[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 140 (Friday, September 30, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 30, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
            CRYPTOSPORIDIUM AND THE SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT

  Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, this week NBC's news program 
``Dateline'' ran a three part series on incident of cryptosporidium in 
the Nation's water supply. Wednesday night's broadcast addressed what 
citizens can do to protect themselves from their own drinking water 
given that congressional action is still pending. The Safe Drinking 
Water Act amendments have passed the other body and the measure is now 
scheduled to go to conference. Mr. President, it is the hope of this 
Senator that though the clock is running down on this session, the 
conferees move with diligence and expedience in addressing their task. 
Having the press telling our citizens to boil their water, while we 
wait to take up the measure next year is simply not responsive to the 
concerns of those who are increasingly afraid to use the most 
essential, life sustaining resource.
  These broadcasts made one fact perfectly clear: Milwaukee's problem 
is the country's problem, but Milwaukee's solution is not the country's 
practice. As described Tuesday night by Paul Nannis, Milwaukee's health 
commissioner, the city now notifies at risk populations of detections 
of cryptosporidium in municipal water, contacting hospitals, AIDS care 
facilities, institutions that service the metropolitan areas' elderly, 
informing all those with fragile immune systems so they can protect 
themselves. The city is engaged in a multitier approach to 
investigating whether cryptosporidium is present in the drinking water: 
testing occurs at the facility for the parasite, particulates and 
turbidity of the water are used as indicators, and the city has 
established a network to monitor disease outbreaks that suggest 
individuals have been exposed to cryptosporidium.
  As the shows have also described, Mr. President, it is not only those 
with fragile immune systems that experience health problems when 
exposed to cryptosporidium. Over 400,000 people of all states of health 
became ill in Milwaukee and 104 people died following the city's 
cryptosporidium outbreak in April 1993, more than 1 year ago. I have 
observed firsthand the lingering health problems Milwaukee citizens 
continue to face. The shocking part of these broadcasts, Mr. President, 
is that Milwaukee is not alone in experiencing drinking water health 
problems. Outbreaks in several large cities were highlighted. News show 
time limits prohibited a listing of all the cases of concern. Between 
1986 and 1992, the Center for Disease Control reported a total of 102 
drinking water disease outbreaks linked directly or indirectly to 
microscopic parasites, viruses, and bacterium, striking 34,155 people 
in 35 States.
  In conclusion, Mr. President, this body has acted, our colleagues in 
the other body have acted, and it is time to complete our commitment to 
ensure that the Nation's drinking water is safe. Let us make certain 
that Dateline's news epilog ends with congressional action, rather than 
how-to hints.

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