There is even a Hepatitis A vaccine available for both children and adults. Norovirus Norovirus is a virus that spreads rapidly and easily, as it only takes a small amount of virus particles to make a person sick. Common symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and stomach pain. Norovirus, along with all waterborne pathogens, are tricky because they can spread beyond drinking water. If food is grown or harvested with contaminated water, you can also get sick. For example, oysters may be harvested, and fruits and vegetables may be irrigated with contaminated water. To prevent Norovirus, it is recommended to wash your hands often, rinse fruits and vegetables before eating, thoroughly cook shellfish, and avoid drinking water that may be contaminated. Rotavirus Rotavirus is most common in infants and young children and causes vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and may lead to dehydration. Adults can also get rotavirus, but usually have milder symptoms. There are currently two Rotavirus vaccines licensed for infants, but there is no vaccine for older children or adults. Hand washing, good hygiene, and avoiding potentially contaminated food and water aid in preventing the spread of Rotavirus. How do you remove viruses from water? Viruses can be removed from water through chlorine, ozone water treatment, ultraviolet purification, distillation, ultrafiltration, and by boiling water. 1. Chlorine Chlorine eliminates viruses and other pathogens from water through a chemical reaction. When chlorine is added to water, a weak acid called hypochlorous acid forms that penetrates the cell walls of viruses and bacteria, destroying them from the inside out. Chlorine is a popular choice at water treatment centers around the world, because it continues to keep water clean overtime. However, it may leave a residual chemical smell in your tap water. If this is a problem you encounter, an activated carbon filter is recommended to greatly improve your water’s taste and smell. Learn More: Activated Carbon Filters 101 2. Ozone water treatment Ozone water treatment removes viruses and other troublesome contaminants from water through oxidation. Ozone (O3) is an oxygen compound and one of nature’s most powerful oxidizers. In ozone water treatment, ozone is first created in an ozone generator. Then, it is injected into water where it oxidizes organic material in the membranes of viruses, bacteria, and parasites. This weakens, ruptures, and kills their cells. Ozone water treatment not only eliminates viruses and other dangerous pathogens, but it is also incredibly fast and purifies water in a matter of seconds. Learn More: What is Ozone Water Treatment and How Does It Work? 3. Ultraviolet purification Ultraviolet purification systems utilize UV light to damage the DNA of viruses and other living organisms, rendering them unable to reproduce and unable to spread disease in the water supply. However, ultraviolet purification systems are most effective when water is pre-treated by a different filter, such as a sediment filter, because dirt and debris shield microscopic viruses, bacteria, etc. from UV light. When water is pre-filtered, ultraviolet purification systems can neutralize 99.9% of living organisms. Learn More: What is a UV Water Purifier and How Does It Work? | What is a Sediment Filter and How Does It Work? 4. Water distillers Water distillers eliminate viruses through distillation. Distillation is a process that mimics how water is purified in nature: through evaporation in the atmosphere. Water distillers convert water into steam, eliminating viruses and other contaminants because they cannot evaporate as water can. Once the water returns to its liquid form, it is contaminant free. Learn More: What is a Water Distiller and How Does It Work? | What is Distilled Water and Is It Safe to Drink? 5. Ultrafiltration An ultrafiltration system uses standard home water pressure to force water through a hollow fiber membrane that traps viruses, bacteria, chlorine, algae, and metals. Only clean water and minerals pass through. Viruses are too small to be stopped by most filters, but an ultrafiltration membrane is about 0.025 microns, while viruses are about 0.1 microns. To put their miniscule size in perspective, the average human hair is 70 microns wide! However, ultrafiltration should not be relied on to treat water from natural sources, such as a lake or rainwater. An ultrafiltration system works best in tandem with other precautionary measures, like a UV system. Learn More: What is Ultrafiltration? Does boiling water kill viruses? Yes, boiling water kills viruses. The proper method is to bring your water to a rolling boil for one minute, or if you are at an elevation of 6,500 feet or higher, boil your water for three minutes. In the event of a boil water advisory or if you need to drink water from an unsterilized source, such as a stream while camping, boiling your water will inactivate viruses, bacteria, parasites, and other dangerous pathogens. Learn More: Boil Water Advisory Procedures Do water filters remove viruses? Water filters do not effectively remove viruses. Viruses are too small to be ensnared by filters, with the exception of ultrafiltration. However, even ultrafiltration should be used in conjunction with another water treatment system. Does COVID-19 spread through water? No, there is currently no indication that COVID-19 spreads through water. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there is no evidence that anyone has gotten COVID-19 through drinking water, recreational water, or wastewater. Instead, it is transmitted through air or surface contact. If you have any further questions or concerns about waterborne viruses or how to safeguard your water supply, please don’t hesitate to contact us.