The importance of clinicians and community members receiving timely and accurate information about waterborne hazards

It is important for clinicians and community members to receive up-to-date information about the microbiological and elemental composition of local water supplies. Clinicians play an important role in helping their patients to interpret water quality data and understand the potential impact of water quality on their health. Expanding the medical school curriculum to include environmental health, public health, and health disparities-including disparities related to environmental quality and waterborne hazards-is key to clinicians' fulfilling this role.