CWQA Position Statement

How to Treat Drinking Water Containing Cryptosporidium
 

Cryptosporidium Parvum & Giardia lamblia cysts are typically found in surface water supplies or where surface water seepage has contaminated a well. At present, Canadian Health Branch testing does not commonly test for the presence of protozoan cysts.

There are several common water treatment devices/processes that may be use to treat drinking water containing Cryptosporidium Parvum & Giardia lamblia cysts. Some are designed to serve the whole house ( “point of entry” ) while others are designed to serve a single drinking outlet. (“ point of use”).

 

Type	Point of Entry	Point of Use
Ultraviolet units	X	X
Ceramic filters		X
<1.0 micron absolute filters	X	X
Distillers	X
Boiling (1 minute)		X

                                           

Proper maintenance and application of devices by the consumer is important to ensure ongoing performance and this may typically consist of:

• regular replacement of UV lamps

• cleaning or regular replacement of filter cartridges or other replacement parts

When considering a device, consumers should ensure that the device makes a claim for the removal or inactivation or killing of cysts and that testing has been done by recognized testing and certification body to verify the performance.

Click the links below for more information:

 

Water Talk - Giardia and Cryptosporidium in Drinking Water

Cryptosporidium parvum - Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

Summary of Guidelines for Microbiological Parameters