scholarly journals Does the source of water for piped supplies affect child health? Evidence from rural Vanuatu

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 591-595
Author(s):  
Tim Foster ◽  
Emily Rand ◽  
Erie Sami ◽  
Brieana Dance ◽  
Jeremy Kohlitz ◽  
...  

Abstract Piped water systems are considered to provide the highest service level for drinking water supplies; however, global monitoring of safe water access pays little attention to the type of water source that piped systems draw upon, even if the water is not treated prior to distribution. This study sought to understand whether the source of water for untreated piped supplies influences the prevalence of diarrhoea among children in rural Vanuatu. The analysis was based on a dataset integrating a Demographic and Health Survey and a nationwide water supply inventory. After adjusting for a range of potential confounders, the results revealed a significant association between diarrhoea and the type of water source supplying a piped system. Compared with borehole-supplied piped systems, spring-fed piped systems were significantly associated with increased odds of diarrhoea (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 5.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1–31, p = 0.040). No significant association between diarrhoea and piped systems drawing on surface water was observed. Increased odds of diarrhoea were significantly associated with water supply systems constructed prior to the year 2000 (AOR 4.9, 95% CI 1.9–13, p = 0.001). The results highlight the need for improvements in spring protection as well as ongoing maintenance and periodic renewal of water supply infrastructure. This article has been made Open Access thanks to the generous support of a global network of libraries as part of the Knowledge Unlatched Select initiative.

1993 ◽  
Vol 27 (9) ◽  
pp. 47-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. F. Nicholson

Life, health and hygiene all depend on access to a plentiful supply of safe drinking water. Piped water supplies in rural Egypt are insufficient to meet the demands of the existing population. This situation is worsening due to the rapid population growth and failure of existing water supply systems. There are already areas of the country with severe piped water shortages. If corrective action is not taken soon densely populated villages will become vulnerable to outbreaks of waterborne diseases. Immediate action is needed to reverse the deterioration of water supply systems and to improve the benefits gained from capital works investments in the sector. This paper promotes the concept that sustainable water systems in rural Egypt depends on a central government and local unit partnership. Also needed are consumer bodies to determine user needs; local units to be given powers to manage the revenue and expenditure accounts; and the central government to concentrate on setting policies and guidelines, and assisting with the implementation of major capital works.


2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 164-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria A. Kyritsi ◽  
Varvara A. Mouchtouri ◽  
Spyros Pournaras ◽  
Christos Hadjichristodoulou

Abstract After the Elizabethkingia anophelis outbreak in Wisconsin, USA, an active search for the detection of the microorganism in hospital water systems from Central and Northern Greece was performed from June to December 2016. In total, 457 water samples from 11 hospitals were analyzed. Elizabethkingia spp. was detected in three samples collected from two hospitals, both of which are located in Northern Greece. Two of the three isolated strains were identified as Elizabethkingia anophelis. No cases of Elizabethkingia infection were reported in either hospital during 2016. This is the first reported isolation of the pathogen in water supply systems in Greece.


Water Policy ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atsushi Hanatani ◽  
Kana Fuse

Poor maintenance of water supply systems is a critical issue in sub-Saharan Africa. Using survey data on users of motorized piped water supply systems in rural southern Senegal, this paper examines what motivates resource users to contribute financially to the management of water supply system infrastructure by paying their water tariff. Results from logistic regression analysis indicate that users who prefer borehole water and are satisfied with the service provided are more likely than others to pay. In addition, those who trust that other users will pay are more likely themselves to pay than those who do not trust their peers. These findings suggest that assessing the needs of users and providing services tailored to those needs (e.g., quality, convenience) is recommended for future interventions. The incorporation of programs that promote peer trust should also be considered as future interventions to establish or strengthen resource management organization.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Mink ◽  
B. A. Hoque ◽  
S. Khanam ◽  
D. Van Halem

Abstract In the arsenic-contaminated Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna Delta in India and Bangladesh, small-scale piped water supply seems a promising way to provide safe drinking water to households in the region. The use of smartphone applications can support monitoring of the system and enhance local engagement and empowerment. In this paper the scope for mobile crowd participation as a research and monitoring tool for piped water supply systems in Bihar, India and in Khulna and Chittagong, Bangladesh is investigated. In these areas, the use of smartphones and internet access are growing rapidly and smartphone applications would enable real-time water quality monitoring, payment of water bills, awareness creation, and a dialogue between the end-user and the water supplier. To identify the relevance and acceptability of piped water supply and smartphone monitoring, four surveys with potential end-users were conducted. Based on these surveys we conclude that in the investigated areas there is a desire for piped water systems, that households already own smartphones with internet access, and that there is an interest in smartphone monitoring. The enabling environment to deploy mobile crowd participation for piped water system monitoring stimulates further research towards an investigation of potential functionalities and the actual development of such an application.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 65-76
Author(s):  
Chitra Bahadur Budhathoki

Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal is a landlocked country located in South Asia. Nepal has made its considerable efforts to improve the water supply and sanitation (WASH) situation in the country by formulating and enforcing a number of WASH policies, guidelines and acts for the last two decades. But WASH situation of Nepal has not been well documented so far. Aim of this article is to describe the situation of water supply, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in Nepal by analyzing secondary data and information obtained from published and unpublished literature. About 97 of the total population have access to basics anitation facilities and 87 percent access to basic water supply facility. Sanitation coverage is95 percent in six Provinces and below 90 percent in Province no. 2 of Nepal. The momentum of sanitation coverage was accelerated immediately after internalization and implementation of the Sanitation and Hygiene Master Plan in 2011 and Nepal reaches at close to the elimination of open defecation. The gap between rich and poor in accessing to and using toilet facility has been narrowing down due to the nationwide sanitation campaigns. But there is disparity in accessing and using piped water between rich and poor. Only 25 percent of water supply systems are well functioning and 68 percent can supply water to water taps throughout year. One-fourth of the existing toilet facility across the country are poorly constructed that needs to be upgraded. The government should make consolidated and integrated efforts to reduce existing inequity in the WASH sector and enhance the sustainability of water supply and sanitation services.


2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 126-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Željka Rudić ◽  
Goran Nikolić ◽  
Dragiša Stević ◽  
Mile Božić ◽  
Ksenija Mačkić ◽  
...  

Irrigation has contributed significantly to poverty alleviation and food security; however, the sustainability of irrigated agriculture is being questioned both economically and environmentally. Agriculture is the economic sector where most water is consumed, but the lowest price is practised. This article presents an interdisciplinary approach to selecting and prioritizing infrastructure, by differentiating water sources for irrigation, in the case of two complex irrigation systems. Comparative analysis was undertaken for major hydrological, hydraulic, hydrotechnical and economic parameters in order to estimate a long-term water supply for irrigation. In the case of complex irrigation water supply systems, differentiating the ‘subsystems’ per water source and allowing their separate development require less investment and give a better chance for the project implementation. The average calculated investments in basic irrigation infrastructure were in a wide range, from EUR3327 to 10,103 ha−1, depending on anticipated water source (impoundments, groundwater and rivers). Economic water price also varied widely, EUR0.09–0.30 m−3, depending on the water source for irrigation.


Water Policy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 1207-1223 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. Hess ◽  
Brandi M. Collins

Abstract Recycling of effluent water from urban water-supply systems is often a more sustainable water source than increased use of surface sources, groundwater sources, and desalination. However, water-supply organizations (WSOs) often do not take full advantage of recycled water. Although recycling water for direct potable use is efficient, public concern with safety has tended to cause WSOs to favor other uses for recycled water. This study examines patterns in the degree of utilization of two main indirect uses of recycled water: dual-reticulation systems and groundwater recharge. Drawing on case studies of four U.S. cities that are leaders in the use of recycled water, the study identifies conditions that favor the choice of one option over the other. Where cities are concerned with groundwater recharge of potable water supplies, they tend to prefer non-recycled water if available for recharge projects. However, where non-recycled water supplies are limited, recycled water may be prioritized for aquifer recharge. Otherwise, the preference is for use by large industrial partners such as power plants or for exchanges for higher-quality potable water resources with rural systems. In contrast, dual-reticulation (purple-pipe) systems for direct nonpotable recycling face steep economic and technical challenges.


Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 3278
Author(s):  
Armando Carravetta ◽  
Maurizio Giugni ◽  
Stefano Malavasi

The larger anthropic pressure on the Water Supply Systems (WSS) and the increasing concern for the sustainability of the large energy use for water supply, transportation, distribution, drainage and treatment are determining a new perspective in the management of water systems [...]


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