Coliphages as a water viral indicator

National and international water regulations

Climate change and the rise of pathogens throughout the water cycle

According to the IPCC/AR 6 Sixth Assessment Report, climate change directly affects the water cycle due to the greenhouse effect increase. Furthermore, according to the latest Lancet Countdown report, climate change could directly influence the increase in water-borne diseases.

Weather conditions influence the fate of pathogens in the aquatic environment. Precipitation favours their dissemination, and natural stress factors – such as temperatures and solar irradiance, among others – determine their persistence. The increasing frequency of droughts followed by heavy rainfall will increase watershed protection, infrastructure, and storm drainage deficiencies. As a consequence, the risk of contamination of water resources will be higher than before.