Evaluating the costs and components of a territory-wide household water storage and treatment program in the US Virgin Islands

Abstract

Among island communities, water security and access continue to be a critical issue. In the US Virgin Islands (USVI), 90% of households are capable of collecting roof-harvested rainwater, whereas less than 25% of households are connected to a municipal water system serviced by desalination plants. Rainwater collection leaves the household in charge of managing and treating their own water. Therefore, understanding current barriers to accessing water treatment technologies and the costs of a water storage and treatment program at scale are critical in developing a territory-wide program. In this study, we evaluate (1) household-level barriers to accessing water treatment technologies, (2) a cost breakdown of a UV water treatment pilot program, and (3) potential estimates of program costs at a territory-wide scale. The results suggest that for households, key barriers include knowledge of the problem or solution and capital and installation costs. From the programmatic cost evaluation, the water treatment technology and water testing services were the most expensive. However, given key adjustments, a territory-wide program is estimated to cost $30.4 M covering 50% of households. These data can be used by a coalition of stakeholders in allocating financial and managerial responsibility for a territory-wide water storage and treatment program in the USVI.

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Point-of-Entry UV Treatment for Cistern Water among Households in the US Virgin Islands

“…This highlights the need for clear, non-technical guidance and information to accompany any type of water treatment technology when the operator will be a household member or non-expert. Previous literature demonstrates that semi-regular operation and maintenance advising from professionals in decentralized treatment systems can significantly improve long-term treatment effectiveness at a household level. , Furthermore, we evaluate how this can be integrated and scaled in a territory-wide program in USVI …”

“…15,16 Furthermore, we evaluate how this can be integrated and scaled in a territory-wide program in USVI. 8 In addition, total coliforms were not detected in 76.4% of all samples and 72.4% of tap or spigot samples where a positive detection was confirmed in the cistern. Of the 64 positive detections, 13 were repeat detections (back-to-back months).…”

“…These may be (1) sediment filters ranging from 20 to 1 μm in pore size to ensure that turbidity is at manufacturer’s recommended levels for UV treatment (e.g., <1 NTUs) or (2) carbon filters. However, due to high capital costs, limited effectiveness data, and limited information provided to the public, these UV systems, with or without prefiltration, may be underutilized . Therefore, Love City Strong, Inc. (LCS), a local non-governmental organization, facilitated a UV pilot program to provide enrolled households access to UV systems and support resources as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of the UV systems.…”

Chaotic Particle Swarm Optimization in Water Pollution Prevention and Control System Planning

“…Relevant personnel evaluated the domestic water purification technology and the cost of the UV water purification test plan, and estimated the project cost of the whole region. In terms of project cost, this information can be used to provide financial and administrative support for the water resources storage and disposal plan in the Territory [15]. The influencing factors of river WP are shown in Figure 2.…”

Performance of Community Water Board-Managed Passive In-Line Chlorinators Supported by a Circuit Rider Program in Rural Honduras

“…This is further compounded by the fact that most drinking water treatment evaluations in lower- and middle-income countries are short-term, and the support programs evaluated are a research component or are not sustained post-evaluation. Very few formal evaluations exist of sustained programs seeking to provide access to safely managed drinking water, but those that do emphasize the importance of professional evaluation of programmatic monitoring data. − Specifically, no studies on passive chlorinators or external support programs for drinking water have focused on the kinds of support necessary to sustain effective water treatment by passive chlorinators.…”