The Blue Death: Disease, Disaster, and the Water We Drink

by Robert D. Morris

With the keen eyes of a scientist and the sensibilities of a seasoned writer, Dr. Robert Morris chronicles the fascinating and at times frightening story of our drinking water. His gripping narrative vividly recounts the epidemics that have shaken cities and nations, the scientists who reached into the invisible and emerged with controversial truths that would save millions of lives, and the economic and political forces that opposed these researchers in a ferocious war of ideas. In the gritty world of nineteenth-century England, amid the ravages of cholera, Morris introduces John Snow, the physician who proved that the deadly disease could be hidden in a drop of water. Decades later in the deserts of Africa, the story follows Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch as they raced to find the cause of cholera and a means to prevent its spread. In the twentieth century, burgeoning cities would subdue cholera and typhoid by bending rivers to their will, building massive filtration plants, and bubbling poisonous gas through their drinking water. However, with the arrival of the new millennium, the demon of waterborne disease is threatening to reemerge, and a growing body of research has linked the chlorine relied on for water treatment with cancer and stillbirths. In The Blue Death , Morris dispels notions of fail-safe water systems. Along the way he reveals some shocking the millions of miles of leaking water mains, constantly evolving microorganisms, and the looming threat of bioterrorism, which may lead to catastrophe. Across time and around the world, this riveting account offers alarming information about the natural and man-made hazards present in the very water we drink.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, History, Environment, Medical, Health, Medicine

320 pages, Hardcover

First published July 31, 2007

Reviews

[Michelle Heizelman · Rating 5 out of 5]

DO NOT READ THIS BOOK IF YOU WANT TO DRINK TAP WATER! This was an excellent book that scared the crap out of me! I do like all the history of drinking water as well as the tips on how to make our water safer.

[Nadja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mixing history, science, and health with some damn good storytelling, this book couldn't be anything other than a fantastic read. If you like getting your geek on, anyway.

[Molly Barry · Rating 1 out of 5]

this was the worst book i have ever read in my entire life. Don't read unless you are looking to fall asleep while reading this book. I would give it a 0 out of 5 stars if it was possible.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is awesome. Best book I've read in a good while.

[Pansy Power · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was recommended this book and it sat on my desk for months. Then covid-19 hit and I brought it home. Once I started I couldn't put it down. For a dry sounding subject it was a total page turner.... And ya... I bought a Brita... But clearly better POU filtration is a great idea until governments get their act together (?!). Very well written and engaging topic. If you find this boring....it is YOU not the book.

[Mckinley · Rating 4 out of 5]

First part is the history of cholera epidemics in London followed by more recent events.

See: The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic - and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World by Steven Johnson; The Great Stink of London: Sir Joseph Bazalgette and the Cleansing of the Victorian Metropolis by Stephen Halliday;

For fiction see: The Great Trouble: A Mystery of London, the Blue Death, and a Boy Called Eel by Deborah Hopkinson

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book explores the rise of water-borne diseases. I wish that I could say it was all about the 18th century, but no, it is not. We really do take for granted that every time we turn on a faucet, a cool,clear stream of life giving water will appear. Again, no, this is not the case. Well actually, it might be cool and clear, but it might also be teaming with little critters that will in fact allow you to poop yourself to death.

It was very difficult to prove that water could in fact carry disease, especially if it wasn't brown and icky tasting. This takes us through the rise of cholera in Europe to the crypto disaster in Milwaukee, WI. ( I know someone who fell prey to this), and then takes us into our watery future.

Most of us assume we will not die of thirst, and many of us spend an unheard of amount of money on bottled water (so bad for the environment). This book will make you rethink your hydration choices.

I recommend this to anyone. While I do have biology background, this is written for all to understand.

[Zed · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good introduction, though perhaps with alarmist undertones, to the past and present difficulties of maintaining pure water supplies. It is broken into roughly 3 parts, beginning with a look at the beginnings of epidemiology and one mans (John Snow) contributions using statistical methods to pinpoint water as the source of Cholera epidemics that plagued early industrialized civilization. (It is interesting in this case that the physical science-microbiology methods-are a late-comer in this bit of history). The latter sections of the book take a look at modern stories of outbreaks both in industrialized nations and developing nations, illustrating the battle for clean water is a constant.

[Jeannie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had recently written a paper for school on the Cholera epidemic in St. Louis during the 1850-1&861 time period. What a horrible way to die- perfectly healthy in the morning and dead by the end of the day! I am not a doctor, or anything, but it just seemed scare me a little. And it seems (if i remember right) there is no cure, just management of symptoms! Wel'll never fully understand what our ancestors lives were like...and we think we are under pressure!

[Gwen Nixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting, but creepy. About microbes and things in water and how they were finally discovered, and what they caused.

[Nedland P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uncovers another looming problem with our water delivery systems. Very interesting book.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting... makes me wonder if the water I drink is safe

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book! Very easy to read - especially if you work in the water and wastewater industry!

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

"We do not consume water, we contaminate it."

[The Color June · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love pathogens, so this was a great read. It was part of my inspiration for pursuing pathogenic research. That being said, the last chunk of the book changed setting to America and I got bored and didn’t finish it. 4/5

[Joanna Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part one was super interesting, read like a narrative and was packed with information. I wished parts 2 & 3 discussed more of the worlds history with purifying water than just US and England. Dr. Morris’ takeaway makes it worth the read.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chose this book because I really enjoyed 'The Hot Zone'. This book does not disappoint. While completely factual - the author makes it read like a story that keeps you hooked.

[Valerie Malcom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great history of Public drinking water.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book because it was informative about water treatment, waterborne illness, and offered practical solutions for the future.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

The history of the epidemiology of water-borne diseases in public water systems, starting with John Snow's investigation of cholera in England of the mid-1800's and proceeding up to present day. A little too overloaded with biographical sketches for my taste but an informative treatment of an very important subject.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading like an extended article from your grandmother's Reader's Digest, Dr. Robert Morris's Blue Death makes up for its predictable style with its curious collection of biography, anecdotes, and trivia coupled with interesting, often alarming, observations:

1. John Snow, who first argued for the waterborne transmission of cholera, distilled his own drinking water, thus making him far less likely to ever contract the infection that killed so many around him.

2. In 1860, many buildings in downtown Chicago had to be raised several feet by jacks to lift them above newly laid sewer pipes that ran along the surface of the ground. The pipes couldn't be buried as in other cities since this would put them below the level of Lake Michigan, and the sewage they conveyed would drain away from the lake instead of into it.

3. Many US cities do not filter their drinking water, relying solely on chlorine to treat raw water. But chlorine on its own will not kill all pathogens, and many gastrointestinal illnesses likely arise from the waterborne contaminants the unfiltered water harbors.

4. Ozone can be used to treat raw water without producing some of the potentially harmful byproducts that result from chlorination.

5. Bottled water in the US is often no more than tap water poured into expensive plastic jugs and marked up %1000.

6. It's time to invest in a home water purification system.

7. "The solution to pollution is dilution!"

8. Somebody's watched Dr. Strangelove one too many times.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

It may just be that I read this at verying levels of alertness, but what I found here was a very interesting and thorough study of cholera and its role in establishing our modern water purification systems and then a way less interesting discussion of subsequent issues such as the impact of water chlorination, the inability of current systems to screen out cryptosporidia, and the impact of ignoring nature (Hurricane Katrina and its impact on water supplies in the region). The point - we can't be complacent about our water supply - is really good. So are his recommendations. But the narrative just loses something midway through. Too bad.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nonfiction book that reads like a novel (it reminded me of The Hot Zone). I found the stories the author wrote about waterborne disease fascinating.

I could tell the author was being a bit defensive when he wrote about his contributions to the science. Some of the books sections seem to be a bit disconnected and you don't quite get which point he is trying to make until he wraps it all up at the end (whihc he does fairly well).

But, those are minor issues and overall I highly recommend this book.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was pretty good, I really liked the beginning, the history or cholera, Snow, etc...but the end was nothing that I didn't know already. I was interested in the sciences and would have liked more about how places like Arizona are going to be able to live on their own sewage in the near future. It is an important topic one that politics is going to have to look at more seriously, or we'll just have to hope for some sort of massive cryptosporidium outbreak in the DC area.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lot of really interesting (really scary) information, but poorly written, over-dramatized, and overly focused on the author's narrow experience. Still, I would recommend this or something similar to almost anyone, because it's really scary what you don't know about our drinking water! Plus, I love John Snow, so any book about John Snow is a good book to me.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a large boring chunk in the middle of the book dealing with the history of public water systems in countries and people that made them come about. But if you can plod through that section, the rest of the book is filled with interesting and little-known facts about the crap in our water, and really gets you thinking. Although, I'm still drinking straight from my tap. :)

[Brett Price]

This book approaches the basis of water contamination and its history in the past two hundred years. It spends a large part of the book discussing cholera, then moves to other waterborne illnesses. All together an interesting analysis of the American water filtration process with good solutions provided in the end.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting but disjointed book about cholera, water-borne illness in general, the overall stupidity of how America regulates (or mis-regulates) our water supply, and a look into Dr. Morris's Cassandra complex.

[Gabrielle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don't read unless you have an actual interest in the history of water. The book has loads of information but what can be said in a couple pages take chapters to explain. If you are interested in the creation of public health in the late 1800s this is the book for you. If not I would pass

[Shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is awesome until the very end where the author tries to cast himself as a genius who like the brilliant men involved in discovering cholera and it;s mode of transmission