Pathogenic Organisms

Conclusions

Systems for waste collection and water treatment and distribution around the Great Lakes are inadequate, or in decline. Increasing pressures from agriculture, development, industry, population growth, and urban expansion will require coordinated actions by all those responsible for managing watersheds and water resources to fully protect ecosystem and public health. Coordination among jurisdictions, and the importance of jurisdictions to consider watersheds as the basic planning units are urged.

Improved, more efficient and more sensitive tools and methods are needed to monitor and model microbial risks to surface water and ground water. Watershed-wide risk reduction and management approaches that adequately protect the safety of water supplies are absolutely essential. Measures to detect, treat, and respond to multiple contaminants including microbial contaminants and their toxins, traditional pollutants, and emerging compounds of concern (such as pharmaceuticals, antibiotics and personal care products) are also needed.