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"You can't do a whole lot with the individual cases," <br />said state epidemiologist Steven Wiersma, who said the <br />germs also show up in such places as diaper-changing <br />areas at day-care centers, and in swimming pools. <br /> <br />There are no limits for cryptosporidium and giardia in <br />treated sewage used to water lawns and landscaping in <br />many of the state's cities and most of Central Florida <br />communities. Instead, utilities must test the <br />reclaimed water for a relatively harmless type of <br />bacteria found in human waste. If the tests show that <br />a sewage plant is removing that bug, then other germs <br />are thought to be stripped away as well. <br /> <br />While state regulators warn against drinking recycled <br />sewage, which is clear and has little or no odor, they <br />say it safe for kids running through sprinklers. <br /> <br />Utilities not required to act <br /> <br />But since the late 1990s, DEP officials have suspected <br />that treatment plants are not getting rid of giardia <br />and cryptosporidium. That was confirmed after the <br />environmental agency began receiving test results from <br />utilities. The agency has been sending warning letters <br />to utilities that have detected giardia at levels of <br />more than five cysts in 100 liters of treated sewage <br />and more than five cryptosporidium oocysts, which are <br />similar to cysts, in 100 liters. State authorities <br />said the letters are meant to increase awareness and <br />don't require any response. <br /> <br />From among utilities in Central Florida, tests <br />detected 2,786 giardia cysts at a Winter Springs <br />plant, 197 oocysts of crytospirodium at a Kissimmee <br />plant and a Palm Bay plant reported 663 giardia cysts. <br /> <br />Researchers say people can become seriously ill after <br />ingesting just one cyst. But DEP's expert for <br />recycling treated sewage said there may be no reason <br />for concern. <br /> <br />"There is simply no documentation of any disease," <br />said DEP's David York in Tallahassee. "So as to where <br />we go, we really don't know at this point." <br /> <br />York also expects research at the County Sanitation <br />Districts of Los A~geles to show that giardia and <br />crytosporidium are reduced to microscopic corpses by <br />sewage treatment plants. <br /> <br />"The little critters that make it through are simply <br />not capable of causing infection," York said. <br /> <br /> 'They are mostly dead' <br /> <br />Margie Nellor, president of the WateReuse Association <br /> <br /> <br />