Bacteriophages as Surrogates for the Fate and Transport of Pathogens in Source Water and in Drinking Water Treatment Processes

More than a billion people have limited access to safe drinking water; over 2 million die each year from water-related diarrhea, which is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in less economically developed countries (UNICEF and WHO, 2009). In more economically developed countries, increasing demands on water resources raise concerns about sustainable provision of safe drinking water. In 2008, supply and protection of water resources was identified as the top strategic priority of North American water professionals (Runge and Mann, 2008). This is not surprising given the rapidly expanding competition for existing water supplies from industrial, agricultural and municipal development, as well as the vital needs to protect human health and ecosystem functions. The challenge of sustaining supply is further exacerbated by changes in water quality and availability as a direct or indirect result of population growth, urban sprawl, climate change, water pollution, increasing occurrence of natural disasters, and terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem disturbance.