<span>Contaminated water supplies have been responsible for major outbreaks of
severe gastrointestinal illnesses such as gastroenteritis and infections caused
by the protozoan parasites </span>Cryptosporidium<span> <span>and </span></span>Giardia<span>. Gastrointestinal illnesses can be particularly severe for
the very young, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.Private
water supplies can also be contaminated by various chemicals or metals which,
at elevated levels, can be harmful to your health.</span>
Contaminants in the air can dissolve into precipitation that falls to Earth. Surface water and groundwater dissolve many chemical substances as they fl ow to the ocean.
