scholarly journals Assessing Strontium and Vulnerability to Strontium in Private Drinking Water Systems in Virginia

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 1053
Author(s):  
Veronica Scott ◽  
Luke Juran ◽  
Erin J. Ling ◽  
Brian Benham ◽  
Asa Spiller

A total of 1.7 million Virginians rely on private drinking water (PDW) systems and 1.3 million of those people do not know their water quality. Because most Virginians who use PDW do not know the quality of that water and since strontium poses a public health risk, this study investigates sources of strontium in PDW in Virginia and identifies the areas and populations most vulnerable. Physical factors such as rock type, rock age, and fertilizer use have been linked to elevated strontium concentrations in drinking water. Social factors such as poverty, poor diet, and adolescence also increase social vulnerability to health impacts of strontium. Using water quality data from the Virginia Household Water Quality Program (VAHWQP) and statistical and spatial analyses, physical vulnerability was found to be highest in the Ridge and Valley province of Virginia where agricultural land use and geologic formations with high strontium concentrations (e.g., limestone, dolomite, sandstone, shale) are the dominant aquifer rocks. In terms of social vulnerability, households with high levels of strontium are more likely than the average VAHWQP participant to live in a food desert. This study provides information to help 1.7 million residents of Virginia, as well as populations in neighboring states, understand their risk of exposure to strontium in PDW.

Author(s):  
Khalid Mahmood ◽  
Muhammad Asim

A comprehensive study for the spatial distribution of drinking water quality had been conductedfor residential area of Lahore, Pakistan. The study had made use of the geographic information system(GIS) for geographical representation and spatial analysis of groundwater quality. Physicochemicalparameters including electric conductivity, pH, TDS, Cl, Mg, Ca, alkalinity and bicarbonates from 73 ofthe water samples had been included in the analysis. Water quality data had been geo-referenced followedby its interpolation using inverse distance weighted (IDW) for each of the parameters. Very high alkalinityand bicarbonates values were observed in most parts of the area. For the comprehensive view, water qualityindex map had been prepared using weighted overlay analysis (WOA). The water quality index map wasclassified into five zones of excellent, good, poor, very poor and unfit for drinking as per WHO standardsof drinking water. 21% region had excellent quality of the underground water and 50% was found goodfor drinking. Poor quality of water was found in southeastern part, covering 27% of the study area. Only2% of the area was found under the very poor and unfit water quality conditions for drinking.


2018 ◽  
Vol 73 ◽  
pp. 04013
Author(s):  
Deddy Caesar Agusto ◽  
Eko Kusratmoko

The river is the main source of water in Indonesia, which at the moment, this quality tends to get worse and is no longer worth consuming for various needs. The cause of the pollution is the entry of pollutants both point source (industrial waste) and non-point source (residential and agricultural land). Rainfall can be a non-point source pollutant agent from a watershed to a water body. The impact of rainfall on increasing concentrations of pollutants is very significant, especially the high intensity rainfall that falls after the long dry season. In this study, water quality data is obtained from river outlets located in Damkamun taken every 30 minutes during the rainfall event so that fluctuation in water quality can be seen. Water quality indicators studied in this research are TDS, DHLNitrate, Phosphate and Ph. The author, in analyzing, using rainfall Himawari 8 which is obtained every 10 minutes. The result shows that rainfall is directly related to the water flow and the fluctuation of the discharge affects the water quality. From the calculations, the chemical quality of water is also influenced by the use of land in the watershed. Nitrate value increases when the occurrence of rain occurs in land use while phosphate experiences a high value during the event.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Edward Shenton Bain ◽  
Richard Johnston ◽  
Shane Khan ◽  
Attila Hancioglu ◽  
Tom Slaymaker

Background. The Sustainable Development Goals set an ambitious new benchmark for safely managed drinking water services (SMDW), but many countries lack data on the availability and quality of drinking water. Objectives. To quantify the availability and microbiological quality of drinking water, monitor SMDW and examine risk factors for E. coli contamination in 20 low-and middle-income countries. Methods. A new water quality module for household surveys was implemented in Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys. Teams used portable equipment to measure E. coli at the point of collection (PoC, n=48323) and at the point of use (PoU, n=51345) and asked respondents about the availability and location of drinking water services. E. coli levels were classified into risk categories and SMDW was calculated at the household- and domain-levels. Multilevel modified Poisson regression was used to explore pre-selected risk factors for contamination. Results. E. coli contamination was commonly detected at PoC (range: 16- 90%) and was even more likely at PoU (range 20-97%). Coverage of SMDW was 56 % points lower than improved drinking water and water quality was the limiting factor for SMDW in 14 out of 20 countries. Detection of E. coli at PoC was associated with use of improved water sources (RR = 0.63 [0.54-0.75]) and accessibility on premises (RR = 0.81 [0.70-0.95]) but not with availability (RR = 0.94 [0.84-1.06]). Households in the richest quintile (RR = 0.67 [0.50-0.90]) and in communities with high (>75%) improved sanitation coverage (RR = 0.95 [0.92-0.99]) were less likely to use contaminated water at PoU whereas animal ownership (RR = 1.08 [1.03-1.14]) and rural residence (RR = 1.11 [1.04-1.18]) increased risk of contamination. Discussion. Water quality data can be reliably collected in household surveys and can be used to assess inequalities in service levels, to track the SDG indicator of safely managed drinking water services, and to examine risk factors for contamination. There is an urgent need to implement scalable and sustainable interventions to reduce exposure to faecal contamination through drinking water.


2008 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 271-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Hayashi ◽  
H. Yokota ◽  
H. Furumai ◽  
M. Fujiwara

When renewing water purification facilities, it is important to select a suitable purification system that can accommodate the quality of the respective source water. The Japan Water Research Center has been collecting a large amount of water quality data from drinking-water utilities across Japan, categorising and analysing these data, and evaluating the suitability of water purification processes. Multivariate analyses such as hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis were performed to investigate the relationships between the quality of source water used for water supply and various factors that affect the purification process. Based on these results, water sources throughout Japan were clearly categorised into four groups, and suitable water purification systems were identified for the different water quality groups. The results can serve as an important reference for water utilities during future facility renewal projects.


2013 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 150-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caterina Scaramelli

This paper takes water quality as an ethnographic subject. It looks at how water quality monitors in Boston make sense of the quality of water through mundane engagement with three non-human beings who they encounter during their monitoring activities: herring, bacteria and water lily. Each of these organisms suggests a different understanding of water quality for the monitors and poses a dilemma. Water quality monitors who contribute to the production of water quality data come to know water quality as through direct interactions with these beings, mediated by both sensorial experience and laboratory data. These experiences, at the same time, confuse and redraw relationships between science, water flows, non-human vitality, including that of invasive species, and people.


2005 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Miller ◽  
B. Whitehill ◽  
D. Deere

This paper comments on the strengths and weaknesses of different methodologies for risk assessment, appropriate for utilisation by Australian Water Utilities in risk assessment for drinking water source protection areas. It is intended that a suggested methodology be recommended as a national approach to catchment risk assessment. Catchment risk management is a process for setting priorities for protecting drinking water quality in source water areas. It is structured through a series of steps for identifying water quality hazards, assessing the threat posed, and prioritizing actions to address the threat. Water management organisations around Australia are at various stages of developing programs for catchment risk management. While much conceptual work has been done on the individual components of catchment risk management, work on these components has not previously been combined to form a management tool for source water protection. A key driver for this project has been the requirements of the National Health and Medical Research Council Framework for the Management of Drinking Water Quality (DWQMF) included in the draft 2002 Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG). The Framework outlines a quality management system of steps for the Australian water industry to follow with checks and balances to ensure water quality is protected from catchment to tap. Key steps in the Framework that relate to this project are as follows: Element 2 Assessment of the Drinking Water Supply System• Water Supply System analysis• Review of Water Quality Data• Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment Element 3 Preventive Measures for Drinking Water Quality Management• Preventive Measures and Multiple Barriers• Critical Control Points This paper provides an evaluation of the following risk assessment techniques: Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP); World Health Organisation Water Safety Plans; Australian Standard AS 4360; and The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines – Drinking Water Quality Management Framework. These methods were selected for assessment in this report as they provided coverage of the different approaches being used across Australia by water utilities of varying: scale of water management organisation; types of water supply system management; and land use and activity-based risks in the catchment area of the source. Initially, different risk assessment methodologies were identified and reviewed. Then examples of applications of those methods were assessed, based on several key water utilities across Australia and overseas. Strengths and weaknesses of each approach were identified. In general there seems some general grouping of types of approaches into those that: cover the full catchment-to-tap drinking water system; cover just the catchment area of the source and do not recognise downstream barriers or processes; use water quality data or land use risks as a key driving component; and are based primarily on the hazard whilst others are based on a hazardous event. It is considered that an initial process of screening water quality data is very valuable in determining key water quality issues and guiding the risk assessment, and to the overall understanding of the catchment and water source area, allowing consistency with the intentions behind the ADWG DWQM Framework. As such, it is suggested that the recommended national risk assessment approach has two key introductory steps: initial screening of key issues via water quality data, and land use or activity scenario and event-based HACCP-style risk assessment. In addition, the importance of recognising the roles that uncertainty and bias plays in risk assessments was highlighted. As such it was deemed necessary to develop and integrate uncertainty guidelines for information used in the risk assessment process. A hybrid risk assessment methodology was developed, based on the HACCP approach, but with some key additions and modifications to make it applicable to varying catchment risks, water supply operation needs and environmental management processes.


2003 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 722-743 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. P. Jarvie ◽  
C. Neal ◽  
P. J. A. Withers ◽  
A. Robinson ◽  
N. Salter

Abstract. Water quality data, collected by the Environment Agency in England and Wales over 10 years (1991 – 2000) were used to examine the spatial distribution of nutrient pollution risk and for assessing broad-scale spatial and temporal variability in nutrient fluxes across the Wye catchment. Nutrient water quality across the upper and middle Wye catchment, and along the main River Wye, is generally very good. However, the main areas of concern lie in the small tributaries in the south and east of the catchment, which have lower dilution capacity and high agricultural and effluent inputs, and where mean Total Reactive Phosphorus (TRP) in some cases exceed 1 mg-P l-1. Indeed, mass load calculations have demonstrated that the lowland south and east portion of the catchment contributes more than 85% of the whole-catchment TRP and more than 78% of nitrate (NO3‾) loads. Ratios of NO3‾:Ca were used to fingerprint different water-types across the catchment, linked to weathering and agricultural activity. The Wye catchment has been subject to two major sets of perturbations during the study period: (i) climatic fluctuations, with a drought during 1995-6, followed by a subsequent drought-break in 1997/8, and extreme high river flows in the autumn/winter of 2000/2001, and (ii) introduction of tertiary P-treatment at major sewage treatment works in the catchment. The implications of these perturbations for the nutrient water quality of the Wye catchment are discussed. Recommendations are made for more targeted monitoring to directly assess diffuse source nutrient contributions. Keywords: nutrients, phosphate, phosphorus, nitrate, nitrogen, river, Wye, PSYCHIC, Defra


2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 251
Author(s):  
Rita Yulianti ◽  
Emi Sukiyah ◽  
Nana Sulaksana

Daerah penelitian terletak di desa Muaro Limun, Kecamatan Limun Kabupaten Sarolangun Provinsi Jambi. Sungai limun, salah satu sungai besar di daerah kabupaten sarolangun yang dimanfaatkan oleh mayarakat sekitarnya sebagai sumber penghidupan. Penelitian bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh kegiatan penambangan terhadap kualitas air sungai Batang Limun, dan perubahan sifat fisik dan  kimia yang diakibatkan   kegiatan penambangan.Metode yang digunakan adalah  metode grab sampel, serta stream sedimen untuk dianalis di laboratorium. Sejumlah sampel diambil di beberapa lokasi Penambangan Emas berdasarkan Aliran Sub-DAS dan dibandingkan dengan beberapa sampel lain yang diambil pada lokasi yang belum terkontaminasi oleh kegiatan penambangan. Analisis kualitas air mengacu pada  SMEWWke 22 tahun 2012 dan standar baku mutu air kelas II dalam PP No 82 yang dikeluarkan oleh Menteri Kesehatan No. 492/Menkes/Per/IV/2010. Diketahui sungai Batang Limun telah mengalami perubahan karakteristik fisika dan kimia. Dari grafik  kosentrasi kekeruhan, pH, TSS, TDS  Cu, Pb, Zn, Mn, Hg terlihat bahwa penambang emas tanpa izin (PETI) dengan cara amalgamasi yang menyebabkan terjadinya penurunan kualitas air sungai. Sejak tahun 2009 sampai tahun 2015  sungai Limun dan sekitarnya terus mengalami penurunan kualitas air. Penurunan kualitas yang cukup tinggi terjadi  yaitu peningkatan nilai Rata-rata konsentrasi merkuri pada sungai Batang Limun dari 0,18ppb (0,00018 mg/l)  menjadi 0,3ppb (0,0003 mg/l), peningkatan tersebut dipengaruhi oleh proses kegiatan penambangan dan nilai tersebut masih dibawah standar baku mutu air kelas II  pp nomor 82 tahun 2010.Kata kunci :   Kualitas Air, Sungai Limun,TSS, Merkuri, PETI Limun river is one of the major rivers in the area of Sarolangun, which utilized by the society as a source of livelihood. The aim of study  to analyze the effect of mining activities on  the water quality of Batang Limun River, and the changes of physical and chemical properties of water. The method used are grab  and stream samples to  sediment analyzed in the laboratory. A number of samples were taken at several locations based Flow Gold Mining Sub-watershed and compared to some other samples taken at the location that has not been contaminated by mining activities. Water quality analysis referring to SMEWW, 22nd edition 2012 and refers to Regulation No 82 that issued by Minister of Health No. 492 / Menkes / Per / IV / 2010.The results showed that the Limun river has undergone chemical changes in physical characteristics. These symptoms can be seen from the discoloration of clear water in the river before the mine becomes brownish after mining, based on graphic of muddiness concentration: pH, TSS, TDS Cu, Pb, Zn, Mn, Hg have seen that  the illegal miner which used amalgamation caused deterioration in water quality, data from 2009 to 2015 Limun river and surrounding areas continue to experience a decrease in water quality. The decreasing of water quality showed in the TSS parameter which found in the area is to high based on  the standard of water quality class II pp number 82 of 2010. An increase in the value of average concentrations of mercury in the Batang Limun river before mine 0,18ppb (0.00018 mg / l) into 0,3ppb (0.0003 mg / l) on the river after the mine. The increase was affected by the mining activities and the value is still below the air quality standard Grade II pp numbers 82 years 2010, although the value is still below with the standards quality standard, the mercury levels in water should still be a major concern because if it accumulates continuously in the water levels will increase and will be bad for health. In contrast to the concentration of mercury in sediments that have a higher value is 153 ppb (0,513ppm ) .Key Words :   Water Quality, Limun River, Mercury, Illegal gold mining


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