What is Naegleria and how could it affect my drinking water?
Naegleria is an amoeba commonly found in the environment. Only one species of Naegleria has been found to infect humans–Naegleria fowleri. Naegleria fowleri is found worldwide. Most commonly, the amoeba is found in the soil and in warm, stagnant bodies of fresh water, such as lakes, rivers, hot springs, unchlorinated swimming pools, and in warm water discharge pools from industrial plants. Dr. Jonathan B. Weisbuch, Director of the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, stated that there has never been a reported Naegleria fowleri case associated with a groundwater drinking water system anywhere in the world.
