Abstract
ABSTRACTBackground: Black Tickle-Domino is an extremely water-insecure remote Inuit community in the Canadian subarctic that lacks piped-water. Drinking water consumption in the community is less than a third of the Canadian national average. Water insecurity in the community contributes to adverse health, economic, and social effects and requires urgent action.Objectives: To test the ability of domestic rainwater harvesting (DRWH) for the first time in the subarctic with the goal of improving water access and use in the community.Design: This project utilised quantitative weekly reporting of water collection and use, as well as focus group discussions. DRWH units were installed at seven water-insecure households chosen by the local government. Results were measured over a 6-week period in 2016.Results: Participants harvested 19.07 gallons of rainwater per week. General purpose water consumption increased by 17% and water retrieval efforts declined by 40.92%. Households saved $12.70 CDN per week. Participants reported perceived improvements to psychological health. Because no potable water was collected, drinking water consumption did not increase. The study identified additional water-insecurity impacts.Conclusion: DRWH cannot supply drinking water without proper treatment and filtration; however, it can be a partial remedy to water insecurity in the subarctic. DRWH is appropriately scaled, inexpensive, and participants identified several significant benefits.
Highlights
This pilot project tested rainwater harvesting in a waterinsecure indigenous community of 140 people in Coastal Labrador in subarctic Canada
Our results demonstrate that domestic rainwater harvesting (DRWH) can be an effective method for increasing water access in water-insecure communities in the Canadian subarctic
Urgent action is required for the many remote indigenous communities in Canada that experience persistent water insecurity; access to safe drinking water is a human right and a major human health issue with physical and emotional dimensions
Summary
This pilot project tested rainwater harvesting in a waterinsecure indigenous community of 140 people in Coastal Labrador in subarctic Canada. This paper builds on previous research on water insecurity impacts in the community and identifies domestic rainwater harvesting (DRWH) as a small-scale, inexpensive potential remedy. In 2002, the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights adopted “General Comment No 15”, which defined the right to water as “the right of everyone to sufficient, safe, acceptable and physically accessible and affordable water for personal and domestic uses” [2]. Objectives: To test the ability of domestic rainwater harvesting (DRWH) for the first time in the subarctic with the goal of improving water access and use in the community. Results: Participants harvested 19.07 gallons of rainwater per week. Conclusion: DRWH cannot supply drinking water without proper treatment and filtration; it can be a partial remedy to water insecurity in the subarctic. DRWH is appropriately scaled, inexpensive, and participants identified several significant benefits
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