获取有关流行病和地方性水传播疾病的发生和原因的信息的一个选择是改善大多数州和地方卫生部门现有的疾病监测系统。作者推荐了改进疾病监测和调查地方性水传播疾病的其他方法。医疗改革可能会降低目前基于实验室的疾病报告系统的有效性，但这些改革也可能带来加强疾病监测的机会。此外，新的实验室技术可能使肠道病原体感染的常规监测变得越来越可行，而不是来自这些病原体的疾病。饮用水行业及其客户的利益和信息需求可以通过知情参与有关新疾病监测项目的设计和目标的辩论得到最好的保证。 包括35个参考文献、表格和图表。

One option for obtaining information about the occurrence and causes of epidemic and endemic waterborne disease is to improve disease surveillance systems now in place in most state and local health departments. The authors recommend additional ways of improving disease surveillance and investigating endemic waterborne disease. Health care reform may reduce the effectiveness of the current system of laboratory-based disease reporting, but opportunities for enhanced disease surveillance may also emerge from these reforms. In addition, new laboratory technologies may make routine surveillance of enteric pathogen infections, rather than disease from these pathogens, increasingly feasible. The interests and information needs of the drinking water industry and its customers can best be assured by its informed participation in the debate over the design and goals of new disease surveillance programs. Includes 35 references, table, figure.