Which type of disease can be waterborne?

Waterborne diseases are primarily caused by pathogens that are transmitted through contaminated water. In this context, choosing fungal as the answer may stem from the understanding that certain fungi can thrive in wet environments, leading to diseases in plants. Fungi can also produce spores or toxins that may contaminate water sources, leading to infections or diseases when that water is ingested or comes into contact with sensitive tissues of plants or humans.

However, it's essential to recognize that bacterial and viral diseases are more commonly categorized as waterborne because they can directly spread through contaminated water sources. Bacterial pathogens such as E. coli and Vibrio cholerae, for instance, are well-known for causing diseases when people or animals consume contaminated water. Similarly, viruses like norovirus can also spread in a waterborne fashion.

Non-living diseases refer to issues caused by abiotic factors such as toxins or chemical imbalances in the environment and do not fall under the category of waterborne diseases since they do not involve biological pathogens.

Thus, while fungi can be involved in water-related issues, bacterial and viral infections represent the more classical definitions of waterborne diseases, making the selection of fungal as the answer less precise.