Groundwater-Related Risk Assessment - Dealing with Contaminated Sites: From Theory Towards Practical Application - page 757

Italy). This is because most disease-causing bacteria and viruses are short lived
relative to typical groundwater travel times, except in karstic aquifers or where
the source is very close to the point of water abstraction. However, the parasite
cryptosporidium travels as an environmentally hardy oocyst (thick-walled spore
phase of certain protists), and has much longer survival times, thus increasing the
risks from animal husbandry on surface and groundwater catchments used for water
supply.
17.2 Groundwater as Protection Target
17.2.1 Human Use
The primary use of groundwater, in addition to surface water, for human beings
is as a source of drinking water. Humans drink water, partially processed in other
products such as sodas, coffee or tea, on a daily basis. The two biggest consuming
countries in the world use 425 litres/person/day (USA) and 326 litres/person/day
(Canada) (Baynes 2004 ). Generally, water for consumption originates from ground-
water (or surface water) that has been treated in waterworks. In some cases,
especially in some rural areas in third world countries, drinking water originates
directly from private wells (see Fig. 17.3 for an example of a village well in rural
India). Given its role as a source of drinking water, also in developed countries,
Fig. 17.3 An example of a village well, on which villagers depend for their drinking water, in
rural India (photo: University of Southern Indiana, College of Nursing and Health Professions
( http://health.usi.edu ); reproduced with permission)