Cryptosporidium is a single-cell, disease-causing parasite, that lives in animals such as cattle, sheep, swine, goats, dogs, and cats as well as deer, raccoon, foxes, coyotes, beavers, muskrats, rabbits and squirrels.  If these animals live near bodies of water, they may serve as carriers of the parasite and can contaminate the water with the parasite.  Oocysts from animal and human wastes have been found in rivers and streams, lakes and reservoirs, raw and treated sewage, and treated surface waters.

When a human ingests water that is contaminated with cryptosporidium, the egg-shaped oocyst splits open, releasing sporozoites.  These sporozoites invade the inner lining of the gastrointestinal tract and can cause an illness called cryptosporidiosis.

It is unlikely a healthy person can become seriously ill from ingesting a low level of cryptosporidium.  For people with healthy immune systems, the parasite may cause flu-like symptoms; for those with weakened immune systems and deficiencies, such as the elderly, infants, cancer patients, and HIV-infected individuals, the disease can last for months and can be fatal.

Most bottled water comes from natural sources like springs or wells that originate from deep within the earth.  These protected sources are inspected, tested and certified by the state or country of origin to be of sanitary quality.  These bottled waters do not come from surface water sources where certain types of organisms, such as cryptosporidium, are found.

Some bottled water comes from treated municipal supplies.  All IBWA member companies that use municipal sources employ processing methods, such as reverse osmosis, micron filtration and distillation and/or ozonation to remove microbiological and chemical contaminants, including cryptosporidium, and to ensure the water is of high quality..

Read what the 1923 New York City Commissioner of Health wrote about MIDAS SPRING WATER J