Is This Water Safe Today and Over Time?

Understanding the Hidden Health Risks in Your Water

Most of us think about water safety in simple terms:

Does it look clear? Does it smell fine? Did the city treat it?

But modern water safety is more complicated than that.

In the United States, more than 7 million people get sick every year from waterborne illnesses — roughly 1 in every 44 Americans. And while some of those illnesses are mild, many are not. Waterborne disease leads to over 600,000 emergency room visits, nearly 120,000 hospitalizations, and more than 6,600 deaths annually, costing the healthcare system $3.3 billion every year.

The uncomfortable truth is this:

Clean-looking water can still make you sick — today, or years from now.

Immediate Risks: When Water Makes You Sick Fast

Some waterborne threats act quickly. You drink, shower, or inhale contaminated water — and symptoms show up within hours or days.

Bacteria and Viruses That Cause Acute Illness

Pathogens like E. coli, norovirus, Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Shigella are responsible for hundreds of thousands of water-related illnesses each year.

• Norovirus alone causes over 1.3 million waterborne illnesses annually, triggering severe vomiting and diarrhea.

• E. coli outbreaks linked to drinking water, while less common, tend to be larger and more severe when they occur.

• Campylobacter infections hospitalize about 1 in 5 patients, particularly affecting children and older adults.

These illnesses are often associated with:

• Private wells or small systems

• Plumbing contamination events

• Breakdowns in disinfection or filtration

Most people recover — but not everyone. Infants, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems face higher risks of complications.

The More Dangerous Reality: Water That Harms You Over Time

Here’s where modern water safety becomes less intuitive — and far more serious.

While recreational water causes the most illnesses, drinking water causes the most deaths.

In fact:

• Drinking water accounts for just 16% of waterborne illnesses

• But it causes 50% of all waterborne disease deaths

Why?

Because the most dangerous pathogens today don’t come from obvious contamination — they come from inside plumbing systems themselves.

The Biofilm Problem: Bacteria That Live in Your Pipes

Inside pipes, water heaters, showerheads, and faucets, microscopic communities called biofilms form. These biofilms protect bacteria from disinfectants and allow them to grow quietly over time.

This is where the most lethal waterborne pathogens thrive.

Legionella: A Rapidly Rising Threat

Legionella bacteria, which cause Legionnaires’ disease, are now one of the fastest-growing waterborne threats in the U.S.

• Reported cases have increased more than 5× since 2000

• Estimated 8,000–18,000 hospitalizations every year

• Up to 1,000 deaths annually

• Many experts believe over 85% of cases go undiagnosed
  
  

Legionella spreads through inhalation, not drinking — most commonly from:

• Showers

• Faucets

• Hot water systems

• Building plumbing with low flow or stagnant water

It primarily affects adults over 50, smokers, and people with chronic health conditions — but exposure often happens at home.

Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM): The Silent Killer

NTM represents the single deadliest category of waterborne pathogens in the U.S.

Each year, NTM causes:

• ~69,000 waterborne infections

• Over 50,000 hospitalizations

• ~3,800 deaths

• $1.5 billion in healthcare costs
  
  

NTM infections are:

• Extremely difficult to treat

• Often misdiagnosed

• Associated with 12–18 months of antibiotic therapy
  
  

Research now shows that NTM doesn’t just survive water treatment — it multiplies inside building plumbing. Levels increase dramatically after water leaves the treatment plant.

Pseudomonas: Dangerous for the Vulnerable

Pseudomonas aeruginosa thrives in faucets, aerators, and showerheads.

• Causes pneumonia, bloodstream infections, and sepsis

• Responsible for ~730 deaths per year

• Especially dangerous in homes with elderly residents or immune compromise

Again, the issue isn’t dirty source water — it’s what happens inside the pipes.

Why Modern Water Safety Is a “Last-Mile” Problem

Municipal treatment systems do an excellent job controlling traditional contaminants.

But today’s biggest health risks:

• Grow after treatment

• Live inside plumbing

• Persist despite disinfectants

• Increase with low flow, aging infrastructure, and warm temperatures

From 2015–2020:

• 87% of drinking water outbreaks were biofilm-related

• 97–98% of outbreak hospitalizations and deaths were caused by Legionella

In healthcare facilities, hotels, and homes alike, the weakest link is no longer the water plant — it’s the plumbing.

How SIPP Thinks Differently About Health & Safety

Most water systems focus on what goes into the water.

SIPP focuses on what happens after it gets to your home.

SIPP’s Health & Safety Approach

• Continuous monitoring, not occasional testing

• Focus on biofilm risk, not just contaminants

• Real-time insight into water conditions that allow bacteria to grow

• Protection against immediate illness and long-term exposure
  
  

SIPP looks at:

• Water chemistry that affects bacterial growth

• Conditions inside plumbing, not just source water

• Trends over time — not just pass/fail results

Because water that’s “safe on paper” can still be unsafe in practice.

Why This Matters

Waterborne illness isn’t rare.

It isn’t always obvious.

And it isn’t just a developing-world problem.

Every year:

• Millions get sick

• Thousands die

• Most never realize their water played a role
  
  

The question isn’t just:

Is my water treated?

It’s:

Is this water safe today — and will it still be safe years from now?

Learn More About Your Water

Understanding your water is the first step toward protecting your health.

Explore related articles on water quality, plumbing health, and biofilm risk — and if you want a clearer picture of what’s happening in your own home, start with a free water test.