The consumption of bottled water has been increasing consistently over the last decade, even in countries where tap water quality is considered excellent. This paper discusses some of the reasons why people decide for an option that is often more expensive and less comfortable than tap water. Consumer surveys usually stress two main factors: dissatisfaction with tap water organoleptics (especially taste) and health/risk concerns. However, many other factors are involved, including demographic variables and the perceived quality of the water source. Trust in tap water companies also seems to influence public behaviour. A clearer picture of bottled water consumption can be achieved when different aspects are considered.

Prevention and containment of outbreaks requires examination of the contribution and interrelation of outbreak causative events. An outbreak fault tree was developed and applied to 61 enteric outbreaks related to public drinking water supplies in the EU. A mean of 3.25 causative events per outbreak were identified; each event was assigned a score based on percentage contribution per outbreak. Source and treatment system causative events often occurred concurrently (in 34 outbreaks). Distribution system causative events occurred less frequently (19 outbreaks) but were often solitary events contributing heavily towards the outbreak (a mean % score of 87.42). Livestock and rainfall in the catchment with no/inadequate filtration of water sources contributed concurrently to 11 of 31 Cryptosporidium outbreaks. Of the 23 protozoan outbreaks experiencing at least one treatment causative event, 90% of these events were filtration deficiencies; by contrast, for bacterial, viral, gastroenteritis and mixed pathogen outbreaks, 75% of treatment events were disinfection deficiencies. Roughly equal numbers of groundwater and surface water outbreaks experienced at least one treatment causative event (18 and 17 outbreaks, respectively). Retrospective analysis of multiple outbreaks of enteric disease can be used to inform outbreak investigations, facilitate corrective measures, and further develop multi-barrier approaches.

Background: The importance of a person's perceptions about the causes of their disease has been emphasised by research on various diseases. Several studies have found perception may be linked to protective behaviours. Objective: This study intends to identify the main perceived causes of sporadic cryptosporidiosis, and to analyse some of the factors that may influence respondent's perception. The role of respondents' attributions, the scientific plausibility of perceptions, and the importance of specific information sources are also explored. Design: Quantitative and qualitative analyses of data from a case-control study. Setting: General population in Wales and north west England. Participants: The study is based on a sample of 411 respondents from Wales and north west of England, whose cryptosporidiosis diagnosis was confirmed by a laboratory. Results:The results show that the most frequent perceived causes are water (by drinking it or swimming), contagion (mostly from children), and contaminated food. Perceived causes are qualitatively similar to the ones described in scientific literature, but some quantitative differences are evident. Respondents' certainty in relation to the cause of illness is directly related with plausibility. The most frequent information sources used by respondents were test stool results, environmental health officers, and doctors or nurses. Results suggest that information sources may influence the perception of the causes of cryptosporidiosis. Qualitative data provided a few clues about situations where sporadic and outbreak cases may be confused. Conclusion: In contrast with outbreaks, various information sources in addition to the media are used by people with sporadic cryptosporidiosis that in turn affects the perception of aetiology. This has implications for the dissemination of information about control measures for cryptosporidiosis and surveillance activities.

A pesar de que los desastres por inundaciones sean resultado de factores naturales y humanos, su dimensión humana está todavía a menudo subestimada. Este artículo analiza el papel de medidas no estructurales dentro de los procesos de gestión de inundaciones como preparación de riesgos, respuestas de emergencia y rehabilitación. Se da un énfasis específico al papel de las capacidades humanas, en particular la educación, entrenamiento y comunicación de riesgo, en la mitigación del impacto de inundaciones. La educación de riesgos asociados a inundaciones (en los niveles primario, secundario y comunitario, así como los técnicos y superiores) y las estrategias de comunicación (actores, medios y contenido de mensajes) ofrecen una contribución valiosa para las dinámicas sociales de percepción, preparación, capacidad y vulnerabilidad de riesgos de inundación. Este artículo subraya la importancia de la participación activa de los actores envueltos antes, durante y después de los eventos de inundación, así como la integración de las percepciones del público en general en el análisis de daños por inundaciones y en la gestión de riesgo.

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