Use Of Pond Water Research Articles

LIMNOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF A SHALLOW POND USED AS RECEIVER AQUACULTURE WASTES AND FOR AGRICULTURAL IRRIGATION

Water samples, zooplankton community and sediment samples were analyzed at three sites in a pond receiving wastes, bi-weekly for seven months, covering the rainy and dry seasons. Water quality parameters failed to show significant differences between the sites for turbidity, total suspended solids, dissolved oxygen, transparency, conductivity, alkalinity and total phosphorous. Only temperature was different between the seasons. In the case of sediment, only aluminum (Al) was not different during the experimental period when highest calcium (Ca) concentrations were reported. The relative abundance of Rotifera during the sampling period reached 80-96% (rainy season) and 59-98% (dry season) in total zooplankton. Current study demonstrated that the water quality of shallow pond associated with allochthonous materials from aquaculture farm significantly influenced the structure of zooplankton assemblage due to high nutrient concentrations, conductivity, alkalinity and chlorophyll-a causing more fertilized water. However, heavy rains (February-April) and continuous water flow favored aeration (dissolved oxygen >5.2 ± 1 mg L-1). The use of pond water for agricultural irrigation or for other purposes, must be analyzed more effectively, avoiding problems caused by its usage.

Water Scarcity and Challenges for Access to Safe Water: A Case of Bangladesh’s Coastal Area Vulnerable to Climate Change

Existing efforts to ensure safe water access in coastal Bangladesh are challenged by increasing freshwater salinity. This research explored/explores safe water consumption choices in coastal Bangladesh, which data are scarce to date, using a mixed-methods approach. In 2014, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in southwestern coastal Bangladesh (n=261) and data was generated on water supply and consumption. Data collection also involved 29 in-depth interviews of household care givers and focus group discussions were performed with three community groups. Descriptive statistics were applied to analyse quantitative data and thematic analysis was used for qualitative data. The survey showed that 60% of the study population used tube well water while 40% used pond water for drinking. It was observed that for cooking purposes, the use of pond water was slightly higher than the tube well water. Only 13% of the respondents mentioned that their drinking water tasted salty whereas 6% of the respondents reported health problem (diarrhoea, dysentery, gastric issues and skin problems) after using these water sources. The qualitative data reveals that water available for drinking and cooking is causing a serious threat to this coastal community, particularly during the dry season. In-depth assessments indicated that drinking water choices were less driven by concerns for health than practical issues such as travel distance and time taken and taste. The palatability of water was an important determinant of choice for drinking and other domestic uses. Furthermore, the utility of alternative options for safe drinking water is driven by beliefs and traditions and source maintenance. Given the increasing salinisation of freshwaters in many low-lying countries and likely exacerbation related to climate change-induced sea level rise, therefore, promotion of low saline drinking water along with salt reducing interventions consider that community beliefs and practices must be a made priority.

Appraising the Physico-chemical Characteristics and Heavy Metals in Pond Water at Quarry Site in Ngwogwo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Quarrying as a land use is a potential source of water pollution but lack of access to safe drinking water has impelled people to make use of pond water from quarry sites. This study investigated the physico-chemical parameters and heavy metals of water samples collected at China quarry site in Ngwogwo Ivo Local Government of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. The concentrations of Cd (0.01±0.00 to 0.02±0.00 mg/l), Pb (6.70±0.78 to 7.87±1.08 mg/l), Ni (1.03±0.04 to 1.37±0.04 mg/l), As (1.99±0.02 to 2.35±0.09 mg/l), Fe (3.66±0.44 to 4.18±0.04 mg/l) and Zn (2.47±0.06 to 3.17±1.13 mg/l) were higher than the permissible limit of drinking water by World Health Organization, WHO and Standard Organization of Nigeria, SON. Also, the values of biochemical oxygen demand, BOD (37.57±1.44 to 53.13±0.86 mg/l), chemical oxygen demand, COD (59.55±0.51 to 61.28±0.64 mg/l), dissolved oxygen, DO (5.14±1.51 to 5.75±1.09 mg/l), Mn (3.64±0.91 to 5.10±1.27 %) and Ca (91.88±0.18 to 102.83±0.59 %) were higher than the permissible limit recommended by WHO. Consequently, it is recommended that quarry workers and inhabitants of Ngwogwo should be discouraged from making use of the pond water since it is not fit and will expose them to serious health challenges. In addition, Ebonyi State Government should demand Environmental Impact Assessment report from miners before issuing operating license to them.

Sustainability of Climate Change Adaptation Practices in South-Western Coastal Area of Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, South Western (SW) coastal area is the most vulnerable due to its geo-morphological characteristics and socio-economic conditions. Consequently, this study aims at find out the sustainable adaptation practices to climate change impacts through a series of field study along with questionnaire survey and reviewing the secondary literature. The study shows that near about 50 adaptation practices are exercised in SW coastal area of Bangladesh. Among these, growing local rice variety, rainwater harvesting, directly use of pond water through proper pond management, raising plinth, lowering use roof etc. are the more sustainable adaptation practices. On the other hand, homestead gardening, dyke nursery, cropping on raised mound, school cum cyclone shelter, purification of pond water trough traditional knowledge are the moderately popular and sustainable adaptation practices in terms of social, economic and environmental aspects. Furthermore, shrimp cultivation at homestead, fish-vegetables combined cultivation, purification of pond water through govt. supported filter, pond filter, bamboo made piling house etc. are the less sustainable one.

Investigation of surface water quality in magnitogorsk industrial area for the environmental estimation of technogenic watercourse state

It was established that the average chemical indicators of water (ml/l) were as follows: 760 for mineralization, 73 for chlorides, 54 for sulfates, and water pH was not more than 8. Taking into account the indicators of the groundwater quality in this area, it can be said that the general pollution resistance of natural waters is low. The main indicators characterizing quality and use of water from this source were considered. Coming of industrial effluents from ore mining and processing facilities and metallurgical production of the integrated metallurgical plant has led to a significant change in the physicochemical parameters of the aquatic environment, which limits this water use. In general, the irrigation indices calculated in this work comply with the norms. However within the city limits (pond-cooler), water is characterized by an elevated pH (>8), which is already a limitation for the use of pond water for irrigation. It should be noted that water containing CO 2 >1.5 mg-equ./l and pH>8.4 has limitations for irrigation of crops. The obtained data are important for the use of water for the needs of population and the city-forming Magnitogorsk Metallurgical Works PJSC.

Challenges of access to water and sanitation for sustaining health: A case study from South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India

The present study attempts to determine the access to clean water and sanitation essential for sustaining health. It attempts to identify socio-economic factors which influence access to clean water within the community. The absence of water-on- premises in a water abundant area of West Bengal, India showcases some of the challenges in progressing on Sustainable Development Goal-3.Eight villages were included in the study and a total of 597 households were enrolled for the study from 8000 households in the villages. The study includes descriptive analysis of water access and sanitation parameters, and regression analysis of socio-economic determinants of exposure. The results reveal that nearly half of the respondents belonged to Above Poverty Line (APL) while 42.71% were under Below Poverty Line (BPL). Although majority of the household had access to an improved source of water for drinking, 77.89 % of the households were using pond water for bathing, washing clothes, utensils and toilet and nearly 37% of households did not have any toilet facility. Regression analysis of use of pond water indicates that people living in mud huts (kutcha houses) and from religious minority groups were more likely to use ponds for washing utensils, clothes, bathing and defecated in open fields and use unimproved sources for drinking water. The study asserts the need to develop community level preventive measures such as access to clean water for personal and domestic use and sanitation facilities to protect health.

Heavy metal contamination of soil and water in the vicinity of an abandoned e-waste recycling site: Implications for dissemination of heavy metals

Illegal e-waste recycling activity has caused heavy metal pollution in many developing countries, including China. In recent years, the Chinese government has strengthened enforcement to impede such activity; however, the heavy metals remaining in the abandoned e-waste recycling site can still pose ecological risk. The present study aimed to investigate the concentrations of heavy metals in soil and water in the vicinity of an abandoned e-waste recycling site in Longtang, South China. Results showed that the surface soil of the former burning and acid-leaching sites was still heavily contaminated with Cd (>0.39mgkg−1) and Cu (>1981mgkg−1), which exceeded their respective guideline levels. The concentration of heavy metals generally decreased with depth in both burning site and paddy field, which is related to the elevated pH and reduced TOM along the depth gradient. The pond water was seriously acidified and contaminated with heavy metals, while the well water was slightly contaminated since heavy metals were mostly retained in the surface soil. The use of pond water for irrigation resulted in considerable heavy metal contamination in the paddy soil. Compared with previous studies, the reduced heavy metal concentrations in the surface soil imply that heavy metals were transported to the other areas, such as pond. Therefore, immediate remediation of the contaminated soil and water is necessary to prevent dissemination of heavy metals and potential ecological disaster.

Generic Escherichia coli contamination of spinach at the preharvest stage: effects of farm management and environmental factors.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of farm management and environmental factors on preharvest spinach contamination with generic Escherichia coli as an indicator of fecal contamination. A repeated cross-sectional study was conducted by visiting spinach farms up to four times per growing season over a period of 2 years (2010 to 2011). Spinach samples (n = 955) were collected from 12 spinach farms in Colorado and Texas as representative states of the Western and Southwestern United States, respectively. During each farm visit, farmers were surveyed about farm-related management and environmental factors using a questionnaire. Associations between the prevalence of generic E. coli in spinach and farm-related factors were assessed by using a multivariable logistic regression model including random effects for farm and farm visit. Overall, 6.6% of spinach samples were positive for generic E. coli. Significant risk factors for spinach contamination with generic E. coli were the proximity (within 10 miles) of a poultry farm, the use of pond water for irrigation, a >66-day period since the planting of spinach, farming on fields previously used for grazing, the production of hay before spinach planting, and the farm location in the Southwestern United States. Contamination with generic E. coli was significantly reduced with an irrigation lapse time of >5 days as well as by several factors related to field workers, including the use of portable toilets, training to use portable toilets, and the use of hand-washing stations. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an association between field workers' personal hygiene and produce contamination with generic E. coli at the preharvest level. Collectively, our findings support that practice of good personal hygiene and other good farm management practices may reduce produce contamination with generic E. coli at the preharvest level.

Cholera: Small outbreak in winter season of Eastern Nepal

Dear Editor, The global resurgence of cholera is becoming an increasingly important public-health challenge as the number of countries affected by this infection continues to increase.[1] The current cause of the global cholera pandemic, Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor (including hybrid strains), has replaced classical biotype organisms around the globe, is associated with prolonged cholera outbreaks, is able to persist in aquatic reservoirs and cause endemic disease, is increasingly resistant to antimicrobials, and is associated with high case-fatality rates.[2] The first report of cholera was officially published in the years 1958-1960 in Kathmandu by a medical doctor visiting Nepal.[3] Other reports of cholera outbreaks in Nepal have been reported in literatures.[3–5] In year 2007, more than 50,000 people of the 54 Village Development Committee (VDC) s in the Saptari district of Eastern Nepal had been in effect of the diarrhea with death toll to 25.[6] After 4 years (November, 2011) in the same district, two people from Tilathi village lost their lives due to diarrheal illness. Upon the request of Ministry of Health, Nepal, a rapid response team comprising of microbiologists and epidemiologists from B.P Koirala Institute of Health Sciences was sent to elucidate the cause of the recent small outbreak of diarrheal illness. After a focus group discussion with the locals of affected village in presence of officials of District Public Health Office, Saptari, clinical and water samples were collected systematically from three wards with active cases of diarrheal illness. Five clinical samples from symptomatic individuals without any antibiotic administration and four water samples (pond and underground) were collected, transported, and investigated microbiologically following Centers for Disease Control Guidelines.[7,8] The causative agent of diarrheal illness was found to be V. cholerae, [O1: El Tor] Ogawa serotype, in three clinical and water samples each. Phenotypically, the isolates from the water samples (pond) were identical to the samples isolated from the patients. This finding suggests that the clinical isolates probably disseminated from pond water. The absence of organism in underground water keeps it safe from pathogenic organisms. In contrast to cotrimoxazole, nalidixic acid, and furazolidone; chloramphenicol and ceftriaxone are sensitive in all the isolates as depicted in Table 1. Ofloxacin, ampicillin, tetracycline, and ciprofloxacin are in decreasing order of susceptibilities. Similarity in the antibiogram among isolates A from clinical sample and E from water sample suggests the presence of same strain in both the samples, reflecting that the same strain of organism can persist in both water and humans. Dissimilar antibiogram among isolates from clinical sample suggests that the different circulating strains were responsible in causing this small outbreak. Dissimilar antibiotic sensitivity pattern among clinical isolates and environmental isolates may have been influenced by host factor, microorganism factor, and environmental factor. Extensive characterization of these strains would definitely bring some conclusion on factors responsible for genotypic variation of isolates within the same epidemic and its probable role in bacterial virulence. Table 1 Antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Vibrio cholera isolates The villagers had recently celebrated one of their important festivals, chhath; the rituals of which are performed in ponds. Open defecation habit and use of pond water as a major source of water for drinking, cooking, and bathing had a foremost role in the cholera outbreak. The people seemed to be aware of the spread of diarrheal illnesses but were not motivated to use their toilets indeed. Numerous studies have shown that V. cholerae belong to a group of organisms whose major habitats are aquatic ecosystems, and the role of water sources in the spread of cholera has been well documented with a suggestion that environmental concentration of Vibrio species might increase in response to zooplankton or phytoplankton blooms driven by global or local aquatic conditions.[9] Three-dimensional biofilm on surfaces of V. cholerae O1 El Tor and O139 facilitates its persistence within natural aquatic habitats during interepidemic periods,[10] which might be the reason in current case too. This report of a small cholera outbreak occurred in non-summer season. From an applied perspective, clarifying the mechanisms that link seasonal environmental changes to diseases’ dynamics will aid in developing strategies for controlling diseases and improving disease forecast across a range of human and natural systems. We would like to recommend that exploration of presence of these organisms along the year and their molecular epidemiological typing would definitely benefit in tracing the method of spread of cholera in the area. This would also review the role of environmental factors responsible for cholera spread. We would like to acknowledge the support of Prof. SK Bhattacharya, Dr. Rajendra Gurung, Dr. Nimesh Poudyal, Dr. Ratna Baral, Dr. Narayan Raj Bhattarai, and Mr. Tejndra Pandit for their immense support and encouragement. We are greatful to officers of District Public Health Office, Rajbiraj, Nepal.

Impact of population and latrines on fecal contamination of ponds in rural Bangladesh

A majority of households in Bangladesh rely on pond water for hygiene. Exposure to pond water fecal contamination could therefore still contribute to diarrheal disease despite the installation of numerous tubewells for drinking. The objectives of this study are to determine the predominant sources (human or livestock) of fecal pollution in ponds and examine the association between local population, latrine density, latrine quality and concentrations of fecal bacteria and pathogens in pond water. Forty-three ponds were analyzed for E. coli using culture-based methods and E. coli, Bacteroidales and adenovirus using quantitative PCR. Population and sanitation spatial data were collected and measured against pond fecal contamination. Humans were the dominant source of fecal contamination in 79% of the ponds according to Bacteroidales measurements. Ponds directly receiving latrine effluent had the highest concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria (up to 10 6 Most Probable Number (MPN) of culturable E. coli per 100 mL). Concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria correlated with population surveyed within a distance of 30–70 m (p < 0.05) and total latrines surveyed within 50–70 m (p < 0.05). Unsanitary latrines (visible effluent or open pits) within the pond drainage basin were also significantly correlated to fecal indicator concentrations (p < 0.05). Water in the vast majority of the surveyed ponds contained unsafe levels of fecal contamination attributable primarily to unsanitary latrines, and to lesser extent, to sanitary latrines and cattle. Since the majority of fecal pollution is derived from human waste, continued use of pond water could help explain the persistence of diarrheal disease in rural South Asia.

Drinking water source and spontaneous abortion: A cross-sectional study in a rural Chinese population.

The authors examined the association between the risk of spontaneous abortion and the type of drinking water source in a rural Chinese population. Information about pregnancy outcomes and various exposures was collected by means of a detailed interview questionnaire. 2,876 pregnancies occurring in 1989-1993 among 2,201 nonsmoking and non-alcohol-drinking women were analyzed by logistic regression. Generalized estimating equations were used to adjust for correlations between multiple pregnancies in the same woman. The use of pond water as a drinking water source was associated with a higher risk of spontaneous abortion than the use of well or river water (odds ratio, 1.63; 95% confidence interval, 1.11 to 2.39), adjusting for potential confounders. More studies are needed to identify the agents responsible for the observed association. The results of this study emphasize the importance of monitoring potential drinking-water contamination in communities.