scholarly journals Experience, training and confidence among small, non-community drinking water system operators in Ontario, Canada

2014 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 782-790 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy Pons ◽  
Scott A. McEwen ◽  
Katarina Pintar ◽  
Andria Jones-Bitton ◽  
Ian Young ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water System ◽  
Training Needs ◽  
Water Safety ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Safety Issues ◽  
Small Water ◽  
Ongoing Training ◽  
One Year ◽  
Training Opportunities

The water operator plays an important role in water safety; however, little published research exists that has examined this role. The purpose of this study was to develop a greater understanding of the experience, existing knowledge, confidence and future training needs of the small, non-community drinking water operator in Ontario in order to help guide future outreach and training opportunities. A cross-sectional telephone survey of 332 small, non-community drinking water operators in Ontario was conducted in July and August 2011. Survey questions pertained to respondents' experience as operators, formal training, perceived importance of water safety issues, confidence in handling water safety issues, and future training needs. Approximately 16% (54/330) of respondents had one year or less experience as a water operator, and 60% (199/332) reported that being a water operator was not a chosen profession. Only 37% (124/332) of operators reported completing operator training. Respondents reported a preference for online training courses or on-site training (compared with a classroom setting). Low training rates, inexperience, and in certain situations, low confidence, among many small water system operators highlight a need to provide continued support to the development of ongoing training opportunities in this population.

scholarly journals Evaluating the use and intent of drinking water advisories in Atlantic Canada

Water Policy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 908-924
Author(s):  
Kaycie Lane ◽  
Graham Gagnon
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water System ◽  
Water Systems ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
Atlantic Canada ◽  
Water Safety ◽  
Proactive Management ◽  
Management Measures ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Drinking water advisories (DWAs) are used as a tool for identifying water safety concerns in many jurisdictions. Evidence from previous research demonstrates a lack of improvement in water system operations over time, with an increase in the total number of DWAs in place. DWAs are predominantly issued due to operational concerns within a water system, implying a lack of proactive management measures for preventable issues. Therefore, DWAs represent a chronic issue for many water systems, particularly those lacking resources to implement operational improvements. This study explores DWA characteristics in Atlantic Canada, including frequency and duration, focusing on municipal and private water systems. Seasonality was identified as a trend in DWA issuance in Nova Scotia, and reasons for DWA issuance are largely unchanged over time. Neither of these identified concerns has led to a change in DWA reporting or issuance procedures. Additionally, this study identifies a lack of a common reporting format, leading to the proposal of a template of minimum characteristics for future DWA reporting. Overall, this study highlights deficiencies in the DWA issuance process as a water safety measure and suggests alternative methods for risk management in water systems to alleviate the persistence and prevalence of DWAs in Canada.

scholarly journals Exploring the relationships between small non-community drinking water system characteristics and water system performance in Ontario, Canada

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 998-1008
Author(s):  
Wendy Pons ◽  
Ian Young ◽  
David Pearl ◽  
Andria Jones-Bitton ◽  
Scott A. McEwen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Ground Water ◽  
Water System ◽  
Low Risk ◽  
Assessment Process ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Drinking Water System ◽  
Training Opportunities ◽  
System Characteristics ◽  
Test Result

The objectives of this work were to investigate the relationships between characteristics of small non-community drinking water systems (SDWSs) and the performance of these systems with respect to Escherichia coli testing and risk ratings. Ontario-wide SDWS data were analysed using regression models with outcomes of (1) having an adverse E. coli test result in the 12 months prior to the last inspection and (2) the SDWS risk rating (high/medium vs. low risk) that is assigned by public health inspectors. Almost 34% (2,364/7,003) of SDWSs did not utilize treatment, more commonly for ground water than surface supplies (P < 0.001). The odds of having a positive E. coli test result were greater in systems using ground water with treatment (OR = 2.00; 95% CI 1.23–3.24) and surface water with treatment (OR = 1.97; 95% CI 1.05–3.71) compared to ground water with no treatment. The odds of having a water system rated high or medium compared to low risk was greater if the water system operated seasonally (OR = 1.36; 95% CI 1.17–1.59), had an adverse E. coli test result (OR = 1.66; 95% CI 1.09–2.53), and in specific facility types. This research helps to inform existing training opportunities available to SDWS operators in Ontario, and to better standardize the SDWS risk assessment process.

Empowering rural communities: simple Water Safety Plans

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 309-317 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. J. Hasan ◽  
A. Hicking ◽  
J. David
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Hydrogen Sulfide ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Marshall Islands ◽  
Pacific Island ◽  
Water Safety ◽  
Safety Issues ◽  
Drinking Water Safety ◽  
Pacific Island Countries ◽  
The Republic

Every year 2800 deaths in Pacific island countries result from diarrhoea, and most are children under five years of age. These tragic diarrheal deaths are preventable as they are often linked to unsafe water, lack of proper sanitation facilities and poor hygienic practices. Effective preventive management through the framework of a drinking Water Safety Plan (WSP) is an efficient mechanism for ensuring the safe quality of drinking water thereby reducing the burden of water related diseases. The large proportion (81%) of people in Pacific island countries living in rural or outer island communities mostly have their own water supply (for example rainwater tanks or hand-dug wells), and often the water is consumed untreated. The remoteness and isolation of these rural communities prevent national surveillance authorities to regularly visit and provide advice on drinking water safety issues. In such circumstances empowering rural communities to ensure the safety of their drinking water, through trained local facilitators, could be promoted and utilised effectively. However, WSPs for rural communities have to be relatively simple hence tools such as modified sanitary inspections and the presence/absence hydrogen sulfide test could be used. The approach of empowering communities through trained local facilitators to promote the WSP framework has been implemented in the Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI). Positive feedback has been received by trained facilitators in RMI on the use of modified sanitary inspections (translated into Marshallese) and the hydrogen sulfide test. It is believed that the approach of empowering communities on WSPs through training local facilitators and equipping them with the above mentioned simple tools is effective and has potential for further replication in rural Pacific communities to improve drinking water quality and reduce the burden of water related diseases.

scholarly journals Opportunistic pathogens and faecal indicators in drinking water associated biofilms in Cluj, Romania

2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 471-483 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Farkas ◽  
M. Drăgan-Bularda ◽  
D. Ciatarâş ◽  
B. Bocoş ◽  
Ş. Ţigan
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Water System ◽  
Drinking Water Treatment ◽  
Microbial Consortia ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogens ◽  
Water Safety ◽  
Potential Threat ◽  
Faecal Indicators

Biofouling occurs without exception in all water systems, with undesirable effects such as biocorrosion and deterioration of water quality. Drinking water associated biofilms represent a potential risk to human health by harbouring pathogenic or toxin-releasing microorganisms. This is the first study investigating the attached microbiota, with potential threat to human health, in a public water system in Romania. The presence and the seasonal variation of viable faecal indicators and opportunistic pathogens were investigated within naturally developed biofilms in a drinking water treatment plant. Bacterial frequencies were correlated with microbial loads in biofilms as well as with physical and chemical characteristics of biofilms and raw water. The biofilms assessed in the current study proved to be extremely active microbial consortia. High bacterial numbers were recovered by cultivation, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Aeromonas hydrophila, intestinal enterococci and Clostridium perfringens. There were no Legionella spp. detected in any biofilm sample. Emergence of opportunistic pathogens in biofilms was not significantly affected by the surface material, but by the treatment process. Implementation of a water safety plan encompassing measures to prevent microbial contamination and to control biofouling would be appropriate.

scholarly journals Drinking-water safety – challenges for community-managed systems

2008 ◽  
Vol 6 (S1) ◽  
pp. 33-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Rizak ◽  
Steve E. Hrudey
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Failure Modes ◽  
Water System ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Warning Signs ◽  
Water Safety ◽  
Waterborne Disease ◽  
Drinking Water Safety ◽  
Weather Events

A targeted review of documented waterborne disease outbreaks over the past decades reveals some recurring themes that should be understood by drinking-water suppliers. Evidence indicates the outbreaks are often linked to some significant change in conditions that provides a sudden challenge to a water system. Severe weather events, such as heavy rainfall or runoff from snow melt, as well as treatment process and system changes, are common risk factors for drinking-water outbreaks. Failure to recognise warning signs and complacency are important contributors to drinking water becoming unsafe. Drinking-water suppliers must focus on competence and vigilance in maintaining effective multiple barriers appropriate to the challenges facing the drinking-water system. Understanding the risk factors and failure modes of waterborne disease outbreaks is an essential component for effective management of community drinking-water supplies and ensuring the delivery of safe drinking-water to consumers.

scholarly journals Household drinking water safety among the population of Gaza Strip, Palestine: knowledge, attitudes, practices, and satisfaction

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 500-512 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samer Abuzerr ◽  
Simin Nasseri ◽  
Masud Yunesian ◽  
Mahdi Hadi ◽  
Amir Hossein Mahvi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Linear Correlation ◽  
Educational Level ◽  
Gaza Strip ◽  
Water Safety ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Awareness Campaigns ◽  
Drinking Water Safety ◽  
Hygiene Measures ◽  
Household Heads

Abstract A descriptive cross-sectional study employing a structured questionnaire was employed to assess knowledge, attitude, practice, and satisfaction (KAPS) of Gaza's community on issues related to household drinking water safety. The results showed that of 1,857 household heads, 1,621 (87.3%) were males, with the majority (967, 52.1%) having a university educational level. Of surveyed households, 744 (40.1%) consisted of 5–7 persons and 885 (47.7%) of the households resided in refugee camps. Mean percentages for KAPS were 82 ± 15.5%, 64.9 ± 39.7%, 53.2 ± 14.1%, and 37.3 ± 26.56%, respectively. There were statistically significant associations between some sociodemographic variables and mean percentage of KAPS scores. Educational level was the only variable significantly associated (p < 0.05) with all mean KAPS scores. There was a significant positive linear correlation between knowledge-attitude (r = 0.362, p < 0.05), but a significant negative linear correlation between knowledge-practice (r = −0.070, p < 0.05) was also observed. Therefore, the Local Government Authority (LGA) should arrange community awareness campaigns on the importance of safety and hygiene measures of drinking water storage. Furthermore, and due to the poor financial capabilities of the LGA in Gaza, it is highly recommended that LGA contact relevant international donors in order to support programs aiming at improving household water supply.

scholarly journals Dynamics of Biocorrosion in Copper Pipes under Actual Drinking Water Conditions

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 1036
Author(s):  
Carlos Galarce ◽  
Diego Fischer ◽  
Beatriz Díez ◽  
Ignacio T. Vargas ◽  
Gonzalo E. Pizarro
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Corrosion Rate ◽  
Water System ◽  
Sampling Time ◽  
Blue Water ◽  
Copper Corrosion ◽  
Monitoring And Control ◽  
Microbially Influenced Corrosion ◽  
Plumbing Systems ◽  
One Year

Deficient disinfection systems enable bacteria to form in drinking water; these can invade plumbing systems even if the pipes are composed of antibacterial materials such as copper. Severe copper corrosion by microorganisms and their subsequent release into the water system are evidenced by the blue water phenomenon. Proper monitoring and control can reduce such undesirable effects on water quality. However, a lack of data from analysis under actual conditions has limited the development of useful predictive tools and preventive strategies. In this work, an experimental aging system was connected to a drinking water network affected by the blue water phenomenon. The microbially influenced corrosion (MIC) was evaluated by studying the dynamics of the formed bacterial community and its relationship with copper corrosion and the release of copper. The results suggest that the conformation and composition of the biofilm attached to the surface influence the measured parameters. The corrosion rate was variable throughout the sampling time, with the highest value recorded after one year of aging. The composition of biofilms also changed with time; however, the genus Pseudomonas was ubiquitous over the sampling time. No relationship between the corrosion rate and the biofilm age was observed, thereby suggesting that MIC is a dynamic phenomenon that requires further study.

Accuracy in water losses estimation in the distribution network - the Paris case

2004 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 123-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Nguyen
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Distribution Network ◽  
Water System ◽  
Supply System ◽  
The State ◽  
Water Network ◽  
Water Losses ◽  
One Year ◽  
Water Metering

The yield of a distribution network represents one of the indicators most commonly used by water distributors to account for the state of the volumes of losses over a given period or to measure the evolution of these losses from one year to the next, generally speaking. However, contrary to what might be thought, complex situations and very differing interpretations are to be found on the back of the result of the calculation of the volumes of water lost in the distribution network. A study of drinking water network yield was carried out in Paris in 2001 so as to get a better grasp of the developments recorded since 1987. The consequences of the changes that have taken place during this period have each been measured: alterations to the organisation of the water system, developments affecting the structure of the supply system, technical improvements in the wholesale water metering systems and overall reduction in volumes consumed.

scholarly journals Towards a Sustainable Small Non-Community Drinking Water System in Ontario: Owners’ Risk Awareness and Perceptions to Water Safety

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehmet Fatih Sekercioglu ◽  
Jerry White ◽  
Dan Shrubsole ◽  
Jamie Baxter
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water System ◽  
Water Source ◽  
Water Systems ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Risk Awareness ◽  
Water Safety ◽  
Drinking Water System ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Drinking Water Systems

In Ontario, small non-community drinking water systems are defined as systems that make drinking water available to the public and are not connected to a community drinking water system. This study, using qualitative research approach, examines the risk awareness and perceptions of small non-community drinking water system owners in providing safe drinking water to their clients and protecting their water source. Our study yields the need for developing a sustainable operation model for small non-community drinking water systems. The study results provide recommendations to the regulatory agency for effective and efficient administration of the program such as offering customized and affordable training opportunities and developing effective communication strategies for owners and operators.

scholarly journals Prioritizing Training Needs of School Health Staff: The Example of Vietnam

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (15) ◽  
pp. 5563
Author(s):  
Sookyung Kim ◽  
Hyeonkyeong Lee ◽  
Hyeyeon Lee ◽  
Bui Thi Thanh Loan ◽  
Le Thi Thanh Huyen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
School Health ◽  
School Nurses ◽  
Training Needs ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Promotion Programs ◽  
School Health Policy ◽  
Training Opportunities

Competencies of school health staff (SHS) members, including school nurses, are crucial to improving child and adolescent health. In Vietnam, although SHS members are dispatched to schools, they have limited training opportunities. This study identified SHS members’ training needs in a province of Vietnam. A cross-sectional, online survey was conducted with 204 SHS members. The performance and importance of SHS members’ competencies were measured using 59-items and rated by a 5-point Likert scale. SHS members’ training priorities were analyzed using the Borich Needs Assessment and the Locus for Focus model. Controlling infectious disease was the highest training priority while implementing health promotion programs was of relatively low priority. The high-priority training needs identified could be rendered mandatory in policy for continuing education of SHS members. Awareness of the importance of health promotion, which has been emphasized globally, should also be promoted via school health policy. These findings could guide development of future training programs for SHS members.

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