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Thomson P, Pearson AL, Kumpel E, Guzmán DB, Workman CL, Fuente D, Wutich A, Stoler J. Water Supply Interruptions Are Associated with More Frequent Stressful Behaviors and Emotions but Mitigated by Predictability: A Multisite Study. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:7010-7019. [PMID: 38598435 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c08443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Water supply interruptions contribute to household water insecurity. Unpredictable interruptions may particularly exacerbate water insecurity, as uncertainty limits households' ability to optimize water collection and storage or to modify other coping behaviors. This study used regression models of survey data from 2873 households across 10 sites in 9 middle-income countries to assess whether water supply interruptions and the predictability of interruptions were related to composite indicators of stressful behaviors and emotional distress. More frequent water service interruptions were associated with more frequent emotional distress (β = 0.49, SE = 0.05, P < 0.001) and stressful behaviors (β = 0.39, SE = 0.06, P < 0.001). Among households that experienced interruptions, predictability mitigated these respective relationships by approximately 25 and 50%. Where the provision of continuous water supplies is challenged by climate change, population growth, and poor management, water service providers may be able to mitigate some psychosocial consequences of intermittency through scheduled intermittency and communication about water supply interruptions. Service providers unable to supply continuous water should optimize intermittent water delivery to reduce negative impacts on users, and global monitoring regimes should account for intermittency and predictability in post-2030 water service metrics to better reflect household water insecurity experiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Thomson
- Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, U.K
- School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, U.K
| | - Amber L Pearson
- CS Mott Department of Public Health, Michigan State University, Flint, Michigan 48503, United States
| | - Emily Kumpel
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Danice B Guzmán
- Pulte Institute of Global Development, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Cassandra L Workman
- Department of Anthropology, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina 27412, United States
| | - David Fuente
- School of the Earth, Ocean and Environment, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, United States
| | - Amber Wutich
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
| | - Justin Stoler
- Department of Geography and Sustainable Development, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida 33146, United States
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami, Miami, Florida 33136, United States
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Pinchoff J, Dougherty L, Dadi C. Water and Handwashing in a Drought-Prone Region of Southern Niger: How Environment, Household Infrastructure, and Exposure to Social and Behavior Change Messages Interact. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2023; 108:536-542. [PMID: 36746660 PMCID: PMC9978540 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.22-0473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aims to inform multisectoral development programs by exploring the extent to which social and behavior change (SBC) messages, environment, and household infrastructure are associated with knowledge and practice of handwashing behaviors. A cross-sectional survey of 2,708 households in the Maradi and Zinder districts of Niger was collected in April 2021. Household data were integrated with two local environmental measures: 1) water level at the nearest waterhole point, and 2) anomalous rainfall for the previous rainy season derived from climate hazards infrared precipitation with station rainfall (CHIRPS) data. Logistic regression models were constructed to explore how environment, household infrastructure, and exposure to SBC messages were associated with two hygiene-related outcomes: 1) observed water and soap available at household handwashing stations, a behavior, and 2) knowledge of critical moments for handwashing, a behavioral determinant. We find that in households near a water point with higher water depth, households were statistically significantly more likely (odds ratio [OR] = 1.25); (confidence interval [CI] = 1.12-1.49) to have water and soap observed at the handwashing station. Women in households near a water point with increased water depth (more water) were more likely to know three or more critical handwashing moments (OR = 1.07; CI = 1.03-1.11). Exposure to messages about the importance of handwashing was significantly associated with knowledge of critical handwashing moments and having water and soap observed at a handwashing station. Multisectoral programming should consider layering efforts so that development projects that increase access to water sources are complemented with SBC approaches focused on hygiene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessie Pinchoff
- Population Council, New York, New York
- Address correspondence to Jessie Pinchoff, Population Council, One Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, New York, NY 10017. E-mail:
| | | | - Chaibou Dadi
- Conception Etudes Suivi Evaluation Appuis Formation, Niamey, Niger
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Nasim N, El-Zein A, Thomas J. A review of rural and peri-urban sanitation infrastructure in South-East Asia and the Western Pacific: Highlighting regional inequalities and limited data. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2022; 244:113992. [PMID: 35752101 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.113992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Rural and peri-urban communities in developing countries rely on sanitation systems which are often unsafely managed. One of the major barriers to assess safely managed sanitation is a lack of data about the existing sanitation infrastructure and levels of containment safety. The aim was to review rural and peri-urban on-site sanitation studies in order to understand different infrastructure types, associated management practices and any impacts on human health. The scope was limited to South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions in order to better identify regional inequalities. Among the 155 reviewed articles, 73 studies (47%) linked sanitation infrastructure to poor human health. Nearly all articles reported latrine ownership (n = 149, 96%) while sanitation infrastructure types were covered less frequently (n = 104, 67%). In particular, there was a lack of published literature describing back-end characteristics (dimension and materials) (n = 12, 8%) and/or management practices (n = 4, 3%). This stems from a limited application of research methodologies that characterise sanitation infrastructure and faecal sludge management (containment, emptying and on-site treatment). Inequality between regions was prevalent with three quarters of the studies on latrine back-end infrastructure from Bangladesh and India in South-East Asia. A strategic research approach is needed to address the current knowledge gaps regarding sanitation infrastructure and safe faecal sludge management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nabeela Nasim
- School of Civil Engineering, The University of Sydney, Australia.
| | - Abbas El-Zein
- School of Civil Engineering, The University of Sydney, Australia.
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Cord C, Javernick-Will A, Buhungiro E, Harvey A, Jordan E, Lockwood H, Linden K. Pathways to consumer demand and payment for professional rural water infrastructure maintenance across low-income contexts. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 815:152906. [PMID: 34998778 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Systems for regular, preventive maintenance of infrastructure are needed to ensure safe water access globally. Emerging and growing across rural sub-Saharan Africa, professionalized maintenance arrangements feature legal, regulated service providers who maintain infrastructure in exchange for consumer payment through contracts. However, little is understood about the conditions that enable service providers to retain consumer contracts, an important component of their sustainability that indicates consistent demand and payment. This paper uses fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis to identify combinations of operational, natural, physical, political, and social conditions enabling high contract retention across 22 implementation cases in Uganda, uncovering 2 pathways to success. In both pathways, consistent expansion by the service provider normalizes concepts such as tariff payment and local government participation increases trust and accountability between the service provider and consumers. The predominant pathway features one additional condition, coordinated sector aid, ensuring consistent implementation and mitigating harmful dependencies. The alternative pathway relies on large user communities and ease of access to those communities to counteract uncoordinated aid. Thus, operational, social, and political conditions may be sufficient to enable high contract retention irrespective of natural and physical conditions. This paper uncovers the combined efforts required of service providers, service authorities, international donors, and local aid actors to ensure the sustainable maintenance of rural water infrastructure for reliable safe water access.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caleb Cord
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, UCB 428, Boulder, CO 80309-0428, USA.
| | - Amy Javernick-Will
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, UCB 428, Boulder, CO 80309-0428, USA.
| | | | - Adam Harvey
- Whave Solutions, P.O. Box 72305, Clock Tower Post Office, Kampala, Uganda.
| | | | - Harold Lockwood
- Aguaconsult, 4 Pearl Walk, Cooks Shipyard, Wivenhoe, Colchester CO7 9GS, United Kingdom.
| | - Karl Linden
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, UCB 428, Boulder, CO 80309-0428, USA.
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Abstract
Intermittent water supply systems (IWSSs) are prevalent in most developing countries and some developed ones. Their usage is driven by necessity rather than as a principal objective, mostly due to technical and economic deficiencies. Major health risks and socio-economic inequities are associated with such systems. Their impacts are aggravated by climate changes and the COVID-19 crisis. These are likely to have profound implications on progress toward advancing sustainable development goals (SDGs). Motivated by providing a comprehensive overview of global knowledge on IWSSs, the present work proposed to track and analyze research works on IWSSs utilizing bibliometric techniques and visual mapping tools. This includes investigating the trends and growth trajectories of research works on IWSSs and analyzing the various approaches proposed to expand our understanding with respect to the management, modeling, optimization, and impacts of IWSSs. The national and international contributions and collaboration figures are further analyzed at country, institution, author, and source levels. This analysis indicates that research works conducted on IWSSs have certain expectations in terms of productivity (total global productivity; 197 documents). The United States was the best country in terms of productivity (58 documents; 29.4%), while the Water Switzerland journal was the most productive journal (19 documents; 9.6%). The impacts of IWSSs on health and well-being have attracted considerable attention. The outcomes showed deep and justified worries in relation to the transition from intermittent to continuous supply, equity, and mitigating the health risks associated with IWSSs in the foreseen future. The utilization of artificial intelligence techniques and expert systems will drive and shape future IWSS-related research activities. Therefore, investments in this regard are crucial.
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Smith DW, Islam M, Furst KE, Mustaree S, Crider YS, Akter N, Islam SA, Sultana S, Mahmud ZH, Rahman M, Mitch WA, Davis J. Chlorine taste can increase simulated exposure to both fecal contamination and disinfection byproducts in water supplies. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 207:117806. [PMID: 34768105 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 08/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Expanding drinking water chlorination could substantially reduce the burden of disease in low- and middle-income countries, but the taste of chlorinated water often impedes adoption. We developed a Monte Carlo simulation to estimate the effect of people's choice to accept or reject drinking water based on chlorine taste and their subsequent exposure to E. coli and trihalomethanes, a class of disinfection byproduct (DBP). The simulation used empirical data from Dhaka, Bangladesh, a megacity with endemic waterborne disease. We drew on published taste acceptability thresholds from Dhaka residents, measured residual chlorine and thermotolerant E. coli inactivation following the addition of six chlorine doses (0.25-3.0 mg/L as Cl2) to untreated piped water samples from 100 locations, and analyzed trihalomethane formation in 54 samples. A dose of 0.5 mg/L, 75% lower than the 2 mg/L dose typically recommended for household chlorination of low-turbidity waters, minimized overall exposure to E. coli. Doses of 1-2 mg/L maximized overall exposure to trihalomethanes. Accounting for chlorine taste aversion indicates that microbiological exposure increases and DBP exposure decreases above certain doses as a higher proportion of people reject chlorinated water in favor of untreated water. Taken together with findings from other modeling analyses, empirical studies, and field trials, our results suggest that taste acceptability should be a critical consideration in establishing chlorination dosing guidelines. Particularly when chlorination is first implemented in water supplies with low chlorine demand, lower doses than those generally recommended for household water treatment can help avoid taste-related objections while still meaningfully reducing contaminant exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel W Smith
- Civil & Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, 473 Via Ortega, Y2E2 Building, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
| | - Mahfuza Islam
- Environmental Interventions Unit, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Kirin E Furst
- Civil & Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, 473 Via Ortega, Y2E2 Building, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Shobnom Mustaree
- Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, icddr,b, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Yoshika S Crider
- Energy & Resources Group and Division of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of California Berkeley, 310 Barrows Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Nazrin Akter
- Environmental Interventions Unit, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Syed Anjerul Islam
- Environmental Interventions Unit, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Sonia Sultana
- Environmental Interventions Unit, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Zahid H Mahmud
- Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, icddr,b, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Mahbubur Rahman
- Environmental Interventions Unit, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh
| | - William A Mitch
- Civil & Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, 473 Via Ortega, Y2E2 Building, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Jennifer Davis
- Civil & Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, 473 Via Ortega, Y2E2 Building, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, 473 Via Ortega, Y2E2 Building, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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Gemeda ST, Springer E, Gari SR, Birhan SM, Bedane HT. The importance of water quality in classifying basic water services: The case of Ethiopia, SDG6.1, and safe drinking water. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0248944. [PMID: 34351947 PMCID: PMC8341575 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 aims to coordinate international efforts toward “clean water and sanitation.” However, water contaminated with pathogenic bacteria or thermotolerant coliforms (TTC) will not achieve the SDG target of clean water in the lives of people around the world. The aim of this study is to assess the water quality parameters of basic water services in Amhara and Afar regions of Ethiopia as well as the role and importance of local managerial committees in ensuring basic water functionality. Methods This mixed methods research, conducted in January-June 2019, sampled 22 districts from food-insecure areas in the Amhara and Afar regions of Ethiopia. From the 22 districts, which represent nearly one third of all districts in each region, 111 water services classified as “basic” were randomly selected. For each selected water service, research included: water quality sample testing, visual observation of water services, interviews and focus group discussions with the associated water managerial committee members. Descriptive statistics frequency, percent, mean, median, standard deviations, normal tables, cross-tables and graphs are used to present the data. Results Although the international water standard for thermotolerant coliform (TTC) levels is 0 CFU/100ml, in our sample of 111 water services, the maximum TTC counts were 71 CFU/100 ml and the mean was 4 CFU/100 ml. Thermotolerant coliform counts were above the permissible standard values for nearly 40% (n = 111) of the basic water services. TTC was detected in 44 (39.64%) (n = 111) basic water services. Of these, 38 (34.23%) were operationally functional while 6 (5.41%) were not functional. Approximately one third of the basic water services sampled, deemed “functional” by international standards, do not provide potable water due to thermotolerant coliform (TTC) levels. Conclusion Our findings from the Amhara and Afar regions of Ethiopia demonstrate that water quality parameters are not currently considered in classifying basic water services. This suggests that international efforts to address SDG 6 should incorporate water quality as a key parameter to better track international progress toward “clean water and sanitation” efforts. We discuss two potential pathways for stronger inclusion of water quality parameters in international definitions: (1) to mandate water quality within “functional” and “non-functional” definitions or (2) to add a ladder rung titled “safe basic water services” to the international drinking water ladder. Our findings from Ethiopia suggest that additional research should be undertaken in development contexts to assess whether or not “functional” basic water services provide safe drinking water to users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shibabaw Tadesse Gemeda
- Ethiopian Institute of Water Resources, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- * E-mail:
| | - Emily Springer
- Social Justice & Human Rights, School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, Arizona State University, Glendale, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Sirak Robele Gari
- Ethiopian Institute of Water Resources, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | | | - Hailu Tolasa Bedane
- Doctor of Transformational Leadership Programme, Bakke Graduate University, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
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Roldan-Hernandez L, Boehm AB, Mihelcic JR. Parachute Environmental Science and Engineering. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:14773-14774. [PMID: 33256416 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c07462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Roldan-Hernandez
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Alexandria B Boehm
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - James R Mihelcic
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
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MacAllister DJ, MacDonald AM, Kebede S, Godfrey S, Calow R. Comparative performance of rural water supplies during drought. Nat Commun 2020; 11:1099. [PMID: 32132535 PMCID: PMC7055361 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14839-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
As rural African communities experience more frequent and extreme droughts, it is increasingly important that water supplies are climate resilient. Using a unique temporal dataset we explore rural water supply (n = 5196) performance during the 2015-16 drought in Ethiopia. Mean functionality ranged from 60% for motorised boreholes to 75% for hand-pumped boreholes. Real-time monitoring and responsive operation and maintenance led to rapid increases in functionality of hand-pumped and, to a lesser extent, motorised boreholes. Increased demand was placed on motorised boreholes in lowland areas as springs, hand-dug-wells and open sources failed. Most users travelled >1 h to access motorised boreholes but <30 min, increasing to 30-60 mins, for hand-pumped boreholes. Boreholes accessing deep (>30 m) groundwater performed best during the drought. Prioritising access to groundwater via multiple improved sources and a portfolio of technologies, such as hand-pumped and motorised boreholes, supported by responsive and proactive operation and maintenance, increases rural water supply resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - A M MacDonald
- British Geological Survey, The Lyell Centre, Edinburgh, UK
| | - S Kebede
- School of Agricultural Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
| | - S Godfrey
- UNICEF Regional Office for Eastern and Southern Africa, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - R Calow
- Overseas Development Institute, London, UK
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DuChanois RM, Liddle ES, Fenner RA, Jeuland M, Evans B, Cumming O, Zaman RU, Mujica-Pereira AV, Ross I, Gribble MO, Brown J. Correction to "Factors Associated with Water Service Continuity for the Rural Populations of Bangladesh, Pakistan, Ethiopia, and Mozambique". ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:9338. [PMID: 31287668 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b03482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
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