Splash pad tragedy highlights contamination in Texas waters

By Angelica Ruzanova

Reporting Texas

With a 3% survival rate, Naegleria fowleri infections, usually attributed to water contamination, are rare, affecting fewer than 10 people in the U.S. annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But Josiah McIntyre’s case highlights a larger, systemic issue. Water contamination is a growing risk across Texas, and some communities face a much greater threat than others.

Research published in January in the Science of the Total Environment journal revealed that extreme rainfall events caused by climate change increase the risk of water contamination, particularly in underfunded communities. Researchers found that the manner and location where rain falls in Texas directly affects water quality, leading to spikes in bacteria such as E. coli.

“We should focus on these disproportionate impacts in different regions, for different communities and in different seasons,” Xiofeng Liu, study author and AI-in-science specialist said.