Abstract
Vegas-Las Palmas is a rural settlement located in the southern Caribbean region of Costa Rica on the border with Panama. Its population does not have access to potable water, and inhabitants depend on water from wells at the water table level to meet their needs. These wells lack basic infrastructure to protect this water from contamination. In this study, water quality was evaluated at 12 wells from 2014 to 2016 (n = 72). The results revealed high concentrations of faecal coliforms and Escherichia coli with maximum values of 4.6 × 104 MPN/100 mL and 1.1 × 104 MPN/100 mL, respectively. In addition, maximum values of pH, conductivity, turbidity, Ca, Mg, K, Fe, Mn, Cd and Pb were found to be outside the standard limits (nationally and internationally) for potable water. Possible sources of water contamination are associated with the geomorphological characteristics of the area, as well as with hydrometeorological and anthropogenic factors such as the lack of sewerage, the presence of latrines, animals near the wells and the use of agrochemicals. The water quality was heterogeneous among wells, and all of them were found to have conditions that caused water to be unfit for human consumption.
Highlights
Access to safe and good quality drinking water is a human right (Montreal International Forum )
Water supply per person should be continuous and sufficient for personal and domestic use but must be free of microorganisms, chemical substances and radiological hazards which pose a threat to human health (UN )
Despite the advances achieved in Costa Rica in terms of the quality, quantity and accessibility of the water supply, there are still marginalized communities that do not have potable water
Summary
Access to safe and good quality drinking water is a human right (Montreal International Forum ). Everyone has the right to water in sufficient quantity to meet their needs because it is essential for human development, health, and well-being (Varol & Dravaz ). In 2015, the Millennium Development Goals target of 88% of the population having access to improved sources of drinking water was achieved (WHO ). Approximately 663 million people around the world still lack basic access to safe drinking water (Fanucchi ). Water supply per person should be continuous and sufficient for personal and domestic use but must be free of microorganisms, chemical substances and radiological hazards which pose a threat to human health (UN ).
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