scholarly journals Data Visualization to Promote Understanding of the Community Health Impact of the Flint Water Crisis

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Annika Nikhar ◽  
Daniel Kruger

Between 2014 to 2015, the city of Flint suffered from critically contaminated water that caused long-term adverse health effects for many of its residents. In 2017, the “Speak to Your Health!” Community Survey assessed various aspects of adult Flint residents’ health. In addition to the health-related assessments, there were also questions about residents’ tap water quality, including during the times of Flint’s water crisis. This project used results from the survey on how water turbidity levels affected the number of days when poor mental and physical health interfered with daily activities. Diagramming software was used to create images representing this relationship in intuitive formats. These data visualizations are intended to boost data literacy among non-researchers, particularly the people and policymakers of Flint. Given that the crisis ensued after Flint’s water source was switched without proper infrastructure in place to ensure appropriate water quality, causing the population to suffer long term health, social, and economic complications, it is hoped that these results will be used to empower the population of Flint to advocate for continued investment in remediation and prevent future similar health crises.  

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel J. Kruger ◽  
Suzanne Cupal ◽  
Gergana D. Kodjebacheva ◽  
Thomas V. Fockler

Background and Purpose: In April 2014, the municipal water source for Flint, Michigan was changed from Lake Huron to the Flint River. Although residents reported concerns about the quality of tap water and resulting health problems, officials insisted that the water was safe. This study examined relationships between self-reported tap water quality during the water crisis and health conditions among Flint residents. Methods: Participants from each residential Census Tract in the City of Flint were recruited via address lists, online social media, and community-based events. The survey included mental and physical health items from the CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and an item on tap water quarter quality experiences. Analyses were weighted to be demographically representative. Results: Participants (N = 277) rated their tap water quality (taste, smell, appearance) as Poor (57%), Fair (20%), Good (13%), Very Good (6%), and Excellent (3%). Controlling for age, gender, years of education, whether respondents were African American or Hispanic/Latino/a, and population demographics, lower perceived tap water quality was associated with worse mental and physical health across all indicators. Conclusion: This study demonstrates associations of tap water quality experiences with reported poor physical and mental health among adults in Flint during the Flint Water Crisis.


Author(s):  
Maryam Salehi ◽  
Dave DeSimone ◽  
Khashayar Aghilinasrollahabadi ◽  
Tanvir Ahamed

The extensive building closures due to the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic resulted in long-term water stagnation within the plumbing of large buildings. This study examined water chemical quality deterioration in ten...


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (13) ◽  
pp. 3841
Author(s):  
Józef Ober ◽  
Janusz Karwot

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.


1999 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 293-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pascal Beaudeau ◽  
Pierre Payment ◽  
Dominique Bourderont ◽  
Francois Mansotte ◽  
Onealy Boudhabay ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 191-196
Author(s):  
HO Salah ◽  
IM Sujaul ◽  
Md Abdul Karim ◽  
MH Mohd Nasir ◽  
A Abdalmnam ◽  
...  

Assessment of the quality of tap water at Kuantan area of Pahang, Malaysia was investigated. The parameters analyzed were total coliform, Escherichia coli, pH, total hardness, sulfate, and selected heavy metal based on drinking water quality standard Malaysia and WHO. The results showed that the fungi in the tap water in Kuantan area in different concentrations were Aspergillus sp., Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, Penicillium citrinum, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Cerrena sp., Aspergillus aculeatus, A. flavus, Cryptococcus sp., Cladosporium perangustum, Purpureocillium lilacinum and Candida catenulata. The residual free chlorine varied from 0.05 to 1.97 mg/l.


1992 ◽  
Vol 75 (6) ◽  
pp. 949-953 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert W Dabeka ◽  
Henry B S Conacher ◽  
John Salminen ◽  
Gerald R Nixon ◽  
Gunther Riedel ◽  
...  

Abstract Samples of bottled water (n = 172) offered for sale in Canada were analyzed for lead, cadmium, arsenic, aluminum, and fluoride: means and ranges (μg/g) found were, respectively, 0.0026 (<0.0010- 0.074), 0.00018 (<0.0001-0.0004), 0.0030 (<0.001- 0.048), 0.027 (<0.010-0.568), and 0.543 (<0.050- 5.85). Comparison of levels among mineral waters (n = 64), spring waters (n = 77), and miscellaneous waters (n = 31) indicated appreciable differences only in the case of fluoride. For fluoride, the means and medians (μg/g) for mineral, spring, and miscellaneous waters were 1.179 and 0.455, 0.152 and 0.090, and 0.201 and <0.050, respectively. No samples were found in violation of the tolerances in the Canadian Food and Drug Regulations; however, 1 sample (in a lead-soldered can) contained lead and 15 samples contained fluoride at levels above the limits recommended by the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water (tap-water) Quality.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4.20) ◽  
pp. 477
Author(s):  
Zahraa Ali Hammood ◽  
Elaf Jassim Mahan ◽  
Halah Kadhim Tayyeh

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.   


2012 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Venessa van der Merwe ◽  
Stacey Duvenage ◽  
Lise Korsten

Rain-, ground- and municipal potable water were stored in low density polyethylene storage tanks for a period of 90 days to determine the effects of long-term storage on the deterioration in the microbial quality of the water. Total viable bacteria present in the stored water and the resultant biofilms were enumerated using heterotrophic plate counts. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Colilert-18® tests were performed to determine if the faecal indicator bacteria Escherichia coli was present in the water and in the biofilm samples collected throughout the study. The municipal potable water at the start of the study was the only water source that conformed to the South African Water Quality Guidelines for Domestic Use. After 15 days of storage, this water source had deteriorated microbiologically to levels considered unfit for human consumption. E. coli was detected in the ground- and potable water and ground- and potable biofilms periodically, whereas it was detected in the rainwater and associated biofilms at every sampling point. Imperfections in the UV resistant inner lining of the tanks were shown to be ecological niches for microbial colonisation and biofilm development. The results from the current study confirmed that long-term storage can influence water quality and increase the number of microbial cells associated with biofilms on the interior surfaces of water storage tanks.


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