scholarly journals Longitudinal study of microbial load of drinking water and seasonal variation of water quality at the point of use in food establishments of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 969-978
Author(s):  
Aderajew Mekonnen Girmay ◽  
Sirak Robele Gari ◽  
Azage Gebreyohannes Gebremariam ◽  
Bezatu Mengistie Alemu ◽  
Martin R. Evans ◽  
...  

Abstract The study aimed to determine the status of microbial load of drinking water and seasonal variation of water quality. An institution-based longitudinal study was conducted. 1,141 food establishments were divided into slum and non-slum areas based on their location. Moreover, they were categorized as large and small food establishments. Then, 125 food outlets were selected using a simple random sampling technique. From the selected food outlets, 250 drinking water samples were collected directly from the drinking water storage in the rainy and the dry seasons. Data analysis was conducted using a repeated-measure ANOVA statistical model. The finding indicated that, 26.4% and 10.7% of the food establishments' drinking water was positive for Escherichia coli in the wet and the dry season, respectively. Moreover, 3.2% and 1.6% of the food establishments' drinking water had very high health risk to customers during the wet and the dry season, respectively. The drinking water at the point of use was found to be vulnerable to microbiological contamination and had a serious health risk. Therefore, good sanitation and proper handling of drinking water, and effective drinking water treatment, such as disinfection and filtration, should be practiced in all food establishments.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aderajew Mekonnen Girmay ◽  
Sirak Robel Gari ◽  
Gebreab Teklebirhan Gessew ◽  
Mulumebet Tadesse Reta

Abstract Introduction: Clean and suitable drinking-water is a key component to enhance human health. However, obtaining safe and adequate water is limited in many developing countries. Besides, treated drinking-water are often contaminated at storages and point of use with contaminants and consumption of unclean water poses a great public health problem. This study aimed to assess the determinants of drinking-water quality and sanitary risk levels of water storages in food establishments of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted. 125 food outlets were selected using a simple random sampling technique. Then, 125 drinking-water samples (250 from each) were collected directly from the food outlets drinking-water storages. Moreover, observational checklist was used to assess determinants of drinking-water quality and sanitary risk levels of the storages. Data analysis was conducted using multivariable logistic regression.Results: This study revealed that, 28.5% of the drinking-water was contaminated with fecal coliforms. Besides, based on WHO criteria, 16.3% and 18.7% of the food outlet drinking-water storages were grouped into high and very high contamination risk levels respectively. Seven (7) explanatory variables were identified as main determinant factors which significantly associated (p-value < 0.03) with the contaminated drinking-water. Conclusion: Most of the food establishments’ drinking-water was free from bacteriological contamination and safe from biological hazards. However, significant number of food establishments’ drinking-water storages had fecal contamination. In the study, many determinant factors that affect drinking-water quality of the food outlets were identified. Therefore, good sanitation and hygiene practice should be practiced at the food establishments. Besides, creation of awareness about drinking water contamination and its health risks should be done by concerned bodies.


Author(s):  
Reza Aghlmand ◽  
Saeed Rasi Nezami ◽  
Ali Abbasi

In recent years, in addition to water resources’ quantity, their quality has also received much attention. In this study, the quality of the urban water distribution network in northwestern Iran was evaluated using the water quality index (WQI) method. Then, some important trace elements were investigated, and finally, the health risk assessment was evaluated for both carcinogenic elements (Ni, Cd, Cr, Pb, and As) and non-carcinogenic elements (Ca, Mg, Na, K, F, NO3, and Cu) using carcinogenic risk (CR) and hazard quotient (HQ), respectively. In the present study, the WQI was calculated based on both World Health Organization (WHO) and Iranian drinking water standards. Comparing the results of these standards revealed that the WQI based on the Iranian standard was slightly higher. Regarding the calculated WQI for the study region, the status of water quality for drinking consumption is in the good water quality class (25 < WQI < 50). It was observed that Cu and Cd have the highest and lowest concentrations in all sampling points, respectively. Hazard Index (HI) results showed that the non-carcinogenic substances studied had a low risk for both adults and children (<1.0). However, the CR results showed that Ni, Cd, and As were above the desired level for both children and adults. The results of this study can be applied for efficient water management and human health protection programs in the study area.


2013 ◽  
Vol 60 ◽  
pp. 93-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sardar Khan ◽  
Maria Shahnaz ◽  
Noor Jehan ◽  
Shafiqur Rehman ◽  
M. Tahir Shah ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Marina Smidt Celere Meschede ◽  
Bernardino Ribeiro Figueiredo ◽  
Renato Igor da silva Alves ◽  
Susana Inés Segura-Muñoz

The quality of drinking water and its health implications for school children were examined at schools in the Santarém region, Amazon, Brazil. In this region, the population is fully supplied by groundwater from the voluminous Alter do Chão aquifer. Drinking water samples from three schools in Santarem city and from one school at the rural Mojuí dos Campos town were subjected to microbiological and physicochemical compositional analyses. The health risk of human exposure to chemical compounds through water intake was also evaluated. The results indicated that most water samples were contaminated with total coliform and with E. coli, which could cause serious intestinal disorders for school children. Drinking water was acidic and most of the chemical element concentrations were within Brazilian water potability recommended levels. One exception was the high aluminium content in schools from Santarem served by shallower wells, suggesting that further epidemiological studies are necessary and the monitoring of exposed school children should not be discarded. Elevated nitrate concentrations were also noted in schools from Santarém with shallower wells, indicating lack of sanitation and the importance of periodic monitoring of drinking water to prevent adverse health effects. Quantification of human health risk indicated a hazard in schools served by shallower wells, with aluminium as the main pollutant, followed by nitrate. The results showed that most drinking water quality parameters are in accordance with Brazilian legislation. However, microbiological contamination, water acidity, aluminium and nitrate concentrations must be taken into consideration for local governments in order to prevent related diseases among school children.


2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (42) ◽  
pp. 20917-20922
Author(s):  
Maura Allaire ◽  
Taylor Mackay ◽  
Shuyan Zheng ◽  
Upmanu Lall

Drinking-water contaminants pose a risk to public health. When confronted with elevated levels of contaminants, individuals can take actions to reduce exposure. Yet, few studies address averting behavior due to impaired water, particularly in high-income countries. This is a problem of national interest, given that 9 million to 45 million people have been affected by water quality violations in each of the past 34 years. No national analysis has focused on the extent to which communities reduce exposure to contaminated drinking water. Here, we present an assessment that sheds light on how communities across the United States respond to violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act, using consumer purchases of bottled water. This study provides insight into how averting behavior differs across violation types and community demographics. We estimate the change in sales due to water quality violations, using a panel dataset of weekly sales and violation records in 2,151 counties from 2006 to 2015. Critical findings show that violations which pose an immediate health risk are associated with a 14% increase in bottled water sales. Generally, greater averting action is taken against contaminants that might pose a greater perceived health risk and that require more immediate public notification. Rural, low-income communities do not take significant averting action for elevated levels of nitrate, yet experience a higher prevalence of nitrate violations. Findings can inform improvements in public notification and targeting of technical assistance from state regulators and public health agencies in order to reduce community exposure to contaminants.


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