It is believed that the amount of diseases in Jamestown that killed most of the settlers is related to their water source. Jamestown was located near a place were the river formed a type of swamp, there salty water accumulated. Although the water was not suitable for human comsumption, settlers were forced to drink and use it for cooking and washing. As animal and human wastes were deposited there, water caused typhoid and dysentery, that added to starvation and coldness killed many of them.