scholarly journals Microbial indicators, pathogens and methods for their monitoring in water environment

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 319-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaurav Saxena ◽  
Ram Naresh Bharagava ◽  
Gaurav Kaithwas ◽  
Abhay Raj
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water Environment ◽  
Microbiological Quality ◽  
World Health ◽  
Waterborne Diseases ◽  
Safe Drinking Water ◽  
Water Safety ◽  
Indicator Microorganisms ◽  
Water Safety Plan ◽  
Health Organization

Water is critical for life, but many people do not have access to clean and safe drinking water and die because of waterborne diseases. The analysis of drinking water for the presence of indicator microorganisms is key to determining microbiological quality and public health safety. However, drinking water-related illness outbreaks are still occurring worldwide. Moreover, different indicator microorganisms are being used in different countries as a tool for the microbiological examination of drinking water. Therefore, it becomes very important to understand the potentials and limitations of indicator microorganisms before implementing the guidelines and regulations designed by various regulatory agencies. This review provides updated information on traditional and alternative indicator microorganisms with merits and demerits in view of their role in managing the waterborne health risks as well as conventional and molecular methods proposed for monitoring of indicator and pathogenic microorganisms in the water environment. Further, the World Health Organization (WHO) water safety plan is emphasized in order to develop the better approaches designed to meet the requirements of safe drinking water supply for all mankind, which is one of the major challenges of the 21st century.

Health Impact of Community Based Water Treatment Systems in Honduras

2012 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 24-29
Author(s):  
Jeffery Deal
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
United Nations ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
World Health ◽  
Waterborne Diseases ◽  
Safe Drinking Water ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Development Goal ◽  
Basic Sanitation ◽  
Health Organization

The United Nations Millennium Development Goal Number 7 states that it wants to "Halve, by 2015 the proportion of the population (global) without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation" (United Nations 2010). Most waterborne diseases result in diarrhea, which continues to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. According to World Health Organization data, if existing technologies were widely used, ten percent of the worldwide burden of disease would be removed by the water supply, sanitation, hygiene, and management of water resources. This estimate makes water related diseases arguably the most manageable set of health problems affecting humans (Prüss-Üstün et al. 2008).

Identification, assessment, and control of hazards in water supply: experiences from Water Safety Plan implementations in Germany

2010 ◽  
Vol 61 (5) ◽  
pp. 1307-1315 ◽  
Author(s):  
H.-J. Mälzer ◽  
N. Staben ◽  
A. Hein ◽  
W. Merkel
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water Treatment ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
Drinking Water Treatment ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
World Health ◽  
Water Safety ◽  
Water Safety Plan ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
And Control

According to the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) for Water Safety Plans (WSP), a Technical Risk Management was developed, which considers standard demands in drinking water treatment in Germany. It was already implemented at several drinking water treatment plants of different size and treatment processes in Germany. Hazards affecting water quality, continuity, and the reliability of supply from catchment to treatment and distribution could be identified by a systematic approach, and suitable control measures were defined. Experiences are presented by detailed examples covering methods, practical consequences, and further outcomes. The method and the benefits for the water suppliers are discussed and an outlook on the future role of WSPs in German water supply is given.

Drinking-water management in Canadian provinces and territories: a review and comparison of management approaches for ensuring safe drinking water

Water Policy ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 565-596 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ty Bereskie ◽  
Ianis Delpla ◽  
Manuel J. Rodriguez ◽  
Rehan Sadiq
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Quality Management ◽  
Water Governance ◽  
Governance Structure ◽  
World Health ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Safe Drinking Water ◽  
Water Safety ◽  
The World

Abstract Drinking-water management systems (DWMSs) represent the primary means for preventative management of a drinking-water supply and are defined as a system of policies, procedures and administrative/behavioral controls designed to ensure safe drinking water from source to tap. With influence and inspiration ranging from safe food handling to industrial quality management, DWMSs can take, and have taken, many different forms throughout the world. This variability is especially true in Canada, a country with a decentralized governance structure, where provincial and territorial governments are mostly autonomous in regard to drinking-water governance and management. While this has resulted in comprehensive DWMSs in provinces such as Ontario, less-proactive provinces and territories have fallen behind and may be exposing consumers to under-protected and vulnerable drinking-water supplies. This paper includes a review and comparison of the existing Canadian national, provincial and territorial approaches to drinking-water management, the World Health Organization Water Safety Plan Recommendations, national DWMSs from Australia and New Zealand, and also includes widely applied, generic quality management systems. This information is then used to gauge the comprehensiveness of DWMSs in Canada and highlight potential management gaps and policy recommendations for the development of new, or improving existing, DWMSs.

scholarly journals Drinking water standards in South American countries: convergences and divergences

2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 295-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vívian Gemiliano Pinto ◽  
Léo Heller ◽  
Rafael Kopschitz Xavier Bastos
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Scientific Basis ◽  
World Health ◽  
South American ◽  
Who Guidelines ◽  
Water Safety ◽  
Drinking Water Standards ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Almost All

In this paper we present a comparative assessment of drinking-water standards from almost all South American countries, using the USA and the Canadian standards and the World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines as references. Similarities and discrepancies between standards/guidelines were identified through descriptive analyses and, in the case of chemical standards, clustering techniques. In general, one or another of the four consecutive editions of the WHO Guidelines were shown to be quite influential in setting drinking-water standards in the region, but not so much the USA and the Canadian standards. Considerable discrepancies between South American drinking-water standards were found, mainly with respect to chemical substances. Questions are raised about their scientific basis and/or the practicalities for their enforcement. In conclusion, the paper highlights that many drinking-water regulations in South America need updating, taking on the approach of health-based targets in setting these standards, as well as that of a broader risk-based preventive management in the entire supply system to assure water safety.

Experiences and lessons learned from practical implementation of a software-supported Water Safety Plan (WSP) approach

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ernest Mayr ◽  
Aditya Lukas ◽  
Wolfgang Aichlseder ◽  
Reinhard Perfler
Keyword(s):  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Water Utilities ◽  
World Health ◽  
Practical Implementation ◽  
Water Safety ◽  
Drinking Water Safety ◽  
Safety Plan ◽  
Water Safety Plan ◽  
Health Organization

The Water Safety Plan (WSP) is considered the preferred approach to ensure drinking water safety by the World Health Organization (WHO). This approach ideally requires extensive scientific and technical input from a multidisciplinary team of experts. However, in small- and medium-sized municipalities in Austria, financial and personnel resources are usually of very limited availability. Therefore, a spreadsheet based WSP tool was designed to facilitate the implementation of the WSP approach at these small supply units. The WSP tool comprises the relevant national Austrian guidelines, which include the key components of the WSP by the WHO. The tool provides an overview of the required steps, explains how to carry out each step and guides the user through the three key components: system and hazards assessment, control measures and operational monitoring, and management. The practical application of the WSP tool was tested at 12 water utilities over a period of three months. After this period, the tool was improved based on collected feedback from the water utilities.

scholarly journals A conceptual framework to evaluate the outcomes and impacts of water safety plans

2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard J. Gelting ◽  
Kristin Delea ◽  
Elizabeth Medlin
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Monitoring And Evaluation ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
World Health ◽  
Management Approach ◽  
Water Safety ◽  
Common Basis ◽  
Drinking Water Safety ◽  
Health Organization

A Water Safety Plan (WSP) is a preventive, risk management approach to ensure drinking water safety. The World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines place WSPs within a larger 'framework for safe drinking-water' that links WSPs to health, creating an implicit expectation that implementation of WSPs will safeguard health in areas with acceptable drinking water quality. However, many intervening factors can come between implementation of an individual WSP and ultimate health outcomes. Evaluating the impacts of a WSP, therefore, requires a much broader analysis than simply looking at health improvements. Until recently, little guidance for the monitoring and evaluation of WSPs existed. Drawing examples from existing WSPs in various regions, this paper outlines a conceptual framework for conducting an overall evaluation of the various outcomes and impacts of a WSP. This framework can provide a common basis for implementers to objectively monitor and evaluate the range of outcomes and impacts from WSPs, as well as a common understanding of the time frames within which those results may occur. As implementers understand the various outcomes and impacts of WSPs beyond health, a strong evidence base for the effectiveness of WSPs will develop, further enabling the scaling up of WSP implementation and provision of better quality water.

scholarly journals New Processing Technology for Water as an Ingredient

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Moore
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
Bottled Water ◽  
World Health ◽  
Processing Plant ◽  
Water Production ◽  
Safe Drinking Water ◽  
Water Safety ◽  
The World ◽  
New Processing ◽  
Health Organization

There are several things in life that we take for granted. Water is very often one of them. Each of us uses this vital liquid, the most common substance on earth, everyday. And we rarely think twice about it. Governments and international legislative bodies worldwide are redefining what is “safe to drink.” The United States has led the way by passing into law an amended Safe Drinking Water Act. The European community is considering these standards and the World Health Organization (WHO) provides the impetus for issuing a minimum common standard for the European countries. American consumers are becoming more aware of water quality and consistency. The popularity and increased demand for bottled water continues to grow as people desire better quality and consistency, and are willing to pay for the product. This paper will address the issues of water safety and consistency for a citrus processing plant using water as an ingredient, in food contact, or is contemplating off-season bottled water production. Paper published with permission.

scholarly journals Household attitudes and knowledge on drinking water enhance water hazards in peri-urban communities in Western Kenya

2012 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimongu J. Kioko ◽  
John F. Obiri
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Drinking Water Source ◽  
Waterborne Diseases ◽  
Safe Drinking Water ◽  
Water Safety ◽  
Solid Waste Disposal ◽  
Western Kenya ◽  
Attitudes And Practices ◽  
The Government ◽  
And Storage

Ensuring safe drinking water remains a big challenge in developing countries where waterborne diseases cause havoc in many communities. A major challenge is limited knowledge, misinformation and attitudes that work against ensuring that drinking water is safe. This study investigated the knowledge, attitudes and practices of peri-urban households in Kakamega Town of Western Kenya, concerning the collection, treatment and storage of drinking water. Alongside this we examined the role of solid waste disposal in water safety. Three hundred and seventy eight households from four residential regions of varying economic levels were randomly sampled in Kakamega Town. Data was collected via questionnaire interviews that incorporated attitude questions based on a Likert scale of 1−5, and administered to the households and key informants. The results showed most respondents were knowledgeable about ideal methods of water collection, treatment and storage. However, they did not practise them appropriately. Some attitudes among the respondents worked against the ideals of achieving safe drinking water. For instance, many households perceived their drinking water source as safe and did not treat it, even when obtained from open sources like rivers. Further, they preferred to store drinking water in clay pots, because the pots kept the water cold, rather than use the narrow-necked containers that limit exposure to contaminants. Also, hand washing with soap was not practised enough in their daily lives to avoid contact with waterborne hazards. We recommend that the government undertake training programmes on drinking water safety that advocate appropriate water use, hygiene and sanitation strategies.

scholarly journals Management of Microbiological Contamination of the Water Network of a Newly Built Hospital Pavilion

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 75
Author(s):  
Osvalda De Giglio ◽  
Giusy Diella ◽  
Marco Lopuzzo ◽  
Francesco Triggiano ◽  
Carla Calia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Legionella Pneumophila ◽  
Microbiological Quality ◽  
Silver Ions ◽  
Waterborne Diseases ◽  
Water Safety ◽  
Water Network ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Quality Of Water ◽  
Water Safety Plan

The good installation, as well as commissioning plan, of a water network is a crucial step in reducing the risk of waterborne diseases. The aim of this study was to monitor the microbiological quality of water from a newly built pavilion before it commenced operation. Overall, 91 water samples were tested for coliforms, Escherichia coli, enterococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Legionella at three different times: T0 (without any water treatment), T1 (after treatment with hydrogen peroxide and silver ions at initial concentration of 20 mg/L and after flushing of water for 20 min/day for seven successive days) and T2 (15 days later). Coliforms were detected in 47.3% of samples at T0, 36.3% at T1 and 4.4% at T2. E. coli was isolated in 4.4% of the samples only at T1, while enterococci appeared in 12.1% of the samples at T1 and in 2.2% at T2. P. aeruginosa was isolated in 50.5% of the samples at T0, 29.7% at T1 and 1.1% at T2. Legionella pneumophila serogroup 8 was isolated in 80.2% of the samples at T0, 36.3% at T1 and 2.2% at T2. Our results confirmed the need for a water safety plan in new hospital pavilions to prevent the risk of waterborne diseases.

scholarly journals Awareness, adoption and implementation of the water safety plan methodology: insights from five Latin American and Caribbean experiences

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 541-548 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Hubbard ◽  
Richard Gelting ◽  
Maria del Carmen Portillo ◽  
Tom Williams ◽  
Ricardo Torres
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Drinking Water Quality ◽  
World Health ◽  
Who Guidelines ◽  
Water Safety ◽  
Adoption And Implementation ◽  
Safety Plan ◽  
Water Safety Plan

Considerable effort has been made worldwide to disseminate information and provide technical assistance to encourage the adoption and implementation of the water safety plan (WSP) methodology. Described since the third edition of the World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality, a WSP provides guidance for water utilities to ensure the delivery of safe drinking water and protect health. Attention is now being given to understand the success of efforts to advance adoption of the WSP methodology in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region. More specifically, there is interest in knowing how early adopters developed strategies to implement the WSP methodology and what challenges exist for further implementation. To better understand adoption and implementation trends, key informants from five LAC countries were interviewed and case studies were developed to reveal the diversity of WSP approaches applied in the region. Results indicate that WSP implementation is more widespread than previously reported. Respondents affirmed that the WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality are routinely used as a model for country-level drinking-water regulations, which has led to uptake of the WSP methodology. Interview respondents also revealed innovative national strategic approaches for WSP implementation.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document