This was very moving. America's water is typically so good that incidents like this are shocking. When you mentioned Milwaukee, my mind immediately went to the 1993 Milwaukee cryptosporidium outbreak. The largest in U.S. history that sickened over 400,000 people and caused dozens of deaths due to contaminated drinking water.
1993 is not that long ago! but the whole water industry changed to make sure it never happens again.
I'm worried though too many have forgotten the suffering to get us the water quality we have now. Both in nature and at our taps.
Keith - you are so right. I lived in Milwaukee County (Wauwatosa) from 2000 - 2017. Though I didn't live through the Cryptosporidium outbreak, I came to know a lot of people who did. Public officials didn't like to talk about it, but regular folks couldn't forget it. We hear about the deaths, but the health impact went well beyond deaths. I think of my friend's son who was ~ 9 yrs old in 1993. His infection damaged his liver so badly that he's been on disability and eventually the liver transplant list ever since. Thanks for reminding us - this stuff is real.
Terrific reporting and analysis.
Coming from you, that means a lot to me.
Working in the Peds ICU for 15 years, this is heartbreaking.
This was very moving. America's water is typically so good that incidents like this are shocking. When you mentioned Milwaukee, my mind immediately went to the 1993 Milwaukee cryptosporidium outbreak. The largest in U.S. history that sickened over 400,000 people and caused dozens of deaths due to contaminated drinking water.
1993 is not that long ago! but the whole water industry changed to make sure it never happens again.
I'm worried though too many have forgotten the suffering to get us the water quality we have now. Both in nature and at our taps.
Keith - you are so right. I lived in Milwaukee County (Wauwatosa) from 2000 - 2017. Though I didn't live through the Cryptosporidium outbreak, I came to know a lot of people who did. Public officials didn't like to talk about it, but regular folks couldn't forget it. We hear about the deaths, but the health impact went well beyond deaths. I think of my friend's son who was ~ 9 yrs old in 1993. His infection damaged his liver so badly that he's been on disability and eventually the liver transplant list ever since. Thanks for reminding us - this stuff is real.