Living on water

Andrews, Leann; Bachman, Rebecca; Fernandez, Susan Paredes

doi:10.4324/9781003033530-31

Cited by 1 publication

(3 citation statements)

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“…In locations where aquatic vegetation naturally proliferates, such as in Claverito, use of aquatic vegetation within the built landscape has a negligible cost and potential positive benefit. Other studies in the InterACTION Labs program have revealed that aquatic vegetation creates biodiversity‐rich “habitat islands” that support reptiles, amphibians, birds, and fish—important for this fishing community (Andrews et al., 2022). However, the use of floating vegetation as a means to remove fecal contamination from water around floating communities should only be considered if there is a desire to keep the surface layer of water free of contamination.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since 2015, an interdisciplinary team of Peruvian and United States researchers has worked with an informal floating slum community called Claverito, located in Iquitos, Peru on the Itaya River, a tributary floodplain of the Amazon River (Figure 1). The program, called InterACTION Labs, has focused on using targeted interventions to the built environment in order to improve health outcomes for the community (Alarcón et al., 2018; Andrews, 2018; Andrews et al., 2022; Bachman, 2020; Conery, 2019). Notably, the program found the potential pathogen burden of water upon which the 280 community members live is large, reaching 7,700 Escherichia coli colony‐forming units (CFU) per 100 mL of river water (Figure 5).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Out of respect for their livelihood and opportunities that closely revolve around water, residents were engaged in various aspects of the study alongside the academic team, including assistance with constructing the experimental frame, harvesting the plants, driving the canoes, and assisting with sampling. Further narrative of their livelihood and this engagement process can be found in the book chapter, Living on Water: Amphibious Communities in the Amazon Rainforest (Andrews et al., 2022).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Influence of Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) on Concentration and Distribution of Escherichia coli in Water Surrounding an Informal Floating Community in Iquitos, Peru

et al. 2023

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Floating communities exist throughout the world. Many live on water with a high pathogen load due to difficulties associated with sewage management. In Claverito, an informal floating community in Iquitos, Peru, we conducted a controlled experiment to test the ability of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) to remove Escherichia coli from water. When river E. coli concentrations were at or below ∼1,500 CFU 100 mL−1, water hyacinth reduced shallow concentrations (8 cm depth) down to levels deemed safe by U.S. EPA for recreational use. Above this threshold, plants were able to reduce E. coli levels within shallow water, but not down to “safe” levels. At deeper depths (>25 cm), there was evidence that plants increased E. coli concentrations. Water hyacinth removed E. coli from shallow water by providing a surface (i.e., submerged roots) onto which E. coli sorbed and by protecting organisms that can potentially consume E. coli. Unfortunately, because of root association, the total E. coli load within the water column was greater with water hyacinth present. The use of water hyacinth to keep surface water around floating communities low in E. coli could be beneficial as this is the water layer with which people most likely interact. Aquatic vegetation naturally proliferates in and around Claverito. While this study was based on curating aquatic plants in order to achieve a water‐quality outcome, it nonetheless supports concrete actions for Claverito residents under non‐curated conditions, which are outlined at the end of the manuscript.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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