Safe Drinking Water Sources Research Articles

Distribution of host-specific Bacteriodales marker genes in water sources of selected rural areas of Vhembe District, South Africa

Access to safe drinking water sources and appropriate sanitation facilities remains a dream in low and middle-income countries including South Africa. This study identified the origin of faecal pollution by using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) targeting host-specific Bacteroidales genetic markers to track the distribution of human-specific (BacHum) and animal-specific (cattle—BacCow, chicken—Cytb, pig—Pig-2-Bac, dog—BacCan) markers in water sources used by rural communities of the Vhembe District Municipality (VDM). Results revealed the prevalence of BacHum, BacCow, and BacCan in all surface water sources in Thulamela Local Municipality (TLM) and Collins Chabane Local Municipality (CLM) during wet (100%) and dry seasons (50–75%). Cytb was not detected in untreated spring water in TLM and CLM, and Pig-2-Bac was not detected in untreated hand-dug well water in TLM during both seasons. Household-level analysis detected Cytb (28.8% wet, 17.5% dry), BacHum (34.4% wet, 25% dry for Pig-2-Bac) in stored untreated spring water in CLM, and Cytb (42.9% wet, 28.5% dry) in untreated hand-dug well water in TLM. Despite differences in detection frequencies of host-specific Bacteroidales, the study highlights the public health concern of faecal pollution in rural VDM households.

Health risk assessment of heavy metals and physicochemical parameters in natural mineral bottled drinking water using ICP-MS in South Africa

The contamination of natural mineral bottled drinking water with trace, heavy metals and rare-earth elements is a growing concern globally, especially in regions with limited access to safe drinking water sources. In South Africa, the safety of bottled water remains a critical issue due to potential health risks associated with heavy metal exposure. This study aimed to evaluate physicochemical parameters alongside to assess the health risks due to heavy metals in natural mineral bottled drinking water available in South Africa, using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analysis. A total of 21 bottled water samples from different brands were collected and analysed for heavy metal concentrations including Pb, Cd, As, Cr, Ni, Ba and Hg, as well as physicochemical parameters such as pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen and total dissolved solids among others. The results revealed physicochemical parameters were within acceptable ranges, indicating overall water quality. Varying levels of heavy metals across different brands observed with concentrations of Al, Fe, Mg, Ca, K and Mn in some samples exceeding permissible limits set by WHO and SAWQG for drinking water quality. The mean concentration of the heavy metals is in the decreasing toxicity order of Sr > Al > Ba > Mn > Cu > Cr > Zn > Fe > As > Co > U > Ni > Cs > Pb > Cd > Hg. The mean values of the chronic daily intake (CDI) for the concentration of heavy metals for adults are in the order of Cr > Fe > Sr > Ba > Mn > Cu > Zn > Li > V > As > Ni > Be > Pb > Hg > Cd and were below acceptable limits. The estimated values of both HQ and HI (with mean of 2.07E−03 and range of 0.00 to 1.76E−02) for the heavy metals are all found to be less than 1. The total mean value of ILCR is 4.67E−06, and range of 0.00 to 2.76E−05, which is insignificant and within the permissible level of the cancer risk guidance limit of 1.00E−06 to 1.00E−04. The results show that consumption of natural mineral bottled drinking water of South Africa is safe and may not cause any significant health risk to the populace. However, the long-time potential effects due to the few exceeded metals levels needed to be considered. Our findings contribute to the ongoing discourse on water quality assurance, offering insights into the overall integrity of the natural mineral bottled water supply chain in South Africa. This research not only serves as a foundation for regulatory measures but also underscores the significance of maintaining high-quality standards in the bottled water industry for public health and environmental sustainability.

From drops to drums: Assessing rainwater storage’s quality and quantity for addressing water demands in dry periods – A case study from Arusha Tanzania

Sustainable Development Goal 6 highlight the importance of providing reliable, affordable, and safe source of clean drinking water and sanitation for all by 2030. In Tanzania there is a dire need of a water supply strategy due to high levels of natural fluoride contamination in ground water (upto 74 mg/L) and the challenge of meeting water demand during 5 months long dry period. This study assesses social and technical feasibility of implementing rainwater harvesting (RWH) along with treatment technologies that includes Denutritor® to remove ammonia/pesticides and ultrafiltration to eliminate carbon. This integrated technology known as “Mbinguni Maji” is aimed for the long-term water storage to supply drinking water throughout the dry season. The methodology involves i) Assessing the technical feasibility of RWH using database from QGIS and Water Productivity Open-access portal (WaPOR) from the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations; ii) conducting pilot demonstration in 5 different locations in Tanzania; and iii) conducting socio-economic survey for social acceptance of the technology through detailed questionnaires administered to residential homes, medical facilities, schools, hotels, and water kiosk owner. The result indicates that, from technical perspective, there is ample rainfall (average of 1036 mm/year) to supply water throughout the dry season, primarily for drinking and cooking purpose only (upto a maximum of 10 lpcd). The pilot demonstration confirms that the Mbinguni Maji RWH technology produce water that meets WHO water quality standards. The produced water is free from nutrients like carbon and ammonia, ensuring the possibility of long-term storage without bacterial and algal growth. Furthermore, Lab scale demonstration of Denutritor® show promising result of removing nitrite, ammonia even at high elevated temperature (30 °C), which can be effectively applied in Tanzania. In terms of social acceptance, RWH technology is already widely practised in Tanzania during the rainy season. However, the initial investment costs and operation & maintenance (O&M) concerns hinder the usage of RWH technology. Therefore, to ensure the long-term sustainability of RWH technologies, there is a need of development of comprehensive business plan and community awareness campaign.

WATER SECURITY THROUGH CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: A CASE STUDY OF RO WATER PLANTS BY TATA POWER DDL

Water security is one of the most pressing issues in urban India especially for the poor. The purpose of this research is to examine the CSR approach to water security focusing on Tata Power DDL’s RO Water Plants in North and North-West Delhi. In this research, I follow the ethnographic method to analyze the effects of Tata Power DDL’s CSR program on JJ colonies’ access to clean drinking water for the targeted beneficiaries. Questionnaires, interviews, and observation were used to measure the social, economic and environmental impacts of the initiative. According to the result, there were changes in health, hygiene, and satisfactions of the community because of safe drinking water source. However, the following was noted as comprising the challenges that CfPTs face: technological barriers; and difficulty in engaging with the community. The study also underlines the significance of public private partnership in water security and provides an insight into how such other CSR programs could be expanded. The study offers important information about the role of CSR in supporting sustainable development and water management in large cities.

Assessment of Safe Drinking Water Handling Practices in Households of Northern India: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Waterborne diseases are the most common form of infectious disease, spreading from contaminated water, especially in a developed country. These diseases are a major concern for the environment and public health. The living conditions in developing countries like India affect the water-handling practices, which make the population vulnerable to waterborne diseases. The inability to access safe drinking water also adds to this. Water safety for a community relies on water collection, treatment, storage, and handling in the household setting.Therefore, the burden of waterborne disease can be reduced by treating point-of-use drinking water, including improving handling and transport. Objectives The aim was to assess the safe drinking water handling practices in households. The objectives were to assess the safe drinking water-handling practices, namely, treatment, storage, lid status of the storage vessel, and water drawing technique, and to estimate the sources of safe drinking water. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Etawah district on a total of 312 eldest female family membersactively working in the kitchen. Descriptive analysis and Chi-Square test were applied to the collected data and a p-value <0.05 at 95% confidence interval (CI) was taken as statistically significant. Results Overall, 135 (85.9%) households in urban areas relied on public supply. However, in rural areas mostly 130 (83%) households depended on private supply. In water-handling practices, 276 (88.4%) used some method to purify drinking water, a total of 209 (67%) households kept the lid of the storage container covered, and 249 (79.8%) households drew water either by pouring or scooping with a long handle. Conclusion The study concluded that both private and public sources were used for drinking water. Regarding water-handling practices, most households drank purified water, kept their containers covered, and drew water either by scooping or pouring from storage containers. Those who drank purified water mostly belonged to nuclear families and had private sources of drinking water.

Water quality and geochemical facie of high-altitude lakes in Tawang, Eastern Himalaya, India.

High-altitude lakes (HALs) can be used as a supplement or alternative source of water in areas where there is a water shortage. When these lakes are efficiently managed, they can supply more water resources to fulfil the increasing demand. Water quality assessment aids in the identification of adequate and safe drinking water sources. It minimizes threats to the public's health by making sure that lake water extraction fulfills safety and health regulations. Water quality and hydrogeochemical study was conducted on six HALs of the Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh during the year 2022. The water quality index (WQI) values varied from excellent to poor (33.87 to 101.95). Lake 6 stands out with its exceptional water quality as it had the minimum average WQI value of 52.98. In contrast, Lake 5 had the lowest water quality among the studied lakes with the maximum average WQI value of 95.31. However, the water might not be safe to drink due to the elevated levels of fluoride in these lakes. It is crucial to address and minimize the high fluoride levels to ensure the safety and acceptability of the water for consumption. The Piper diagram showed that Ca2+ > Mg2+ > Na+ > K+ and HCO3- > Cl- > SO42-, respectively, were the primary cations and anions present in these lakes. The Gibbs diagram also demonstrated the effect of rock weathering and precipitation dominance on the water chemistry in the research area. These results provide insightful information about the water quality of HALs, which is essential information for concerned government departments and agencies to manage water issues more efficiently. Based on current research, the HALs in this region have a lot of potential to meet the growing demand for drinking water.

Iron, manganese, and lead contamination in groundwater of Bangladesh: a review

Abstract Groundwater is a vital source of safe drinking water in Bangladesh and most South Asian countries. The study aimed to identify the sources and assess the contamination of Fe, Mn, and Pb in groundwater. The study considered published articles, reports, and data repositories of concerned departments over the past two decades using various search engines, including Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, Google Scholar, etc. The study results showed the concentrations of Fe, Mn, and Pb in groundwater exceeded 55.93, 75.44, and 37.50%, respectively, of different standards, including the World Health Organization and United Nations Environmental Protection Agency. The concentrations of Fe, Mn, and Pb ranged from 0.003 to 16.6, 0.00063 to 3.11, and 0.0006 to 5.01 mg/L, respectively, and followed the order Fe &amp;gt; Mn &amp;gt; Pb in the groundwater of Bangladesh. Sources of Fe and Mn in groundwater are mostly geogenic in origin, while Pb contamination in groundwater is anthropogenic and derives from industry dust piles, vehicle exhaust discharge, lead pipes, faucets, fixtures, and batteries. The higher levels of heavy metals in groundwater cause health and environmental hazards. The study recommended that the higher concentrations of Fe, Mn, and Pb in groundwater make it unsuitable for drinking purposes and should be treated before consumption.

Antenatal care service satisfaction and associated factors among pregnant women at public health facilities of Wogera district, Northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

Pregnant women's satisfaction with Ante-Natal Care (ANC) is crucial for improving its quality and providing standardized healthcare services. However, studies on pregnant women's satisfaction with antenatal care and associated factors are limited in Ethiopia, particularly in the study area. Therefore, this study aimed to assess satisfaction and associated factors among pregnant women receiving antenatal care in Wogera district. A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Wogera district from March to April 2024. A total of 458 pregnant women who attended ANC at health facilities were included in the study. Interviewer -administered structured questionnaire was used to obtain the necessary information for this study and systematic random sampling was used to select the study participants. Multivariable and binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify the effect of each independent variable on the outcome (satisfaction). The overall satisfaction of antenatal care services among pregnant women was 92.1% (95% CI: 89.5, 94.5%). The majority (98.3%) of them were satisfied by the provider's greeting and 97.8% were satisfied by the cost of service but pregnant women were less satisfied by waiting time to see the health workers, cleanness of the toilet, and water supply. Satisfaction of pregnant women was associated with housewife occupational status [AOR = 3.05, 95% CI: 1.02, 9.15], civil servants occupational status [AOR = 4.02, 95% CI: 1.02, 15.85], age ≥25 [AOR = 2.78, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.74], advice on family planning [AOR = 7.29, 95% CI: 3.08, 17.05], one ANC visit [AOR = 3.61, 95% CI: 1.84, 8.74] and the respondents pregnant women who have ≥2 pregnancy [AOR = 4.55, 95% CI: 1.88, 11.03] were the predictors of level of satisfaction. Pregnant women's satisfaction with antenatal care was high, influenced by factors such as having two or more pregnancies, timing of the first ANC visit, family planning advice, age ≥25 years, and being a housewife or civil servant. Efforts should focus on reducing wait times, ensuring clean water access, and improving latrine hygiene at healthcare facilities to sustain this satisfaction. Specifically, facilities should streamline appointments, maintain safe drinking water sources, and upgrade toilets for better comfort and hygiene.

AN ASSESSMENT OF CONFLICT-INDUCED INTERNAL DISPLACEMENT TRENDS AND SITUATIONS OF IDPS IN ETHIOPIA

Internal displacement has emerged as one of the world's greatest human disasters today. IDMC 2023 statistics showedthat, there are approximately 77.1 million internally displaced persons. It causes death and property damage, foodinsecurity and starvation, family disruption, psychological and physical problems on IDPs. Hence, the objective of thisstudy was to examine the prevalence of conflict-induced internal displacement in Ethiopia from 2017 to 2023, andidentify the situations of IDPs housed in IDPs camps of North-western Ethiopia (Amhara region). The data wascollected from 415 surveyed IDPs, 14 interviewee and 8 key informants. The secondary sources i.e. published articlesand IDMC data were taken. Descriptive statistics and textual analysis were used to analyse the data.The result demonstrated that, a total of 670,999; 187,592, and 1,431,682 persons were displaced within the regions andwithin the country due to the escalation of conflict before 2018, during 2018, and in 2019 respectively. This shows thatan enormous tragedy also referred to as a human catastrophe occurred in the Ethiopian historic event in 2019, withabout 1.432 million people fleeing their homes because of inter-communal violence in the country. As a result of conflictand violence, more than 2.9 million people have been internally displaced in the country since 2020. Hence, from 2008to December 2021, the overall number of internal displaced people in Ethiopia was more than 5,142,000, whereas thetotal number of IDPs due to conflict is more than 3,589,000 as of the end of 2021. As of March 2022, an estimated5,582,000 people were internally displaced within Ethiopia as a result of armed conflict and disasters, with 2,848, 0001IDPs in the Amhara, Afar, and Tigray regions. Nearly 3.9 million people living in displacement because of conflict andviolence across Ethiopia at the end of 2022. Based on the findings, a significant number of displaced people housed inIDP camps did not have shelter, shortage of food and nonfood items, rare safe drinking water sources, high sicknessand death, limited sanitation, health and hygiene services. Additionally, IDPs did not have security protection, whichprevent them from physical and psychological harms, and did not receive any protective and resilient support fromgovernment to their survival in the dwelled camp sites. In conclusion, Ethiopia represented the highest proportion ofIDPs in the global displacement numbers. Conflict-induced displaced persons housed in the camps of Amhara regionare living in desperate conditions. Therefore, federal government of Ethiopia should work towards addressing thecauses of conflict and ethnic based violence, human rights protection, and political commitment with regionalgovernments on the issues of IDPs for durable solutions.

Hepatitis A Chronic Immunity in Iran: A Geographic Information System-Based Study

Background: Chronic immunity to hepatitis A (HA) is largely influenced by environmental factors, such as socioeconomic indicators, public health conditions, and access to safe water. In the past two decades, Iran has witnessed improvements in socioeconomic status, increased urbanization, enhanced health education, improved access to safe drinking water sources, and better public health conditions. However, these changes have not been uniform across all regions of Iran, and varying epidemiological situations are expected. Objectives: This study aimed to delineate the pattern of HA chronic immunity across different regions of Iran using geographical information system (GIS) mapping. Methods: The study included a total of 3255 individuals who tested positive for anti-hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV) immunoglobulin G (IgG). This study analyzed factors such as place of residence, marital status, age, and gender to explore possible relationships. Univariate and multivariable analyses were conducted to identify independently associated factors for HA. A locally weighted scatterplot smoothing (LOWESS) multivariate model was developed using a backward stepwise approach. Geographical variations in the prevalence of HA chronic immunity in the general population of Iran were assessed to understand spatial effects and risk factors. A Bayesian spatial model was employed to identify the spatial pattern of HA chronic immunity prevalence, using OpenBUGS version 3.2.3. Results: The prevalence of HAV immunity was higher in regions with mild semi-dry climates (aPR = 2.37, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.30 - 3.33, P&lt; 0.001), medium semi-dry climates (aPR = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.14 - 1.63, P&lt; 0.001), dry climates (aPR = 1.13, 95% CI = 0.9 - 1.4), and ultra-dry climates (aPR = 1.79, 95% CI = 1.05 - 2.98, P = 0.033), compared to semi-humid climates. Other variables did not exhibit a significant relationship with HA chronic immunity. The GIS analysis map revealed that immunity to HA was generally lower in the capital cities of Iran’s provinces. However, most central regions of Iran exhibit medium endemicity; nevertheless, higher immunity to HA was observed in border areas and coastal regions, particularly in the northern part of the country. Conclusions: Different regions of Iran display distinct patterns of HAV endemicity, influenced by the country’s climatic diversity.

Association Among Household Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Status and Typhoid Risk in Urban Slums: Prospective Cohort Study in Bangladesh.

Typhoid fever, or enteric fever, is a highly fatal infectious disease that affects over 9 million people worldwide each year, resulting in more than 110,000 deaths. Reduction in the burden of typhoid in low-income countries is crucial for public health and requires the implementation of feasible water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions, especially in densely populated urban slums. In this study, conducted in Mirpur, Bangladesh, we aimed to assess the association between household WASH status and typhoid risk in a training subpopulation of a large prospective cohort (n=98,087), and to evaluate the performance of a machine learning algorithm in creating a composite WASH variable. Further, we investigated the protection associated with living in households with improved WASH facilities and in clusters with increasing prevalence of such facilities during a 2-year follow-up period. We used a machine learning algorithm to create a dichotomous composite variable ("Better" and "Not Better") based on 3 WASH variables: private toilet facility, safe drinking water source, and presence of water filter. The algorithm was trained using data from the training subpopulation and then validated in a distinct subpopulation (n=65,286) to assess its sensitivity and specificity. Cox regression models were used to evaluate the protective effect of living in "Better" WASH households and in clusters with increasing levels of "Better" WASH prevalence. We found that residence in households with improved WASH facilities was associated with a 38% reduction in typhoid risk (adjusted hazard ratio=0.62, 95% CI 0.49-0.78; P<.001). This reduction was particularly pronounced in individuals younger than 10 years at the first census participation, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 0.49 (95% CI 0.36-0.66; P<.001). Furthermore, we observed an inverse relationship between the prevalence of "Better" WASH facilities in clusters and the incidence of typhoid, although this association was not statistically significant in the multivariable model. Specifically, the adjusted hazard of typhoid decreased by 0.996 (95% CI 0.986-1.006) for each percent increase in the prevalence of "Better" WASH in the cluster (P=.39). Our findings demonstrate that existing variations in household WASH are associated with differences in the risk of typhoid in densely populated urban slums. This suggests that attainable improvements in WASH facilities can contribute to enhanced typhoid control, especially in settings where major infrastructural improvements are challenging. These findings underscore the importance of implementing and promoting comprehensive WASH interventions in low-income countries as a means to reduce the burden of typhoid and improve public health outcomes in vulnerable populations.

Evaluation of algal species distributions and prediction of cyanophyte cell counts using statistical techniques.

Safe drinking water sources are crucial for human health. Consequently, water quality management, including continuous monitoring of water quality and algae at sources, is critical to ensure the availability of safe water for local residents. This study aimed to construct statistical prediction models considering probability distributions relevant to cyanophyte cell counts and compare their prediction performance. In this study, water quality parameters at Juam Lake and Tamjin Lake, representative water sources in the Yeongsan and Seomjin rivers, South Korea, were investigated. We used a water quality monitoring network, algae alert system, and hydraulic and hydrological data measured every 7 days from January 2017 to December 2022 from the Water Environment Information System of the National Institute of Environmental Research. Using data for 2017-2021 as a training set and data for 2022 as a test set, the performances of seven models were compared for predicting cyanophyte cell counts. Environmental factors associated with algae in water sources were observed based on the monitoring data, and a prediction model appropriate for the cyanophyte distribution was generated, which also included the risk of toxicity. The extreme gradient boosting with the random forest model had the best predictive performance for cyanophyte cell counts. The study results are expected to facilitate water quality management in various water systems, including water sources.

COVID-19 pandemic, welfare programs, and access to ‘free water’ in Ghana: how did the urban poor fare?

Abstract Frequent hand washing has been recommended by public health officials as one of the key preventive measures to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. Yet globally, 844 million people live without access to a safe drinking water source. This study explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, its associated public health response measures and government social support on water access in informal settlements in Ghana using qualitative studies. Thirty (30) participants were interviewed in Accra and Tamale. Data were transcribed and inductively analyzed using NVivo. Overall, participants indicate that COVID-19 exacerbated their water insecurity issues in many ways including (1) limiting water source visits for fear of contracting the virus; (2) through public health restrictions that affected their ability to access water outside their households; and (3) increased cost of vended water. Most participants also highlighted that they did not benefit from the ‘6 months of free water initiative’ by the government of Ghana. As countries formulate plans to rebuild their economies, the inequalities underscored by the COVID-19 pandemic should offer renewed attention to the significance of safe water access for all, particularly concerning public and population health.

Risk Factors Associated with the Incidence of Stunting in Toddlers Aged 6-24 Months

The high stunting in toddlers aged 6-24 months is due to low access to quality drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene. Therefore, the risk of toddlers suffering from infectious diseases is still high, which disrupts the intake of nutrients needed for toddler growth. North Lampung Regency is one of the districts with a priority for tackling stunting because it still has a stunting prevalence of 24.7%. This study aims to determine risk factors associated with stunting, using a case-control design, a total sample of 768 (384 cases, 384 controls) toddlers 6-24 months in 39 villages from eight sub-districts. The study found that a history of exclusive breastfeeding is associated with stunting, OR=1,90 (95%CI: 1,36-2,65. History of sick children is related to the stunting at risk with OR=2,48 (95%CI: 1,70-3,62). Family income

Role of Punica granatum-derived nanosilver in helminth protection

Pomegranate is a long-known edible fruit with medicinal properties. Helminth infections are among the most common human illnesses worldwide, due to a lack of suitable sanitary systems and safe drinking water sources. Although these illnesses are seldom deadly, they cause development limitations in children, which damage their school performance and make them susceptible to other illnesses. The present study has been conducted to investigate the anthelmintic activity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized from Pomegranate peel extract (PPE-AgNPs). Also, the cytotoxicity of PPE-AgNPs was tested in liver (Huh7), colon (HCT116) and breast (MDA-MB 231) cancer lines. Three doses were used (5, 2.5 and 1.25 mg/ml) to study the anthelmintic activity of PPE-AgNPs. Eisenia fetida was used as a model worm. Also, Mebendazole was used as a reference drug. Phytochemical analysis using FT-IR showed the presence of 13 compounds. In all tests, a dose-dependent effectiveness was shown. The most efficient dose, 5mg/ml showed the time to paralysis and death were 8.118 ± 0.26 and 9.338 ± 0.14 min, respectively. In all treated worms, histological examination revealed significant malformation of surface architecture of worms. We conclude that PPE-AgNPs has strong anthelmintic properties and low cytotoxicity, stimulating its use in the biomedical field.

Pengelolaan Sarana Air Minum (SAM) rumah tangga yang aman di Padang Gelugur Pasaman, Sumatera Barat

The global target that must be achieved regarding universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all is the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Goal 6, namely that universal access to safe drinking water fulfills the 4K, namely quantity, quality, continuity, and affordability, and all households have access to adequate sanitation. According to the SDGs, safe drinking water is drinking water that is fit for consumption and free from fecal contamination and certain chemicals. Water quality at the point of consumption is strongly influenced by drinking water management factors at the household level, such as processing, storage and storage factors for raw water or drinking water sources. This research was conducted in October 2022, the sample in this study was the community as many as 98 respondents and drinking water facilities as many as 49 samples of water. ) obtained results, which fall into the category of 0 percent safe management, 30.6 percent less safe (30) facilities, and unsafe 69.4 percent (68) drinking water facilities. This means that the drinking water facilities used by respondents In Padang Gelugur nothing is safe, or does not meet the requirements for safe drinking water sources for the community

Impact Assessment of Seaweeds Culture of the Inter-island Seaweeds Association in Cawayan-placer, Masbate

Part of the FishCORAL project is the roll out of the livelihood projects which would respond to the objective of reducing poverty incidence of fishing communities. One of these livelihood projects was inter-island seaweeds culture of Cawayan and Placer in Masbate. Descriptive research design and purposive sampling were used in the study. Structured survey-questionnaire was utilized and employed interview and focus group discussion as means of collecting information from the target respondents. Data revealed that the majority of the respondents’ dwell in a single house with five members and have a monthly income of P10,252.00 which is not enough to finance household expenditures due to a large number of dependents. They don’t have possession of the lot where their houses are situated. Many are challenged for sources of safe and affordable drinking water. Women empowerment in the area is fair, although disempowerment is high at 51%. Seaweeds project in inter-island barangays does not have significant impacts on the lives of the beneficiaries because poverty incidence is higher than the set poverty threshold. Its effectiveness and efficiency could not be fully assessed although there are glaring pieces of evidence of the major challenges along with these criteria. Putting suitable intervention on the target coastal communities with close coordination on concerned agencies and proper monitoring of the project should be considered by the implementing agency to address the findings in this study. Insurance coverage is recommended to alleviate impacts to the livelihood during inclement weather conditions. Capability development of livelihood beneficiary association along with financial literacy, basic business management, and record keeping shall be carried out.

A potable water location tagging system for victims of natural calamities

In the event of natural calamities and disasters, it is seen that potable water or drinking water becomes an extremely scarce resource. This, in some cases, can lead to very bad situations as seen in the Cholera epidemic in West Bengal (1998), attributed to preceding floods; Hepatitis A and E frequently following heavy rains and floods (Noted in Aceh, Indonesia following December 2004 Tsunami.) But, even in such cases, some uncontaminated local water bodies like cleaner rivers and lakes can be used as a source for drinking water. The project is aimed at designing a system used to identify potable water sources and help the victims of the accident to avail them. This project is designed to get the location of the potable water sources and the victims of the disaster and connect each victim to the nearest potable water source to prevent the scarcity of drinking water. Moreover, it will also prevent the spread of water-borne diseases that are spread when someone consumes water not fit for drinking. This paper is aimed at a project that can target the victims of natural calamities/disasters to their nearest source of safe drinking water to mitigate the risks of post-disaster epidemics and water-borne diseases.

Physico-Chemical Quality Of Drinking Water From Various Sources In Abia State, Nigeria

The majority of Nigerians lack access to a safe drinking water source, making sustainable and equitable access to safe drinking water a challenge. The current study was designed to evaluate the physicochemical quality of drinking water from various sources in 24 randomly selected communities throughout Abia State, Nigeria. These communities were selected from 8 Local Government Areas within the 3 senatorial zones of Abia State. Using sterile universal containers, water samples were collected from the major drinking water sources in the selected communities. On-site evaluation of the pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS) and temperature of the water samples was carried out using a HI9813-6 pH/EC/TDS/Temperature meter. The pH values of the water samples from all sampled communities ranged between 4.1 and 5.9, and the acidic pH levels of the water samples were not within the Nigerian Industrial Standard's (NIS) approved range of 6.5 - 8.5. Furthermore, the water sources in the selected communities were found to have ambient temperatures ranging from 25.8 - 31.8oC. The average electrical conductivity (0.04 µS/cm) and total dissolved solids (36.4 mg/L) of water samples from all senatorial zones studied were both within acceptable limits of 1000 µS/cm and 500 mg/L respectively. Although the other parameters (temperature, EC and TDS) evaluated in this study were within acceptable limits for drinking water physicochemical quality, this study emphasizes the importance of effective water treatment, safe distribution to households, and continuous monitoring and quality assessment of drinking water sources in Nigeria.

Abstract P3131: Aquaglyceroporin Expression In Resistance-sized Arteries

Due to its importance in maintaining homeostasis of many physiological processes in the body, including the cardiovascular system, it’s crucial that humans consume water, to replace any loss that occurs through urine, sweat, feces, and expelled air. Unfortunately, a significant proportion of the global population either does not have a safe drinking water source or consistent access to water throughout the year and with water scarcity projected to only impact more people in the future, it’s important to understand what is the effect of water deprivation on the human body. Once the body loses a greater amount of water than it’s able to intake it enters the process of dehydration, resulting in a body water deficit, known as hypohydration. Even mild dehydration can affect an individual's mental and physical well-being, with an association between chronic dehydration and adverse cardiovascular outcomes, including hypertension, stroke, and coronary heart disease (CHD). While the majority of research is focused on acute dehydration, chronic low water intake, also termed underhydration, is also associated with adverse health outcomes. However, the effect of acute and chronic reductions in water intake on the function of resistance-sized arteries, and particularly vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), that regulate systemic blood pressure, is poorly understood. Aquaporins (AQPs) are membrane proteins primarily responsible for facilitating water movement across cells in tissues and organs, , with the aquaglyceroporin (AQP3, AQP7, AQP9-10), subfamily also exhibiting permeability to glycerol, and other small solutes. Previous studies have identified AQP7 expression in endothelial cells (ECs) and the heart, where it is proposed to enable the uptake of glycerol as a cardiac energy substrate, however, its function in VSMCs is unclear. Preliminary data demonstrate that in mice the expression of glycerol-permeable aquaglyceroporins, AQP7 and AQP9, are elevated in mesenteric arteries by 48 hours of water deprivation and 28 days of reduced water intake, respectively. Mesenteric artery glycerol content is higher in mice dehydrated for 48 hours compared to 0-hr controls. Male mice administered 10% glycerol ad libitum with water have elevated mesenteric artery AQP7 expression when compared to 0-hr controls. In female mice, ovariectomy (OVX) attenuates increased AQP7 expression in 48-hr dehydrated females, with, 17β-estradiol treatment restoring dehydrated-mediated elevations in expression. These findings suggest that mice adjust to alterations in water intake differently short- and long-term, and suggest a potential mechanism for increasing VSMC glycerol-uptake as an energy source during water duress.