Municipal water services in Guatemala: exploring official perceptions

Water Policy ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 362-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
William F. Vásquez
Keyword(s):  
Tap Water ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Institutional Development ◽  
Water Systems ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Water Services ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Municipal Water ◽  
Quality Of Water

In Guatemala, water services are frequently interrupted, water pressure is inadequate and tap water is often unsafe to drink. Water providers face the challenge of maintaining water systems and improving water services to provide reliable and safe drinking water. Understanding the perspectives of government officers may help in finding solutions to overcome this challenge. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore officers' opinions and views on municipal water services. Interviews were complemented with content analysis of technical and official documents. Factors identified as determinants of the low quality of water services include low political will, lack of institutional development, low investment in water infrastructure, low household compliance with water systems, and low community participation in the water sector. Findings and policy implications are discussed.

scholarly journals Comparison of the microbiological quality of water coolers and that of municipal water systems.

1994 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 1174-1178 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Lévesque ◽  
P Simard ◽  
D Gauvin ◽  
S Gingras ◽  
E Dewailly ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbiological Quality ◽  
Water Systems ◽  
Municipal Water ◽  
Quality Of Water

scholarly journals Tap Water Quality: Seasonal User Surveys in Poland

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (13) ◽  
pp. 3841
Author(s):  
Józef Ober ◽  
Janusz Karwot
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
World Literature ◽  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Quality Parameters ◽  
Subjective Perception ◽  
Quality Of Water ◽  
Profit Analysis ◽  
Tap Water Quality

Security of supply of water, which meets the quality parameters specified in applicable standards, is now the basis for the functioning of most societies. In addition to climatic, biological, chemical, and physical hazards, it is worth paying attention to consumers’ subjective perception of the quality of tap water supplied in the area of Poland. The article discusses various activities related to water resources management and analyses the results of an evaluation of selected quality parameters of tap water in Poland. A novelty on a European scale here is an examination of the evaluation of these parameters based on potential seasonal differences (spring, summer, autumn, winter). For the first time in the world literature, PROFIT analysis was used to evaluate selected parameters of tap water quality. The aim of the article was to present a model for the evaluation of the parameters of tap water supplied in different seasons of the year in Poland. Due to the complexity of the research aspects, a mixed-methods research procedure was used in which a literature review was combined with a survey and statistical analysis. For the purpose of the survey, an original survey questionnaire called “Survey of customer opinions on selected parameters of tap water supplied in Poland” was developed especially for this study. The conducted research confirmed the adopted hypothesis that the results of evaluation of selected tap water parameters vary depending on the period (spring, summer, autumn, winter) in Poland. The model developed by means of PROFIT analysis makes it possible to highlight to water suppliers the specific quality parameters in particular seasons of the year (spring, summer, autumn, winter), which may improve the quality of water supplied in Poland and thus, in the long-term perspective, increase the level of satisfaction of water recipients and confidence in drinking tap water in Poland.

scholarly journals The Water Safety Plan Approach: Application to Small Drinking-Water Systems—Case Studies in Salento (South Italy)

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 4360
Author(s):  
Francesca Serio ◽  
Lucia Martella ◽  
Giovanni Imbriani ◽  
Adele Idolo ◽  
Francesco Bagordo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Distribution Systems ◽  
Water Systems ◽  
Water Safety ◽  
Quality Of Water ◽  
Safety Plan ◽  
Water Safety Plan ◽  
Drinking Water Systems

Background: The quality of water for human consumption is an objective of fundamental importance for the defense of public health. Since the management of networks involves many problems of control and efficiency of distribution, the Water Safety Plan (WSP) was introduced to address these growing problems. Methods: WSP was applied to three companies in which the water resource assumes central importance: five water kiosks, a third-range vegetable processing company, and a residence and care institution. In drafting the plan, the terms and procedures designed and tested for the management of urban distribution systems were applied to safeguard the resource over time. Results: The case studies demonstrated the reliability of the application of the model even to small drinking-water systems, even though it involved a greater effort in analyzing the incoming water, the local intended use, and the possibilities for managing the containment of the dangers to which it is exposed. This approach demonstrates concrete effectiveness in identifying and mitigating the dangers of altering the quality of water. Conclusions: Thanks to the WSP applied to small drinking-water systems, we can move from management that is focused mainly on verifying the conformity of the finished product to the creation of a global risk assessment and management system that covers the entire water supply chain.

scholarly journals Estimation of Tap Water Quality in Babylon Governorate /Iraq, (2017) in Accordance with CCME

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4.20) ◽  
pp. 477
Author(s):  
Zahraa Ali Hammood ◽  
Elaf Jassim Mahan ◽  
Halah Kadhim Tayyeh
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Quality Index ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Quality Of Water ◽  
Study Interval ◽  
Canadian Council ◽  
Tap Water Quality ◽  
Ccme Wqi ◽  
Council Of Ministers

This research included evaluation quality of water by utilizing Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index (CCME WQI) by analyzing many chemical and physical properties of tap water (inside houses) for five regions (AL Musayab, AL Kasim, AL kifil, AL Mahawil and Hilla Center) in Babylon Governorate, Iraq. The properties included (PH, temperature, Ec, Hardness, turbidity, T.D.S, Ca, So4, Mg) through three months (January, February, and March) / 2017. The evaluated amounts of CCME WQI proved that the quality of water round five regions were good through study interval and calculated amounts of properties were in Iraqi standards of drinking water (No. 417,2001) except Ca and turbidity.   

Water Quality, Household Perceptions and Averting Behavior: Evidence from Nicaragua

2015 ◽  
Vol 01 (04) ◽  
pp. 1550011 ◽  
Author(s):  
William F. Vásquez ◽  
Pallab Mozumder ◽  
Dina Franceschi
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Bottled Water ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Quality Perceptions ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
Instrumental Variable Probit ◽  
Water Treatments

We investigate household perceptions of water quality and associated averting behaviors using household survey data from León, Nicaragua. Seemingly unrelated instrumental variable probit models are estimated to take the potential endogeneity of water quality perceptions and the relationship between different averting behaviors into account. Survey results indicate that a large majority of households use tap water for drinking purposes. Less than 26% of sampled households implement in-home water treatments and about 33% of households consume bottled water. Results indicate that observed averting behaviors (i.e., consumption of bottled water and in-home water treatments), or lack thereof, are primarily driven by the perceived quality of tap water. Findings also indicate that perceptions of water quality are associated with service performance and assessment of water quality relative to peers. Policy implications are discussed.

Disinfection of bacteria in water systems by using electrolytically generated copper:silver and reduced levels of free chlorine

1990 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moyasar T. Yahya ◽  
Lee K. Landeen ◽  
Maria C. Messina ◽  
Susan M. Kutz ◽  
Richard Schulze ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Key Words ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Total Coliform ◽  
Water Systems ◽  
Free Chlorine ◽  
Drinking Water Standards ◽  
Indoor And Outdoor

As an alternative disinfectant to chlorination, electrolytically generated copper:silver (400 and 40 μg/L copper and silver, respectively) with and without free chlorine (0.3 mg/L) was evaluated over a period of 4 weeks in indoor and outdoor water systems (100 L tap water with natural body flora and urine). Numbers of total coliform, pseudomonas, and staphylococci were all less than drinking water standards in systems treated with copper:silver and free chlorine and systems treated with free chlorine alone (1.0 mg/L). No significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) in bacterial numbers were observed between systems with copper:silver and free chlorine and those with free chlorine alone. Overall, free-chlorine treatments (0.3 or 1.0 mg/L) showed significantly lower heterotrophic plate numbers than those without free chlorine. When challenged with a natural Staphylococcus sp. isolate, water with copper:silver and free chlorine had a 2.4 log10 reduction in bacterial numbers within 2 min, while free chlorine alone or copper:silver alone showed 1.5 and 0.03 log10 reductions, respectively. Addition of copper:silver to water systems may allow the concentration of free chlorine to be reduced while still providing comparable sanitary quality of the water. Key words: disinfection, water, copper, silver, chlorine.

scholarly journals Household’s Willingness to Pay for Improved Water Supply Services in Mettu Town: An Assessment

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-99
Author(s):  
S.N. Singh
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Willingness To Pay ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
Water Services ◽  
Local Authorities ◽  
Quality Of Water ◽  
Tariff Structure ◽  
Water Supply Services

The purpose of the article is to analyze and determine the willingness of citizens to pay for improving the quality of water services (the income derived from the consumption of water services does not cover the costs of providing such services). The study focuses on Ethiopia’s metropolitan areas (including households in town Mettu), as it is the problem of financial scarcity in Ethiopia that is particularly relevant and access to water services is a key component in calculating the human poverty index for most developing countries. Based on a survey of 79 Mettu town households, it is justified that residents view water not as a public good but as an economic good, as they are prepared to pay for it. The survey concluded that an average of 69% of Mettu households is willing to pay for improved water quality, with household income, water supply satisfaction, and supply price having a strong impact on households’ willingness to pay for improved water services. In particular, the older the locals are and the higher their income level, the more they are willing to pay for improved water quality and security of water supply. At the same time, rising levels of education in Mettu residents reduce their willingness to incur additional financial costs, more educated people view water services as a boon to the authorities. The results of the study proved that while providing local authorities with high-quality water supply services, more than 80% of households are ready and able to pay for services at a price that exceeds the tariff rate for water supply costs. The article stated that increasing the quality of water supply services by increasing the number of tariffs for water use will contribute to the growth of the financial revenues of local authorities, which will ensure the provision of water supply in the required quantity and on a stable basis. Keywords: improved water supply services, willingness, bidding Prices and tariff structure.

scholarly journals Sustainable Service Quality of Water and Sewerage Companies

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Abrari Salleh ◽  
Sha’ri Mohd Yusof
Keyword(s):  
Service Quality ◽  
Process Quality ◽  
Water Services ◽  
Perceived Service Quality ◽  
Services Sector ◽  
Quality Of Water ◽  
Service Quality Evaluation ◽  
Technical Issues ◽  
Product And Process

Objective: The purpose of this conceptual paper is to critically review and discuss the perceived service quality of the water and sewerage services with the addition of sustainability factor with respect to economic, environmental and social aspects among the Malaysian water and sewerage companies. Methodology: The review of various service quality models and sustainability models that has led to our findings on knowledge gap between sustainability and service quality especially in utility services sector (water and energy). Results: The authors propose a modified SERVQUAL model with six independent variables namely tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy with an additional dimension i.e. sustainability. Addition of sustainability has modified the existing SERVQUAL instrument to be called sustainable service quality or SUSSERV. Implication: The paper involves discovering the lack of research in sustainability service quality particularly in the context of Malaysian water services (including sewerage). This review should be able to answer the question why SERVQUAL is not appropriate for measuring water services quality thus requiring some improvement or modification using SUSSERV. Previous efforts and focus have been made based on water quality and water treatment or process quality (technical issues), thus this paper is an attempt to fill the gap between service, product and process quality by adding sustainability dimension in service quality evaluation.

Accreditation and quality assurance in the Egyptian higher education system

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rahel Schomaker
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Transformation Process ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Accreditation System ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Peer Reviewers

Purpose – This study aims to analyze the quality of the Egyptian accreditation system. With a view on the high competition in the domestic labor market as well as with regards to the international competitiveness of Egyptian graduates and the potential role of Egyptian universities in the international market for higher education, a high quality of study programmes and the provision of skills which meet the employers’ needs is a pressing issue for policymakers in Egypt, in particular in the light of the recent and ongoing transformation process. Design/methodology/approach – Based on a triangulation of document analysis and semi-structured interviews, the authors analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the system of accreditation as well as current measures to improve quality in higher education and provide policy implications for further action undertaken by Egyptian policymakers to improve the accreditation system. Findings – First, the authors provide a sound overview of the newly established accreditation system in Egypt and analyze the role of the National Authority of Educational Quality Assurance and Accreditation within this process. Second, the paper addresses the structural shortcomings as well as implementation problems of the current accreditation system which limit the capacity of the national accreditation agency to provide accreditation for all institutions of higher education in Egypt and to ensure the overall quality of higher education. The role of peer reviewers is of pivotal importance in this context. A specific problem which has not been analyzed so far is the role of religious institutions, the so-called Al-Azhar institutions, in the accreditation process, and the consequences this will have for further developments in accreditation. Practical implications – The paper concludes with providing policy implications at the backdrop of the ongoing political transformation process in Egypt. Originality/value – The paper provides the first comprehensive analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the Egyptian accreditation system and contributes to the understanding of the pivotal role of peer reviewers in this process. Also, for the first time, the challenges regarding accreditation of Al-Azhar institutions are targeted.

scholarly journals The effect of the mixing of water from different sources in the water supply system on tap water quality – a full-scale technical investigation case study

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 303-312
Author(s):  
A. Szuster-Janiaczyk ◽  
J. Bylka
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Distribution System ◽  
Water Distribution ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Quality Of Water ◽  
Tap Water Quality ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Different Sources

Abstract The paper presents a detailed analysis of the quality of water pumped into a network and sampled from 39 monitoring points located on the network. A difference in the quality of water sampled from two different sources was demonstrated, as well as the impact of the mixing of the two waters in the water distribution system (WDS) on tap water quality. A mathematical model was used to identify the zones of water mixing and the areas of unfavourable hydraulic conditions (low flow rates and long retention times).

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