Sufficient Drinking Water Research Articles

Do school Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene facilities affect students' health status, attendance, and educational achievements? A qualitative study in Nepal.

Access to safe and sufficient drinking Water, Sanitation, and good Hygiene (WASH) facilities in schools play a crucial role in preventing students from numerous Neglected Tropical Diseases, improving the learning environment in schools, and creating resilient communities living in a healthy environment. This study aims to explore the impact of combining WASH facilities on students' health status, school attendance, and educational achievements. Four schools, two with improved and two without improved WASH facilities, were selected purposively from Dhanusha and Chitwan districts of Nepal. A total of 24 participants, 16 students, and eight teachers were also purposively selected based on the Theory of Data Saturation. The participants were interviewed face-to-face using study guidelines; Key Informants Interview for teachers and In-depth Interview for students. The data were audio recorded and analyzed thematically using Dedoose 9.0.17 qualitative data management and analysis software. School WASH facilities have a significant impact on students' health and well-being. Poor school-WASH facilities hindered students' school attendance, particularly for menstruating girls. School without separate toilets for girls, including menstruation hygiene facilities, lack of water and soap, sanitary pad, and secure toilet's door often have higher rates of absenteeism among girls. Poor teacher and students' relationships, students' low interest in education, household chores, and participation in social customs also contribute to students' absence from school and low educational performance. It is important to note that inadequate WASH facilities affect not only students, but also teachers in the same school. The lack of safe and sufficient drinking water, unimproved sanitation, and poor hygiene facilities were seen by students and teachers as reducing their health and well-being, school attendance, and academic performance. Thus, schools need prioritize and promote the provision of improved WASH facilities for the betterment of students' health, attendance, and educational proficiency.

Evaluation of groundwater quality for drinking water using a quality index in Abyi Adi, Tigrai, Northern Ethiopia

High quality, safe and sufficient drinking water is essential for public health and well-being. However, the war on Tigrai damaged the water sources of communities and pose people to health problems. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess the quality of water of the town of Abyi Adi, Tigrai, Northern Ethiopia using physicochemical and biological parameters and water quality indices. A total of 36 water samples were collected from four major water sources. The physicochemical and biological parameters were determined using standard analytical procedures for water analysis. The mean values of electrical conductivity and pH ranged from 273.63 to 881.27 μS/cm and 6.68 to 7.42, respectively. Moreover, the experimental results of major cations (Na+ = 3.70–14.77 mg/L and Ca2+ = 8.50–15.77 mg/L), and anions (HCO3− = 21.52–40.77 mg/L, Cl− = 13.56–40.29 mg/L, NO3− = 0.14–0.25 mg/L, NO2− = 0.24–0.76 mg/L and PO43− = 0.34–1.32 mg/L) were recorded below the World Health Organization (WHO) permissible limits set for drinking water. The water quality index (WQI) that is determined using a weighted arithmetic water quality index method (WAWQIM) was also found in the range of 5.3–37.2. Subsequently, all groundwater sources except Adibakla are classified as excellent or “A” rating. However, the total coliform of Maylomin and Chiny water sources were found to be 6.33 MPN/100 mL and 3.67 MPN/100 mL, respectively. Both are higher than the WHO permissible limit set for drinking water. Considering the susceptibility of groundwater to pollution and its impact to human health, regular monitoring and supervision should be performed to keep the water safe for drinking. Accordingly, chlorination water treatment process is recommended to provide safe drinking water.

Assessment of drinking-water quality in the Dibamba watershed (Douala-Cameroon

Background: Residents of Douala including Dibamba watershed collect water from various points to fulfill their freshwater needs. However, it is known that many microorganisms, including parasites, bacteria, viruses, and even alga, are present in water where they form a complex ecosystem. These microorganisms are held responsible for most of the contamination in drinking water and related diseases that threaten health of many individuals. Objectives: This study aims to determine the bacteriological and physicochemical quality of drinking water used by city dwellers in the Dibamba watershed. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in different communities living in the watershed. A total of 58 drinking water samples were randomly collected from a variety of water resources. The analyses were performed for temperature, Ph, and conductivity; and for bacterial parameters, namely, to trace the presence of organisms and opportunistic pathogens indicative of fecal contamination. Results: Water used for consumption purposes have an acidic pH, low dissolved oxygen content, and shows high levels of microorganisms, testifying water pollution due to domestic wastewater discharged without any prior treatment, and coming from domestic, livestock and agricultural activities carried out in the watershed. These contaminated waters contain pathogenic species (Shigella, Salmonella, E.Coli, etc.) suspected of being the cause of waterborne infectious diseases in the watershed.. Conclusion: The results of our study show that 95% of tested drinking water samples are of low microbiological quality. They neither fulfill requirements of World Health Organization standards, nor fit for human consumption. Therefore, Decision-makers and Stake holders should implement practical actions to facilitate access to safe and sufficient drinking water in the watershed.

Assessing groundwater quality: a case study in Ghana Talensi district

Abstract Because most life processes are directly or indirectly related to water, people are investigating on the various sources of drinking water supply. Surface water and groundwater are the most common sources of water for domestic and other uses. The availability of safe and sufficient drinking water in developing countries’ rural and many urban areas is critical. Groundwater has become the primary source of drinking water supply in northern Ghana, particularly in rural areas. Tongo, in northern Ghana, is entirely dependent on groundwater for its drinking water supply. The quality of groundwater from 15 boreholes and open well samples was assessed in this study. The primary goals of the research are to assess the quality of groundwater for drinking and to determine the distribution of major ions in groundwater and the factors that control them. Groundwater physicochemical parameters were within the WHO guidelines limit. However, coliform bacteria were found in some groundwater sources. Anthropogenic, natural, and ion exchange processes were also identified as controlling groundwater major ion distribution. Insanitary conditions were identified as potential sources of contamination during field observations. As a result, the regular monitoring of groundwater resources could reveal more about the area's groundwater quality status.

Planning Queen Elizabeth II’s Visit to Bondi Beach in 1954

Planning Queen Elizabeth II’s Visit to Bondi Beach in 1954

Submarine discharge of underground waters: research experience, еxploration practices, methods and technologies for possible use

In view of the need to solve problems related to the population's access to sufficient drinking water, the search for submarine discharge zones is currently the most important economic task. Infiltration waters generated within the land, being filtered through bottom sediments, are directed to the seas and oceans and are irretrievably lost for practical use. According to numerous data on the dynamics of underground water supply systems, the movement of underground flows in coastal areas under undisturbed conditions is always directed towards the sea, where discharge is carried out. Infiltration waters flowing from the land to the seabed are predominantly distributed in the shelf zone, but under favorable conditions (tectonic disturbances, paleo-river beds, etc.) their flows can reach the continental slope, so significant areas of the ocean shelf deserve to be explored for fresh and slightly salty, brackish water. In some countries, they are already used to provide water supply. The article assesses the feasibility of practical use of subaquatic waters using specific examples. It analyzes hydrogeological potential, economic factors, and presents technical concepts for water intake, transportation, and treatment. Based on these factors, we are analyzing the possibility of replacing the seawater desalination process with its extraction from submarine underground horizons on the shelf. The article provides a comparative assessment of energy consumption obtained from fossil fuels in the process of seawater desalination and its extraction from underwater horizons. The material presented in the article shows that there are no insurmountable obstacles to the use of submarine discharge waters as an additional source of drinking water.

Evaluation of the operational effectiveness and feasibility of small-scale water supply systems in the hinterlands in Ethiopia: Case of Afar Regional State

Access to clean and sufficient drinking water is difficult in much of Ethiopia’s Afar Region. It is observed that many schemes in the region are non-functional. The study was conducted to overcome the observed problem in seven selected districts of the region. The study regarded hand-dug wells and roof water collection systems, which are the two most common features in the research areas. Eight hand-dug wells and sixteen roof water harvestings are purposively included in the study. All the water points are constructed by Kelem Ethiopia which is a non-governmental organisation and the foremost local organisation for the communities. As per the research survey, the average functional status of the hand-dug well schemes is 65.75% and the roof water harvesting schemes is 22.94%. The research was based on the qualitative data collected on site. The hand-dug well sites were evaluated using 10 parameters, and the roof water harvesting schemes were analysed using 12 parameters. The main non-functional aspects of the scheme are lack of community ownership, drying up of water sources, lack of maintenance and rehabilitation, poor coordination of beneficiaries and school roofs blowing off. Most schemes still require minor to major maintenance and rehabilitation. According to the research, the solutions for water supply are identified in relation to the desired objective.

Hydrogeology of a complex karst catchment in Southern Dalmatia (Croatia) and Western Herzegovina (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

ABSTRACT Our study focuses on a sizeable transboundary karst catchment in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, extending over 2000 km2. A complex underground conduit system and extreme karst forms heterogeneity are the main characteristics of the area in question. Since determining the boundary of such a large and complex catchment is difficult, we used different kinds of data sets, of which the most relevant are the available geological data, hydrochemical data, hydrological data, and tracing tests data, to divide the regional catchment into six subcatchments. We also examined past archived reports and carried out new hydrological investigations of several major and minor springs. Our research results in a hydrogeological map that can be used as a base for establishing site-specific groundwater protection zones, for water balance calculations and the planning of new research in this area, especially the ones regulating combined cross-border efforts to prevent groundwater contamination and ensure sufficient drinking water.

Environmental Performance in EU Countries from the Perspective of Its Relation to Human and Economic Wellbeing.

The actual development challenges impose new criteria of national performance evaluation, the concept of wellbeing tending to be measured not just in terms of economic and social dimensions, but also vs. the environment. Accordingly, considering the national environmental performance among the EU countries in 2006–2019 period, we grouped them and concentrated on the clusters registering the highest and lowest levels, analyzing how the components of the human and economic dimensions influence it. Applying panel data models, our main results emphasized that, firstly, for the countries with a better environmental performance, sufficient drinking water, safe sanitation, education, gender equality, and good governance were significant; in the countries with the lowest levels of environmental wellbeing, sufficient food, sufficient to drink, education, and income distribution were insignificant, while the remaining components were relevant. Secondly, in both groups of countries, organic farming and public debt were significant; nevertheless, differences were observed for genuine savings and employment, for which the peculiarities of economic activities seemed to be materialized as different influences upon environmental wellbeing. Our study draws alarm signals regarding the development patterns applied in the EU, seeming to have results that strengthen the sustainable goals, but not sufficient for exceeding the traditional growth-oriented model.

NAP-22 and MARCKS mRNA expression levels in spontaneously hypertensive rat kidneys: the effect of drinking water with different calcium contents

Objective. The aim of study was to assess the effect of the level of calcium intake with drinking water on NAP-22 and MARCKS mRNA expression in cortical and medullar kidney layers of spontaneously hypertensive rats.Design and methods. The study involved 90-day-old SHR (n = 8) and WKY (n = 8) strain rats of both sexes. We assessed tissue samples from cortical and medullar kidney layers. NAP-22 and MARCKS mRNA expression levels were determined by RT-PCR.Results. Sufficient drinking water calcium intake was associated with similar the expression of NAP-22 and MARCKS mRNA in kidneys of spontaneously hypertensive and normotensive rats. Consumption of drinking water with insufficient calcium content it decreases in both rat strains, being more evident in spontaneously hypertensive rats, especially in the medullar layer.Conclusions. Our results show that genetically determined impairments of calcium metabolism in cells of spontaneously-hypertensive rats (SHR line) and their effect on intracellular signaling processes are more evident with the reduced intake of exogenous calcium.

NAP-22 and MARCKS mRNA expression levels in spontaneously hypertensive rat kidneys: the effect of drinking water with different calcium contents

Objective. The aim of study was to assess the effect of the level of calcium intake with drinking water on NAP-22 and MARCKS mRNA expression in cortical and medullar kidney layers of spontaneously hypertensive rats.Design and methods. The study involved 90-day-old SHR (n = 8) and WKY (n = 8) strain rats of both sexes. We assessed tissue samples from cortical and medullar kidney layers. NAP-22 and MARCKS mRNA expression levels were determined by RT-PCR.Results. Sufficient drinking water calcium intake was associated with similar the expression of NAP-22 and MARCKS mRNA in kidneys of spontaneously hypertensive and normotensive rats. Consumption of drinking water with insufficient calcium content it decreases in both rat strains, being more evident in spontaneously hypertensive rats, especially in the medullar layer.Conclusions. Our results show that genetically determined impairments of calcium metabolism in cells of spontaneously-hypertensive rats (SHR line) and their effect on intracellular signaling processes are more evident with the reduced intake of exogenous calcium.

The nexus between improved water supply and water-borne diseases in urban areas in Africa: a scoping review protocol.

Introduction: Currently, an estimated two thirds of the world population is water insufficient. As of 2015, one out of every five people in developing countries do not have access to clean sufficient drinking water. In an attempt to share the limited resource, water has been distributed at irregular intervals in cities in developing countries. Residents in these cities seek alternative water sources to supplement the inadequate water supplied. Some of these alternative sources of water are unsafe for human consumption, leading to an increased risk in water-borne diseases. Africa contributes to 53% of the diarrheal cases reported globally, with contaminated drinking water being the main source of transmission. Water-borne diseases like diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, amoebiasis, dysentery, gastroenteritis, cryptosporidium, cyclosporiasis, giardiasis, guinea worm and rotavirus are a major public health concern. The main objective of this scoping review is to map the available evidence to understand the sources of water among residents in cities in Africa and the relationship between clean water sufficiency and water-borne diseases in urban Africa. Methods and analysis: The search strategy will identify studies published in scientific journals and reports that are directly relevant to African cities that have a population of more than half a million residents as of 2014 AND studies on the ten emerging water-borne diseases, which are diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, amoebiasis, dysentery, gastroenteritis, cryptosporidium, cyclosporiasis, giardiasis, guinea worm and rotavirus. Ethics and dissemination: This scoping review did not require any formal ethical approval. The findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

The nexus between improved water supply and water-borne diseases in urban areas in Africa: a scoping review protocol

Introduction: Currently, an estimated two thirds of the world population is water insufficient. As of 2015, one out of every five people in developing countries do not have access to clean sufficient drinking water. In an attempt to share the limited resource, water has been distributed at irregular intervals in cities in developing countries. Residents in these cities seek alternative water sources to supplement the inadequate water supplied. Some of these alternative sources of water are unsafe for human consumption, leading to an increased risk in water-borne diseases. Africa contributes to 53% of the diarrheal cases reported globally, with contaminated drinking water being the main source of transmission. Water-borne diseases like diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, amoebiasis, dysentery, gastroenteritis, cryptosporidium, cyclosporiasis, giardiasis, guinea worm and rotavirus are a major public health concern. The main objective of this scoping review is to map the available evidence to understand the sources of water among residents in cities in Africa and the relationship between clean water sufficiency and water-borne diseases in urban Africa. Methods and analysis: The search strategy will identify studies published in scientific journals and reports that are directly relevant to African cities that have a population of more than half a million residents as of 2014 AND studies on the ten emerging water-borne diseases, which are diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, amoebiasis, dysentery, gastroenteritis, cryptosporidium, cyclosporiasis, giardiasis, guinea worm and rotavirus. Ethics and dissemination: This scoping review did not require any formal ethical approval. The findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Community-Based Management Strategies in Sustainability of Rural Water Supply Schemes

The sustainability of Rural Water Supply Schemes (RWSS), managed by communities, is a major concern in the developing world. A sustainable RWSS delivers safe and sufficient drinking water for a longer period to rural people. Community management was viewed as an accepted model that leads to sustainability, even though community management had difficulties and constraints in sustainability of RWSS due to social, technical, institutional and financial constraints. This paper reviews the sustainability factors of community managed RWSS. There is a need to take multi-stakeholder approach, a demand driven and community led approach, which ties these stakeholders like government, community and non-governmental sector for the effectiveness and sustainability of drinking water services. The synthesis evidenced that community management needs modifications, in terms of external factors, like, institutional support that include financial and technical support, trainings and administrative assistance to make RWSS sustainable. The community, like participation in all phases of planning, implementation, operation & maintenance, water tariff, sense of ownership, transparency, leadership and management are essential for the sustainability of RWSS. The participation by the community members in RWSS plays positive role for its sustainability. To conclude, analysis also highlighted commitment to community management should be pragmatic and rational. The scaling up of community management is an effective and efficient model to address the issues of sustainability in RWSS.

Assessing the Impacts of Relative Wealth and Geospatial Factors on Water Access in Rural Nepal: A Community Case Study

As one of the poorest nations, citizens of Nepal lack access to safe, affordable, and sufficient drinking water. While many nationwide studies have been performed at a country or regional level in Nepal to determine regions of the highest vulnerability, this study uniquely recognizes the economic heterogeneity within a single rural village and assesses the impact of household socioeconomic status on water access at the intracommunity level. Household surveys in a rural village setting provided the information for a locally-informed relative wealth index. A spatial analysis determined suitable locations for future installation of improved water sources to prioritize water access for the community’s most vulnerable households. Three sites were shown to be optimal for future water source construction. This study provides a blueprint to assess water inequalities within a single village and incorporate forward-thinking development approaches to water access.

Impacts of nipple drinker position on water intake, water wastage and drinkingduration of pigs

Water determines the life quality of pigs, however, adequate measures need to be taken in order to reduce wastage while the animals are drinking. The current study hypothesized and examined a suitable position at which to fix the nipple drinker to provide sufficient drinking water to pigs while also limiting water wastage. Additionally, this study describes both the drinking pattern and drinking duration of pigs. The height to place the drinker was calculated based on the neck movement of the pigs (neck movement angle, NMA). According to the NMA, 3 independent treatments were investigated with angles placed at clockwise 30°, 0°, and counter clockwise 30°. These positions will be correspondingly referred to as T1, T2, and T3, respectively. To understand the diurnal drinking pattern and drinking duration, along with each pig?s drinking cycle, the number of visits to the drinker was recorded with a camera. The outcome shows that T3 had less water wastage and a higher average daily gain compared to T1 and T2. Further, the number of visits to the drinker and drinking duration were affected by the treatments. The research affirmed that the nipple drinker with a counter clockwise 30° angle at a proper height is the best at reducing water wastage for finishing pigs. Correspondingly, the T3 treatment might create opportunities to drink more water in group housed pigs.

The nexus between water sufficiency and water-borne diseases in cities in Africa: a scoping review protocol

Introduction: Currently, an estimated two thirds of the world population is water insufficient. As of 2015, one out of every five people in developing countries do not have access to clean sufficient drinking water. In an attempt to share the limited resource, water has been distributed at irregular intervals in cities in developing countries. Residents in these cities seek alternative water sources to supplement the inadequate water supplied. Some of these alternative sources of water are unsafe for human consumption, leading to an increased risk in water-borne diseases. Africa contributes to 53% of the diarrheal cases reported globally, with contaminated drinking water being the main source of transmission. Water-borne diseases like diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, amoebiasis, dysentery, gastroenteritis, cryptosporidium, cyclosporiasis, giardiasis, guinea worm and rotavirus are a major public health concern. The main objective of this scoping review is to map the available evidence to understand the sources of water among residents in cities in Africa and the relationship between clean water sufficiency and water-borne diseases in urban Africa. Methods and analysis: The search strategy will identify studies published in scientific journals and reports that are directly relevant to African cities that have a population of more than half a million residents as of 2014 AND studies on the ten emerging water-borne diseases, which are diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, amoebiasis, dysentery, gastroenteritis, cryptosporidium, cyclosporiasis, giardiasis, guinea worm and rotavirus. Ethics and dissemination: This scoping review did not require any formal ethical approval. The findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Occurrence of common diseases due to habitual food habit or other habit among the students from different regions of Chattogram, Bangladesh

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> There are some common diseases found among the students of different areas in Bangladesh which are either communicable or non-communicable. Different infectious diseases occur due to lack of hygiene practice and non-infectious diseases are developed because of many irregular daily habits all over the world. Our aim was to evaluate the habit of practicing hygiene and other daily activities to observe their impacts on the health status among the students from different regions of Chattogram in Bangladesh. </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> With ethical approval, questionnaire forms of daily habits/activities were filled up by 750 students of different educational institutions. The data were analysed afterwards. </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Among the population of the study 89% (n=667) students were found to take regular bath; hand washing was regular among 32% (n=240) students, 54% (n=405) students were irregular in hand washing and the rests wash their hands rarely; on the other hand 41% (n=308) students consume street foods regularly; 38% (n=285) students wear eyeglasses due to weak sight; 23% (n=173) suffer from different skin diseases and 63% (n=473) students usually suffer from different gastro intestinal diseases.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Our results are not so frustrating, but also not so much good as majority of the students are fond of unhealthy street foods, don’t wash hands regularly and more than half of the students suffer from GI tract diseases with other health problems. It could be recommended that some daily habits including avoiding street foods, intake of sufficient drinking water and hygiene practices should be improved more.</p>

Application of the City Blueprint Approach in Landlocked Asian Countries: A Case Study of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Urbanization is a major global development. At present, more than half of the world population lives in urban areas, i.e., cities. One of the fundamental requirements of citizens is safe and sufficient drinking water. The premises for water security are adequate water management and governance. In this study, we determine priorities for Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and assess the governance capacities of different organizations to address IWRM in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of the landlocked Asian country Mongolia. We apply the City Blueprint Approach (CBA), a diagnosis tool, to assess IWRM in Ulaanbaatar city, Mongolia. The overall score, the Blue City Index (BCI), is 2.3 points for Ulaanbaatar, which categorizes the city as wasteful. Flood risk and economic pressure have a great impact on the water sector in Ulaanbaatar city. In particular, Ulaanbaatar’s waste water treatment (WWT) can be improved. Often, only primary and a small portion of secondary WWT is applied, leading to large-scale pollution. Water consumption and infrastructure leakages are high due to the lack of environmental awareness and infrastructure maintenance. Operation cost recovery is not sufficient to sustain urban water services in Ulaanbaatar. Water governance and more specifically monitoring, evaluation and statutory compliance are among the factors that need to be addressed.

Analysis of household access to drinking water, sanitation, and waste disposal services in urban areas of Nepal

In recent years, researchers have paid increasing attention to the provision of access to clean and sufficient drinking water, sanitation facilities, and proper waste management in developing countries. This paper examines household access to these services in urban areas of Nepal by studying the comprehensive data of the Nepal Living Standard Survey (NLSS) for the 1995-1996, 2003–2004, and 2010–2011 periods. Multinomial logit models are employed to identify and analyse potentially influential factors. We find that education levels, household wealth, and distance to markets are among the significant determinants of household access to safe and secure drinking water, flush toilets connected to septic tanks, and proper liquid and solid waste disposal. Households located in relatively developed regions, such as the Midwest and Far West, tend to have better access to these services compared to households located in the ecologically sensitive mountainous regions. Education and employment opportunities are also relevant to service access in urban areas of Nepal. Stakeholder involvement and effective governmental intervention are also necessary.