ASM And AGU Offer Critical Strategies To Protect Public Health And Safe Drinking Water Amid Climate Change

The American Academy of Microbiology, the honorific leadership group and think tank within the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), and the American Geophysical Union (AGU) 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 (ASLO), 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 (BWF), 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 Antarpreet Jutla, Ph.D., 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 Jay Lennon, Ph.D., 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.”

About The American Society for Microbiology
The American Society for Microbiology is one of the largest professional societies dedicated to the life sciences and is composed of over 32,000 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.

About The American Geophysical Union
The American Geophysical Union is an international association of more than 60,000 advocates and experts in Earth and space science. Fundamental to our mission since our founding in 1919 is to live our values, which we do through our net zero energy building in Washington, D.C., and by making scientific discoveries and research accessible and engaging to all to help protect society and prepare global citizens for the challenges and opportunities ahead.

About The Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO)
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 stewardship of aquatic resources for the public interest. Its products and activities are directed toward these ends. With 3,000 members in more than 70 countries worldwide, the society has earned an outstanding reputation and is best known for its journals and interdisciplinary meetings. For more information visit https://www.aslo.org/.