scholarly journals From Water Source to Tap of Ceramic Filters—Factors That Influence Water Quality Between Collection and Consumption in Rural Households in Nepal

Author(s):  
Regula Meierhofer ◽  
Carola Bänziger ◽  
Sandro Deppeler ◽  
Bal Kunwar ◽  
Madan Bhatta

The study assessed changes in water quality between the water source and the tap of locally produced low cost ceramic water filters used by a community living in hygienically critical conditions in a remote mountainous area in Western Nepal. Data was collected from 42 rural households during two visits. The effectiveness of filter handling on its performance was assessed through microbiological analysis, structured household interviews and structured observations. Water quality decreased significantly when source water was filled into transport containers, while the use of the filters improved drinking water quality for about 40% of the households. Highly inadequate filter cleaning practices involving the use of contaminated raw water, hands (geo mean = 110 E. coli CFU/100 mL) and cleaning tools (geo mean = 80 E. coli CFU/100 mL) stained hygienic parts of the filter. The use of boiling water to disinfect the filters was significantly correlated with improved filter performance and should be further promoted. However, even disinfected filters achieved a very low average LRV for E. coli of 0.4 in the field and performed worse than during laboratory tests (LRV for E. coli of 1.5–2). Comprehensive training on adequate filter handling, as well as better filter products, are required to improve the impact of filter use.

Author(s):  
Wayan Budiarsa Suyasa ◽  
Sri Kunti Pancadewi G. A ◽  
Iryanti E. Suprihatin ◽  
Dwi Adi Suastuti G. A.

In order to maintain the environmental carrying capacity of coastal tourism, this research was conducted to determine the condition of river water environmental pollution in the Petitenget beach area and pollutant source activities. Determination of water quality is carried out by analyzing the water quality taken at several sampling points in the four rivers that lead to the Petitenget beach. Determined the pollution index value (IP) of the physical chemical and biological pollution parameters. The results showed that the four rivers that flow into the Petitenget Beach area had been contaminated with indications of pH, BOD, COD, ammonia, Coliform and E. coli which exceeded water quality category III class quality (PerGub Bali No 16 Year 2016). The four rivers are included in the criteria of severe contamination. The four rivers have experienced physical damage or structural changes that have very high discharge fluctuations both in quantity and quality. Slimy basic structure, smelly and slum aesthetic waters. While the indication of the impact of pollution is waste water which is directly discharged into the river from hotels, restaurants, homestays, commercial centers and settlements.


2010 ◽  
Vol 70 (4 suppl) ◽  
pp. 1223-1230 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Rechenmacher ◽  
AM. Siebel ◽  
A. Goldoni ◽  
CR. Klauck ◽  
T. Sartori ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of combining water quality analysis with different biomarkers to characterise the relationship between anthropogenic contamination and biotic response in the Sinos River, southern Brazil. Wistar rats were studied using three biomarkers combined with physical, chemical and microbiological analysis to assess the effects of pollution at four sampling sites. The induction of oxidative stress was quantified by MDA levels in peripheral blood, lymphocyte DNA damage was determined using the comet assay, and histopathological changes were analysed in the liver. After sampling, animals were allowed to drink the river water during a 48 hours period. No increase in oxidative stress and DNA damage was observed. However, liver damage was observed in the animals exposed to water samples, indicating that the Sinos River is contaminated with hepatotoxic substances. Water analyses confirmed that water quality decreased downriver.


Author(s):  
Dhisney Gonçalves de Oliveira ◽  
Reinaldo Romero Vargas ◽  
Antonio Roberto Saad ◽  
Regina De Oliveira Moraes Arruda ◽  
Fabrício Bau Dalmas ◽  
...  

The urbanization process through which large urban centers have been passing has drastically affected the availability and especially the quality of water. The Cachoeirinha Invernada Watershed (CIW), located in the municipality of Guarulhos (State of São Paulo, Brazil), includes areas with different land use classes. This paper aims to correlate the spatial and temporal effects of land use and land cover on the water quality of the Cachoeirinha Invernada Watershed. In a period of 12 months and at six sampling points along the watershed, the physicochemical parameters temperature (T), pH, turbidity (TU), total solids (TS), electrical conductivity (EC), total phosphorus (TP), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), as well as microbiological analysis (E. coli) were measured. Water quality was assessed using a modified version (WQIM) of the Water Quality Index (WQI) and the Trophic State Index (TSI). The areas surrounded by urban development presented a marked worsening in water quality, with the downstream point most affected and ranked as ‘POOR’. From the evaluated parameters, what contributed most to water quality degradation of the Cachoeirinha Invernada Watershed (CIW) was E. coli, followed by BOD, and TP, all parameters related to the presence of sewage in the water. The need for the construction of sewerage and waste treatment, protection and recovery of riparian forests, and environmental education regarding waste disposal are necessary to significantly improve the environmental quality of the Cachoeirinha Invernada Watershed.


2013 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 407
Author(s):  
Chris Hewitson ◽  
Eva Dec ◽  
Tony Lines

This peer-reviewed paper examines the risks and responsibilities of water providers and the process resource companies should undertake to document how they will deliver a safe and secure water supply to their employees and contractors, and the communities in which they operate, thereby reducing the risks of water quality incidents and managing the impact to the organisation should an incident occur. Water quality incidents can have major impacts to human health and the brand perception of the resource company supplying the water, and can potentially shutdown resource abstraction. Resource companies have a duty of care to provide a secure and safe drinking water supply. This is reinforced by state health departments directing resource organisations to comply with the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG), which were updated in 2011 (National Health and Medical Research Council, 2011). Organisations in the CSG industry experience an additional challenge—managing water by-product from gas extraction. There are drivers for the beneficial use of this water—including irrigation, aquifer recharge and municipal supply—resulting in changes to legislation in Queensland (DERM, 2010) that require a process similar to ADWG recommendations, where beneficial use or disposal may impact potable supplies. The ADWG provides clear guidance to potable water providers—whether they are supplying a few consumers or major towns requiring a Drinking Water Quality Management System (DWQM System). This guidance includes documenting a clear process to securing a clean water source, making the water safe to consume and proving it is safe. Developing a DWQM System enables resource companies to understand issues in supplying drinking water through regular review and improvement, while minimising and managing the health risks to consumers.


mBio ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shawn French ◽  
Jean-Philippe Côté ◽  
Jonathan M. Stokes ◽  
Ray Truant ◽  
Eric D. Brown

ABSTRACT Perturbation of cellular processes is a prevailing approach to understanding biology. To better understand the complicated biology that defines bacterial shape, a sensitive, high-content platform was developed to detect multiple morphological defect phenotypes using microscopy. We examined morphological phenotypes across the Escherichia coli K-12 deletion (Keio) collection at the mid-exponential growth phase, revealing 111 deletions perturbing shape. Interestingly, 64% of these were uncharacterized mutants, illustrating the complex nature of shape maintenance and regulation in bacteria. To understand the roles these genes play in defining morphology, 53 mutants with knockouts resulting in abnormal cell shape were crossed with the Keio collection in high throughput, generating 1,373 synthetic lethal interactions across 1.7 million double deletion mutants. This analysis yielded a highly populated interaction network spanning and linking multiple phenotypes, with a preponderance of interactions involved in transport, oxidation-reduction, and metabolic processes. IMPORTANCE Genetic perturbations of cellular functions are a prevailing approach to understanding cell systems, which are increasingly being practiced in very high throughput. Here, we report a high-content microscopy platform tailored to bacteria, which probes the impact of genetic mutation on cell morphology. This has particular utility in revealing elusive and subtle morphological phenotypes associated with blocks in nonessential cellular functions. We report 111 nonessential mutations impacting E. coli morphology, with nearly half of those genes being poorly annotated or uncharacterized. Further, these genes appear to be tightly linked to transport or redox processes within the cell. The screening platform is simple and low cost and is broadly applicable to any bacterial genomic library or chemical collection. Indeed, this is a powerful tool in understanding the biology behind bacterial shape. IMPORTANCE Genetic perturbations of cellular functions are a prevailing approach to understanding cell systems, which are increasingly being practiced in very high throughput. Here, we report a high-content microscopy platform tailored to bacteria, which probes the impact of genetic mutation on cell morphology. This has particular utility in revealing elusive and subtle morphological phenotypes associated with blocks in nonessential cellular functions. We report 111 nonessential mutations impacting E. coli morphology, with nearly half of those genes being poorly annotated or uncharacterized. Further, these genes appear to be tightly linked to transport or redox processes within the cell. The screening platform is simple and low cost and is broadly applicable to any bacterial genomic library or chemical collection. Indeed, this is a powerful tool in understanding the biology behind bacterial shape.


2013 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 196-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. S. Lim ◽  
L. Y. Lee ◽  
S. E. Bramono

This paper examines the impact of community-based water treatment systems on water quality in a peri-urban village in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Water samples were taken from the wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), irrigation canals, paddy fields and wells during the dry and wet seasons. The samples were tested for biological and chemical oxygen demand, nutrients (ammonia, nitrate, total nitrogen and total phosphorus) and Escherichia coli. Water quality in this village is affected by the presence of active septic tanks, WWTP effluent discharge, small-scale tempe industries and external sources. We found that the WWTPs remove oxygen-demanding wastes effectively but discharged nutrients, such as nitrate and ammonia, into irrigation canals. Irrigation canals had high levels of E. coli as well as oxygen-demanding wastes. Well samples had high E. coli, nitrate and total nitrogen levels. Rainfall tended to increase concentrations of biological and chemical oxygen demand and some nutrients. All our samples fell within the drinking water standards for nitrate but failed the international and Indonesian standards for E. coli. Water quality in this village can be improved by improving the WWTP treatment of nutrients, encouraging more villagers to be connected to WWTPs and controlling hotspot contamination areas in the village.


2011 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 577-585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samir V. Sodha ◽  
M. Menon ◽  
K. Trivedi ◽  
A. Ati ◽  
M. E. Figueroa ◽  
...  

In Indonesia, where diarrhea remains a major cause of mortality among children <5 years, the government promotes boiling of drinking water. We assessed the impact of boiling on water quality in South Sulawesi. We surveyed randomly selected households with at least one child <5 years old in two rural districts and tested source and stored water samples for Escherichia coli contamination. Among 242 households, 96% of source and 51% of stored water samples yielded E. coli. Unboiled water samples, obtained from 15% of households, were more likely to yield E. coli than boiled samples [prevalence ratios (PR) = 2.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.7–2.5]. Water stored in wide-mouthed (PR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.1–1.8) or uncovered (PR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.3–2.4) containers, or observed to be touched by the respondent's hands (PR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.3–2.1) was more likely to yield E. coli. A multivariable model showed that households that did not boil water were more likely to have contaminated stored water than households that did boil water (PR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.5–2.3). Although this study demonstrated the effectiveness of boiling in reducing contamination, overall impact on water quality was suboptimal. Future studies are needed to identify factors behind the success of boiling water in Indonesia to inform efforts to scale up other effective water treatment practices.


2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 460-470 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgia L. Kayser ◽  
William Moomaw ◽  
Jose Miguel Orellana Portillo ◽  
Jeffrey K. Griffiths

Small piped water supply systems are often unable to provide reliable, microbiologically safe, and sustainable service over time, and this has direct impacts on public health. Circuit Rider (CR) post-construction support (PCS) addresses this through the provision of technical, financial, and operational assistance to these systems. CRPCS operates in low and high-income countries; yet, no rigorous studies of CRPCS exist. We measured the impact of CRPCS on ‘water quality’ and ‘sustainability’ indicators (technical and administrative capacity, and water supply protection) in El Salvador. In this field-based study, a case-control design was utilized in 60 randomly selected case (28 CR) and comparable control (32 noCR) communities. Microbiological water quality tests and pre-tested structured key-informant interviews were conducted. The operational costs of CRPCS were also assessed. Data were compared using parametric and non-parametric statistical methods. We found communities with CRPCS had significantly lower microbiological water contamination, better disinfection rates, higher water fee payment rates, greater transparency (measured by auditable banking records), greater rates of household metering, and higher spending for repairs and water treatment than comparable control communities. CRPCS is also a low-cost (<$1 per household/year in El Salvador) drinking water intervention.


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