9 June 2025
AGU contact:
Samson Reiny, [email protected]
ASM contact:
Joanna Urban, [email protected]
Washington, D.C. — The American Geophysical Union and the American Academy of Microbiology, the honorific leadership group and think tank within the American Society for Microbiology, have released a new report, Water, Waterborne Pathogens and Public Health: Environmental Drivers.
Developed by leading scientists and informed by expert deliberations from a December 2024 colloquium organized by ASM and AGU, with support from the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography, the report presents a holistic strategy to reduce waterborne infections and safeguard public health as climate change increasingly disrupts water systems worldwide.
“Water is a critical determinant of both ecosystem integrity and human health, yet it is increasingly compromised by anthropogenic pressures and broader environmental change,” said Dr. Rita Colwell, co-chair of the Colloquium Steering Committee, former ASM president and past chair of the Academy. “Addressing this public health risk requires coordinated, cross-disciplinary strategies for effective microbial and environmental surveillance, early-warning systems and support for resilient water infrastructure that can withstand intensifying climate stressors.”
Each year, more than 3.5 million people die from waterborne illnesses, with the heaviest burden falling on low- and middle-income countries, where over 4 billion people rely on water sources that are often unmonitored and unsafe. While many microbes that exist in water are harmless, some can cause serious disease when humans drink or interact with contaminated water. Environmental changes through more frequent and intense floods, hurricanes and heatwaves, coupled with aging infrastructure, are increasing human exposure to waterborne pathogens and threatening access to safe drinking water.
The report is part of the Academy’s Climate Change & Microbes Scientific Portfolio, a 5-year initiative to advance microbial science to inform climate policy, foster innovation and support development of microbial technologies that can be applied globally. Supported by a grant from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, the report shares expert-driven insights and highlights key strategies to strengthen prevention and response to waterborne disease outbreaks, including:
- Enhance surveillance and monitoring: Implement robust systems to track water quality and pathogen presence.
- Modernize water infrastructure: Invest in advanced water treatment and distribution systems to ensure safe drinking water.
- Promote interdisciplinary research: Initiate collaboration across microbial sciences, hydrology and climate science to address health relevant challenges.
- Improve public awareness and engagement: Raise awareness of the importance of safe water and sanitation and engage local communities to develop collaborative solutions.
“Microbial datasets and environmental monitoring are foundational to explaining the dynamic interdependencies between ecological processes and human health outcomes,” said Dr. Antarpreet Jutla, co-chair of the Colloquium Steering Committee, AGU member and recipient of AGU’s 2023 Charles S. Falkenberg Award. “Integrating these data streams within interdisciplinary, systems-based frameworks facilitates the design of adaptive infrastructure and predictive modeling platforms, ultimately strengthening public health resilience and promoting socio-economic stability in the context of accelerating environmental change.”
While a wealth of environmental and weather data, public health information and waterborne pathogen monitoring exists, resources for this information are often siloed. The report emphasizes integrating data systems with technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning to develop predictive models for communities that allow proactive warning of waterborne disease outbreaks.
Investment in water infrastructure that addresses region-specific geographical and environmental conditions and meets the needs of local communities is critical. The report highlights the promise of microbes as a nature-based solution that improves water treatment, prevents infrastructure degradation and provides new ways to build systems that hold up against changing weather parameters.
Ultimately, addressing these challenges will require cross-disciplinary collaboration. The report calls for active engagement with local communities, especially those most affected by water insecurity, to co-develop effective and long-lasting solutions.
“Safeguarding global health demands an integrated perspective and coordinated action,” said Dr. Jay Lennon, chair of the Academy Climate Change Task Force. “Around the globe, scientists, public health advocates, policymakers, local leaders and philanthropists must work hand in hand to build a future where every person has access to safe and reliable water.”
Notes for journalists:
This report on an American Academy of Microbiology and American Geophysical Union Colloquium held on December 5 & 6, 2024 is open-access. Neither this press release nor the report is under embargo. View and download a pdf of the full report or the safe water fact sheet.
Report title:
“Water, Waterborne Pathogens and Public Health: Environmental Drivers”
The American Society for Microbiology is one of the largest professional societies dedicated to the life sciences and is composed of over 37,000 scientists and health practitioners. ASM’s mission is to promote and advance the microbial sciences.
ASM advances the microbial sciences through conferences, publications, certifications, educational opportunities and advocacy efforts. It enhances laboratory capacity around the globe through training and resources. It provides a network for scientists in academia, industry and clinical settings. Additionally, ASM promotes a deeper understanding of the microbial sciences to all audiences.
The American Geophysical Union (www.agu.org) is a global community supporting more than half a million scientists, advocates, and professionals in Earth and space sciences. Through broad and inclusive partnerships, AGU aims to advance discovery and solution science that accelerate knowledge and create solutions that are ethical, unbiased and respectful of communities and their values. Our programs include serving as a scholarly publisher, convening virtual and in-person events and providing career support. We live our values in everything we do, such as our net zero energy renovated building in Washington, D.C. and our Ethics and Equity Center, which fosters a diverse and inclusive geoscience community to ensure responsible conduct.
The Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO) is an international aquatic science society that was founded in 1948. For more than 70 years, it has been the leading professional organization for researchers and educators in the field of aquatic science. The purpose of ASLO is to foster a diverse, international scientific community that creates, integrates and communicates knowledge across the full spectrum of aquatic sciences, advances public awareness and education about aquatic resources and research, and promotes scientific