Risk assessment to groundwater of pit latrine rural sanitation policy in developing country settings

Back, Jan O.; Rivett, Michael O.; Hinz, Laura B.; Mackay, Nyree; Wanangwa, Gift J.; Phiri, Owen L.; Songola, Chrispine E.; Thomas, Mavuto A.S.; Kumwenda, Steve; Nhlema, Muthi; Miller, Alexandra; Kalin, Robert M.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.09.071

Cited by 49 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 57 publications

(77 reference statements)

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“…However, given that highest TTCs were observed in locations with highest total annual rainfall suggests that there may be a higher risk of contamination from TTCs under wetter conditions at selected sites, combined with the presence of a proximal source of contamination such as a pit latrine, or a faulty borehole sanitary seal (e.g. Back et al 2018). The reasons for this are uncertain, but could be linked to more intense rainfall and/or flooding under wetter conditions (Bridgman et al 1995, Wu et al 2016 and the activation of rapid recharge pathways and/or shallower groundwater tables under wetter climate conditions (Gotkowitz et al 2016, Cuthbert et al 2019.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drinking water quality from rural handpump-boreholes in Africa

Lapworth

MacDonald

Kebede

et al. 2020

Environ. Res. Lett.

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Groundwater provides a vital source of drinking water for rural communities in many parts of Africa, particularly in the dry season when there are few safe alternative sources. This paper summarises results from a study (n = 428) assessing dry season water quality, both microbiological and inorganic chemistry, in handpump equipped boreholes (HPBs) across the Ethiopia Highlands (n = 142), Malawi (n = 162) and Uganda (n = 124) using a stratified, randomised sampling design. This study seeks to examine general water quality by randomly sampling rural groundwater supplies across larger areas with different geology and climate. The majority, 72%, of HPBs surveyed provide good quality dry season drinking water as defined by WHO drinking water quality criteria. Within this overall picture, the most notable constraints were from thermotolerant coliforms (TTCs), which exceeded the WHO drinking water guideline of zero colony forming units (cfu/100 ml) in 21% of sites (range 0-626 cfu/100 ml). TTC contamination was found to have a significant and positive correlation with annual average rainfall (ρ = 0.2, p = 0.00003). Across all three countries, WHO health based chemical drinking water quality values were exceeded at 9% of sites and were found for manganese (4%), fluoride (2.6%) and nitrate (2.5%); arsenic concentrations were below the guideline value of 10 µg l −1 (range < 0.5-7 µg l −1 ). The high percentage of Mn exceedances (14% ± 5.2% >400 µg l −1 ) found in drinking water sources in Uganda challenges the decision by WHO not to formalise a health-based guideline for Mn. While the overall level of microbiological contamination from HPBs is low, results from this study strongly suggest that at a national and regional level, microbiological contamination rather than chemical contamination will provide a greater barrier to achieving targets set for improved drinking water quality under the UN-SDG 6. Efforts should be made to ensure that boreholes are properly sited and constructed effectively to reduce pathogen contamination.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drinking water quality from rural handpump-boreholes in Africa

Lapworth

MacDonald

Kebede

et al. 2020

Environ. Res. Lett.

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“…Rapid development of appropriate sanitation policy is therefore of particular concern for groundwater quality management in developing countries, but the success of this is predicated on 1) the establishment of baseline data (Back, Rivett, Hinz, Mackay, Wanangwa, Phiri, Songola, Thomas, Kumwenda, Nhlema, Miller and Kalin, 2018), and 2) development of a systems-thinking approach (e.g., Hipel, Obeidi, Fang and Kilgour, 2008) to holistic water resource management. Systemsthinking practices have emerged over decades of relatively intensive resource use, but emerging economies must transition from existing practices, where aquifers are managed as increasingly stressed common pool resources (Madani and Dinar, 2012), towards integrated systems management.…”

Section: Future Governancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The formulation of management approaches needs to be informed by appropriate case studies that document the spatial and temporal scales of interaction across component systems (Back, Rivett, Hinz, Mackay, Wanangwa, Phiri, Songola, Thomas, Kumwenda, Nhlema, Miller and Kalin, 2018).The Dili aquifer system is small and its high productivity endows it with a level of responsiveness that renders it both vulnerable and resilient, depending on management. The water quality issues highlighted here illustrate how vulnerable the near surface groundwater resource is to environmental degradation.…”

Section: Developing a Physical Baseline For Resource Qualitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sustainable management of the parallel growth in this shallow groundwater abstraction, economic activity and pit/septic sanitation requires development of a baseline from which the success or otherwise of management initiatives can be measured (e.g., Back, Rivett, Hinz, Mackay, Wanangwa, Phiri, Songola, Thomas, Kumwenda, Nhlema, Miller and Kalin, 2018). This study does not constitute a complete baseline; developing such a baseline will need to include 1) high resolution mapping of all water supply and sanitation points; 2) development of a database of contaminated sites, including but not limited to fuel stations, maintenance yards, quarries, and dumping sites.…”

Section: Developing a Physical Baseline For Resource Qualitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nevertheless, in many (particularly developing) countries, critical natural systems such as groundwater continue to be managed, at least partly, as a common pool resource, where beneficiaries of the resource commonly lack information about how their decisions and activities impact on the decisions, plans and benefits of other beneficiaries (Madani and Dinar, 2012). Rapid development of appropriate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) policy, and public education about that policy in the context of a common pool resource, is therefore of particular concern for groundwater quality management in developing countries; however, the successful development and implementation of such policy is predicated on 1) the establishment of baseline data (Back, et al, 2018), and 2) development of a complete understanding of the physical, climatic, sociopolitical, economic and cultural factors that frame and underpin the value of the groundwater system (e.g., Barnaby, 2009, Fowler, et al, 2003, Gill, et al, 2017, Jennaway, 2008). Only with this knowledge in hand can sustainable development of the groundwater system proceed effectively under an essentially systems-thinking approach (e.g., Hipel, Obeidi, Fang and Kilgour, 2008) to holistic water resource management.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Initial observations of water quality indicators in the Dili City unconfined, shallow aquifer, Timor-Leste, and suggestions for management of this common-pool groundwater resource

Ximenes¹,

Duffy²,

Faria³

2017

Preprint

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The management of groundwater quality is a critical issue in developing nations where sanitation and drinking-water targets are commonly addressed by facilitating access to groundwater, which is then managed as a common-pool resource. We investigate the quality of the shallow unconfined groundwater in Dili's alluvial fan system, which 50% of Dili's rapidly growing population access for all their water requirements. Using the basic chemical and microbiological analyses that are locally available (sulfate, total hardness, fluoride, manganese, iron, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, totalColiform and E. Coli.) we show that the shallow wells commonly contain enhanced concentrations of dissolved solids and microbiological contaminants (Total coliform and E. Coli.), relative to deeper wells. Cool, shallow wells fare worse than warm equivalents. Elevated nitrate and nitrite pollution in the embassy district are tentatively attributed to affluence factors, such as lawn cultivation and water filtration equipment. Microbiological contamination, and associated manganese contamination of groundwater, mimic population patterns but are concentrated in the finer grained sediments of the small fans and low slope interdistributory areas. We suggest that rapid development and successful implementation of appropriate sanitation policy in Dili (and elsewhere) is required to address the problematic features of the shallow groundwater system. Success will be predicated on 1) the establishment of baseline data, and 2) development of a systems-thinking approach to holistic water resource management. Any such program must engage with community leadership and water politics, and with the full, presently poorly understood, cohort of water-related service providers and NGOs operating in Timor-Leste.

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Sanitation approach toward resource recovery in rural and semi‐urban centers: Insight from South South Nigeria

Odey

Giwa

et al. 2018

Environmental Quality Mgmt

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Recent sanitation situations in Nigeria present public health problems, especially in rural and semi-urban centers. Local and national government bodies in the country have defined policies to provide adequate sanitation for the populations under their control as stated in relevant decrees and policies. However, those who work as health providers in Nigeria regard conditions in many parts of the country as unhygienic and unhealthy due to a lack of adequate sanitation and because the sanitation facilities that are in place are often ineffective. Interviews with householders in rural and semi-urban centers showed that more than 72% of the people in rural communities lack access to adequate sanitation and toilet systems, especially in public institutions. While in semi-urban centers about 91% of the residents use septic tanks without treatment facility, the remaining 8% use toilet systems such as community toilets, wet pit latrines, and open defecation. Both rural and semi-urban centers do not use urine-diverting dry toilets or septic tanks with treatment facilities.Given the present sanitation situation, this study proposes a modern toilet system in rural communities that will enhance the recovery of biogas and nutrients as fertilizer for soil amendment through appropriate implementation, use, and maintenance. The results could be useful as a support for decisions on policies and strategies for adequate and improved sanitation facilities in rural and semi-urban centers in South South Nigeria. K E Y W O R D S biogas, fecal sludge, rural centers, sanitation, semi-urban centers, soil amendment, South South Nigeria AUTHORS' BIOGRAPHIES E. A. Odey is a PhD research fellow in School of Energy and Environment, University of Science and Technology Beijing. His research focuses on resource recovery from waste, energy recovery, lactic acid fermentation, biodewatering, pyrolysis, and wastewater treatment. Z. Li is a professor in School

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Risk assessment to groundwater of pit latrine rural sanitation policy in developing country settings

Cited by 49 publications

References 57 publications

Drinking water quality from rural handpump-boreholes in Africa

Drinking water quality from rural handpump-boreholes in Africa

Initial observations of water quality indicators in the Dili City unconfined, shallow aquifer, Timor-Leste, and suggestions for management of this common-pool groundwater resource

Sanitation approach toward resource recovery in rural and semi‐urban centers: Insight from South South Nigeria

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