Diarrheal illnesses from contaminated drinking water could be a major problem, as could respiratory problems among evacuated people kept in close conditions, such as in refugee camps.

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He says that while it is unlikely that residents will be using the river directly for drinking water, it may pose a problem for water companies.

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Drinking water is not so much of a problem, it's the daily routines.

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Burning with embarrassment, I hobbled along the ridgeline until the next checkpoint, where a Presidio employee explained my problem: I wasn't drinking nearly enough water.

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