Author Interview: Dr. Robert D. Morris

October 20th, 2008

Recently I reviewed The Blue Death by Robert D. Morris. The book was a fantastic look at water disease and water safety. Dr. Morris agreed to answer a few of my questions for you, my loyal readers.

In the book you talk about how some pathogens make it through the filters at the water plants. Is there a point to installing a filter on my faucet? If the bacteria makes it through the industrial filter…what will my little filter do?
Filters are evaluated in terms of the “log reduction” (as in logarithm). 1 log reduction is 90%. 2 log reduction is 99%. 3 log 99.9%. Etc. Large sand filters typically have a log reduction of 2 or more for most bacteria. For viruses, the figure is substantially lower and plants require chlorine or some other disinfectant to eliminate them. When the filter is not operated optimally, these removal rates will drop. Your home filter uses a more advanced technology than these large plants and tends to have a more reliable removal rate. Also, if you get a 2 log removal with your filter and the treatment plant is giving you two log reduction, you will get a 4 log reduction or 99.99% removal of a particular pathogen. Your home filter will also usually have a carbon filter which dramatically reduces chemical contaminants.

Your number one advice for avoiding water borne illnesses was to protect the water source. Assuming my local water source can’t be guarded by men with guns…what is the best way to do that?
Source water protection is generally a part of environmental policy that derives from the Federal Clean Water Act. This will include everything from permits to control the discharge from industrial sources into rivers and lakes to rules prohibiting farmers from allowing cattle into streams. Each watershed will have different challenges to deal with. Since these regulations carry the force of law, you might say they are ultimately backed up by men (and women) with guns.

The stories of old Victorian style medicine are hilarious. I especially enjoyed the doctor who put toast on his patient’s stomach to get rid of the sickness. What other awful medical practices did doctors use to fight cholera?
They seemed to place great stock in enemas and used everything from tobacco to turpentine in the mixture. Whatever they used, flushing the colon of someone who is dying of diarrhea is an exceptionally poor idea.

What do you think of charities that are focused on clean drinking water? What are the best ones?
There are many and it’s hard to say which is the best one. The oldest and largest non-profit focused on water and drinking water is Clean Water Action and they do good work. Some of the best work on federal legislation has come from more broadly focused organizations, particularly NRDC and the Environmental Working Group. The Riverkeepers have chapters in watersheds around the country doing good local work. Internationally, it is far harder to name a organizations as the problem is more daunting and more diffuse and there are many more organizations. It is also harder to know exactly what they have done and how effective they have been. A few that come to mind are Water Partners International, Water Aid, Water for People, and the Blue Planet Foundation.

What needs to happen in order to get safe, clean drinking water to everyone in the world?
We simply need to have the political and economic will to solve the problem. I would like to see the governments of the developed world make a major commitment to make this happen.

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