Which waterborne disease is characterized by severe diarrhea and dehydration?

Cholera is a waterborne disease that is primarily caused by the ingestion of contaminated water or food. The disease is characterized by acute watery diarrhea, which can lead to severe dehydration in affected individuals. This dehydration can occur rapidly and can be life-threatening if not treated promptly. The Vibrio cholerae bacterium is responsible for the illness, and it produces a toxin that disrupts normal intestinal function, causing the body to release large amounts of fluid.

In the context of the other options, hepatitis typically causes liver inflammation and symptoms such as jaundice, fatigue, and abdominal pain, but does not primarily lead to severe diarrhea. Meningitis is an inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, usually causing symptoms like fever, headache, and neck stiffness, rather than gastrointestinal issues. Typhoid fever, caused by Salmonella typhi, can lead to gastrointestinal symptoms, but severe diarrhea is not its hallmark; instead, it often presents with a sustained fever, abdominal pain, and other systemic symptoms. Thus, cholera stands out as the disease most closely associated with severe diarrhea and the risk of dehydration.