Charges for Water and Access: What Explains the Differences Among West Virginian Municipalities?

2018 ◽  
Vol 04 (04) ◽  
pp. 1850017
Author(s):  
Elham Erfanian ◽  
Alan R. Collins
Keyword(s):  
West Virginia ◽  
Water Source ◽  
Spillover Effects ◽  
Community Factors ◽  
User Charges ◽  
Municipal Water ◽  
Water Charges ◽  
Econometric Analyses ◽  
Utility Cost ◽  
Access Charges

Examining both spatial and non-spatial econometric analyses with a dataset of 125 municipal water utilities, we investigate utility cost and community factors that explain variation in residential user charges and monthly access charges for water. The results of water charges model are consistent with the theory of water cost determination as water source, debt, and economies of size plus scale influence residential consumer charges for water. Both models (water charges and minimum monthly access) displayed positive spillover effects, although the only variable in either model with a significant indirect effect is water charges on minimum monthly access charges. Based upon model results, ground water use by utilities lowers water charges and is estimated to save residential customers in West Virginia over $3.6 million annually. West Virginia households typically pay far below the OECD standard of 3 to 5% of household income for municipal water, which may explain why socioeconomic factors do not influence minimum monthly charges for access.

Survival of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Water

1998 ◽  
Vol 61 (6) ◽  
pp. 662-667 ◽  
Author(s):  
GUODONG WANG ◽  
MICHAEL P. DOYLE
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Protein Composition ◽  
Water Source ◽  
Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia Coli ◽  
Escherichia Coli O157 ◽  
Reservoir Water ◽  
Cold Temperatures ◽  
Acridine Orange Staining ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Municipal Water

Several recent Escherichia coli O157:H7 outbreaks associated with both drinking and recreational water raise concerns about waterborne illness caused by this pathogen. The survival characteristics of a mixture of five nalidixic acid-resistant E. coli O157:H7 strains (103 CFU/ml) in filtered and autoclaved municipal water, in reservoir water, and in water from two recreational lakes were determined for a period of 91 days at 8, 15, or 25°C. Greatest survival was in filtered autoclaved municipal water and least in lake water. Regardless of the water source, survival was greatest at 8°C and least at 25°C. E. coli O157:H7 populations decreased by 1 to 2 log10 by 91 days at 8°C, whereas the pathogen was not detectable (≥3 log10 decrease) within 49 to 84 days at 25°C in three of the four water sources. SDS-PAGE of surface antigens of surviving cells revealed that there was no major alteration in lipopolysaccharide pattern, but outer membrane protein composition did change. These studies indicate that E. coli O157:H7 is a hardy pathogen that can survive for long periods of time in water, especially at cold temperatures. However, direct viable counts of E. coli O157:H7 determined by acridine orange staining remained essentially the same for 12 weeks at 25°C, whereas viable counts on tryptic soy agar plates decreased to undetectable levels within 12 weeks. Results suggest that E. coli O157:H7 can enter a viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state in water.

scholarly journals Impacts of Exclusion From Municipal Water Service on Water Availability: A Case Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-137
Author(s):  
Sydney Lockhart ◽  
Erica Wood ◽  
Jacqueline MacDonald Gibson
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Water Source ◽  
Water Shortage ◽  
Water Shortages ◽  
Daily Lives ◽  
Water Service ◽  
Municipal Water ◽  
Urban Minority ◽  
Comprehensive Survey ◽  
Additional Costs

Bordering the wealthy town of Apex, North Carolina, is a majority African-American neighborhood, Irongate Drive, without town water service, relying on private wells. Residents have long sought access to town water as their wells are running dry, but problems have not been systematically documented. Using a comprehensive survey and qualitative interviews, this study assesses the frequency of water shortages, uncovers the effects on daily lives, and reports on water source preferences. Surveys showed 80 percent of households experience water scarcity. Respondents reported not having enough water to flush toilets, shower, wash hands, or do laundry. Annual well maintenance costs averaged $1405; additional costs included dealing with water shortage and buying additional items to cope. More than 75 percent actively seek municipal water, and none oppose it. These results could inform assessments of impacts of water access disparities in similar peri-urban minority communities nationwide that remain excluded from nearby municipal services.

scholarly journals Introduction of Monochloramine into a Municipal Water System: Impact on Colonization of Buildings by Legionella spp

2006 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 378-383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew R. Moore ◽  
Marsha Pryor ◽  
Barry Fields ◽  
Claressa Lucas ◽  
Maureen Phelan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Potable Water ◽  
Sampling Site ◽  
Water System ◽  
Water Source ◽  
Water Systems ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
County Government ◽  
Single Family ◽  
Pinellas County ◽  
Municipal Water

ABSTRACT Legionnaires' disease (LD) outbreaks are often traced to colonized potable water systems. We collected water samples from potable water systems of 96 buildings in Pinellas County, Florida, between January and April 2002, during a time when chlorine was the primary residual disinfectant, and from the same buildings between June and September 2002, immediately after monochloramine was introduced into the municipal water system. Samples were cultured for legionellae and amoebae using standard methods. We determined predictors of Legionella colonization of individual buildings and of individual sampling sites. During the chlorine phase, 19 (19.8%) buildings were colonized with legionellae in at least one sampling site. During the monochloramine phase, six (6.2%) buildings were colonized. In the chlorine phase, predictors of Legionella colonization included water source (source B compared to all others, adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 6.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.0 to 23) and the presence of a system with continuously circulating hot water (aOR, 9.8; 95% CI, 1.9 to 51). In the monochloramine phase, there were no predictors of individual building colonization, although we observed a trend toward greater effectiveness of monochloramine in hotels and single-family homes than in county government buildings. The presence of amoebae predicted Legionella colonization at individual sampling sites in both phases (OR ranged from 15 to 46, depending on the phase and sampling site). The routine introduction of monochloramine into a municipal drinking water system appears to have reduced colonization by Legionella spp. in buildings served by the system. Monochloramine may hold promise as community-wide intervention for the prevention of LD.

scholarly journals Effects of Iodine in Microbial Control of Dental Treatment Water

2011 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 143-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raghunath Puttaiah ◽  
Jeff Seibert ◽  
Robert Spears
Keyword(s):  
Dental Treatment ◽  
Microbial Control ◽  
Water System ◽  
Water Source ◽  
Water Systems ◽  
Source Water ◽  
Municipal Water ◽  
Point Of Use ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Treatment Water

ABSTRACT Objective To determine the effects of low levels of iodine constantly present in the dental unit water system on microbial control of dental treatment water and biofilm control. Materials and methods This study used a dental unit water system simulator with eight dental unit waterline systems built to scale and function, each controlled via computer. Each of the eight units was operated independently, four units supplied with self-contained water reservoirs and four units supplied with municipal water. Four units were precleaned to remove biofilm buildup. The study had a well-balanced design with equal representation (variables) of presence/absence of biofilms, selfcontained reservoirs for introduction of treatment water, source water directly connected to municipal water source and iodinated cartridges within the self-contained reservoirs and between municipal water and dental unit. Point-of-use iodinated resin cartridges (IRC) were retrofitted proximal to handpiece and air/ water syringe tip lines in four units, and iodinated resin water cartridges (IRSWC) were fitted to the other four units at the source water output. Heterotrophic plate counts were performed at baseline and twice weekly for a period of 6 weeks. One representative waterline sample was taken from each group at baseline and end-of-study to analyze changes in biofilm status using scanning electron microscopy. Results Waterlines not previously contaminated with biofilms did not show organization of biofilm matrix in units equipped with IRSWC. Constantly present low levels of iodine, demonstrated some disruption of biofilms in waterlines already contaminated with mature biofilms. All groups showed contamination levels < 500 cfu/ml (colony forming units per milliliter) consistent with the CDC and ADA guidelines. Conclusion In this 6 weeks study, IRSWC equipped waterlines showed disruption of established biofilms, controlled formation of new biofilms in clean lines and rendered the dental treatment water < 500 cfu/ml. Point-of-use iodinated resin cartridges were also effective in controlling contamination in the dental treatment water. Clinical significance Dental unit water systems that are in use get contaminated with microbes and biofilms in weeks of being put into use. These biofilms contaminate the treatment water thereby putting patients and staff at risk of infection by predominantly gram-negative microbes. Biofilms in the water systems must be cleaned periodically with a strong decontaminant and the dental treatment source water needs to be modified with a low-grade antimicrobial that can preserve the water quality yet safe to humans. In this translational research study, we evaluate the effects of elemental iodine dissolved in water flowing through an iodine containing cartridge in controlling biofilm and dental treatment water contamination using a dental unit water system simulator, prior to clinical utilization. How to cite this article Puttaiah R, Seibert J, Spears R. Effects of Iodine in Microbial Control of Dental Treatment Water. J Contemp Dent Pract 2011;12(3):143-151.

An unmatched case-control study evaluating the relationship between cancer diagnosis and drinking water source on the lower Eastern Shore of Maryland.

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e22514-e22514
Author(s):  
Angela Marie DeRidder ◽  
Adeel Masood
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Diagnosis ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Water Source ◽  
Water Filtration ◽  
Well Water ◽  
Eastern Shore ◽  
Cancer History ◽  
Municipal Water ◽  
Filtration System ◽  
The Relationship

e22514 Background: The lower Eastern Shore of Maryland is an agricultural and rural region with high cancer rates. Prior research has suggested that cancer patients on the lower Eastern Shore of Maryland rely on residential private well water more than municipal water, and that cancer patients rely on residential private well water more than individuals in the general county population. The purpose of this unmatched case-control study was to further clarify the relationship between cancer diagnosis and residential private well water use. Methods: A water consumption survey was provided to new hematology/oncology clinic patients seen at a regional hospital on the lower Eastern Shore from October 2020 through February 2021. Participants were asked their age, county of residence, residential water source, daily tap water consumption, presence of a water filtration system, and current or prior cancer history. A case was defined as an individual using residential private well water, and a control was defined as an individual using municipal water. Fisher’s exact test and binominal logistic regression were used to evaluate the relationship between residential water source and cancer history. Results: 334 patients were surveyed and 270 were included in analysis, with 133 cases and 137 controls. Median age of cases was 64 years (SD ± 16.6) and median age of controls was 62 years (SD ± 16.87). Our study found that compared to individuals utilizing municipal water, individuals utilizing residential private well water were more likely to live in their homes for > 5 years (61% vs. 46%, p = 0.015), drink tap water (61% vs. 41%, p = 0.015), and utilize a water filtration system (31% vs. 16%, p = 0.006). Controlling for age, subjects who reported drinking at least two glasses of unfiltered private well water per day were more likely to have a current or prior cancer diagnosis compared to individuals relying on municipal water (OR = 2.57; 95% CI: 1.07-6.12, p = 0.03). Among subjects who drank less than 2 glasses of tap water per day or utilized a water filtration system, there was no difference in cancer history between individuals utilizing private well water versus municipal water. There were no relationships between county of residency, length of home residency, and cancer diagnosis. Conclusions: Individuals on the lower Eastern Shore of Maryland who consume at least 2 glasses of private well water without a water filtration system were more likely to indicate a current or prior cancer history compared to individuals consuming at least 2 glasses of municipal water. Interpretation is limited by small sample size and lack of causality, however, the results signal a need for additional studies evaluating well water use and cancer risk in this region.

Municipal water pricing and tariff design: a reform agenda for South Asia

Water Policy ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Whittington
Keyword(s):  
South Asia ◽  
Distribution System ◽  
Water Source ◽  
Major Elements ◽  
Reform Process ◽  
Reform Agenda ◽  
Municipal Water Supply ◽  
Customer Base ◽  
Municipal Water ◽  
Poor Households

The water tariffs currently in use in most cities in South Asia are not accomplishing their principal objectives. They are not generating sufficient revenues to ensure that utilities can recover their financial costs. They are not sending the correct economic signals to households, i.e., that water is scarce and must be treated as a valuable commodity. They are not helping the majority of the poor households, many of whom are not connected to the piped distribution system. This paper describes the major elements of a package of pricing and tariff reforms that are needed in the municipal water supply sector in many South Asian cities. The recommended set of reforms has three distinct parts: (1) expanding the customer base and making sure connections are metered so that pricing policies can be implemented; (2) changing the way water bills are calculated for households, and for industrial and commercial customers; and (3) putting in place the policies to protect poor households during the reform process. The following pro-poor policies are recommended: (1) ensuring that poor households (and others) can have a private water connection when they want it; (2) subsidizing upfront connection costs, not volumetric water use; (3) providing public taps as a water source of last resort for the very poor; (4) legalizing water vending and selling by neighbors; and (5) not giving private operators exclusive rights to provide water within a service area.

scholarly journals Multilevel modelling of the risk of malaria among children aged under five years in Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor M Oguoma ◽  
Anayochukwu E Anyasodor ◽  
Adeniyi O Adeleye ◽  
Obiora A Eneanya ◽  
Evaristus C Mbanefo
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Species ◽  
Wealth Index ◽  
Multilevel Modelling ◽  
Water Source ◽  
Malaria Parasitaemia ◽  
Older Children ◽  
Community Factors ◽  
Under Five ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Individual Household

Abstract Background:Malaria is still a major cause of morbidity and mortality among children under five (U5) years. This study assessed individual, household, and community risk factors for malaria in Nigerian children U5 years of age.Methods:Data from the Nigerian Malaria Health Indicator Survey 2015 were pooled for analyses. This comprised of national survey of 329 clusters. Children aged 6-59 months who were tested for malaria using microscopy were retained. Multilevel logit model accounting for sampling design was used to assess individual, household and community factors associated with malaria parasitaemia. Results:A total of 5742 children were assessed for malaria parasitaemia with overall prevalence of 27% (95% CI 26-28%). Plasmodium falciparum constituted 98% of the Plasmodium species. There was no significant difference in parasitaemia between older children, and those ≤12 months. In adjusted analyses, rural living, Northwest region, household size of >7, dependence on river and rain water as primary water source were associated with higher odds of parasitaemia; while higher wealth index, all U5s who slept under bed net and dependence on packaged water were associated with lower odds of parasitaemia.Conclusion:Despite sustained investment in malaria control and prevention, a quarter of the overall study population of U5s suffer from malaria. Across the six geopolitical zones, the highest burden was in children living in poorest rural households.

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