Rural water services in Guatemala: a survey of institutions and community preferences

Vásquez, William F.

doi:10.2166/wp.2012.098

Cited by 12 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Challenges to providing safe drinking water in rural Guatemala include geography and financial stability. Rural communities do not have the finances for community water systems (Vasquez, ), and these communities are often in mountainous terrain where roads are impassable during the rainy season, making well construction and maintenance a challenge (Owen et al., ). Thus, families rely on unimproved water sources.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acceptance and Impact of Point‐of‐Use Water Filtration Systems in Rural Guatemala

Larson

Hansen

Ritz

et al. 2016

J of Nursing Scholarship

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Purpose: Infants and children in developing countries bear the burden of diarrheal disease. Diarrheal disease is linked to unsafe drinking water and can result in serious long-term consequences, such as impaired immune function and brain growth. There is evidence that point-of-use water filtration systems reduce the prevalence of diarrhea in developing countries. In the summer of 2014, following community forums and interactive workshops, water filters were distributed to 71 households in a rural Maya community in Guatemala. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the uptake of tabletop water filtration systems to reduce diarrheal diseases. Design: A descriptive correlational study was used that employed community partnership and empowerment strategies. One year postintervention, in the summer of 2015, a bilingual, interdisciplinary research team conducted a house-to-house survey with families who received water filters. Methods: Survey data were gathered from the head of household on family demographics, current family health, water filter usage, and type of flooring in the home. Interviews were conducted in Spanish and in partnership with a village leader. Each family received a food package of household staples for their participation. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all responses. Fisher's exact test and odds ratios were used to determine relationships between variables. Findings: Seventy-nine percent (n = 56) of the 71 households that received a water filter in 2014 participated in the study. The majority of families (71.4%; n = 40) were using the water filters and 16 families (28.6%) had broken water filters. Of the families with working water filters, 15% reported diarrhea, while 31% of families with a broken water filter reported diarrhea. Only 55.4% of the homes had concrete flooring. More households with dirt flooring and broken water filters reported a current case of diarrhea. A record review of atten-dees at an outreach clinic in this village noted a decrease in intestinal infections from 2014 (53%) to 2015 (32%). Conclusions: A trend suggests that water filter usage was both practically and clinically significant in reducing the incidence of diarrheal disease in this sample. Some homes did not have flat surfaces for water filter storage. Housing conditions should be taken into consideration for future diarrheal disease prevention initiatives. Clinical Relevance: Point-of-use water filters using a community-university partnership can reduce diarrheal disease in rural regions of Guatemala.

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Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acceptance and Impact of Point‐of‐Use Water Filtration Systems in Rural Guatemala

Larson

Hansen

Ritz

et al. 2016

J of Nursing Scholarship

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“…Unfortunately, water systems tend to be unreliable, services are frequently interrupted, and tap water is not tested on a regular basis to guarantee that it is safe to drink [ Vásquez , ]. Several studies have reported that many urban and rural systems provide water that is contaminated, thus representing a significant health risk at the national level [e.g., Galindo and Molina , ; Instituto de Agricultura, Recursos Naturales y Ambiente ( IARNA ), ; Vásquez , ].…”

Section: Drinking Water Services In Guatemalamentioning

confidence: 99%

Nonpayment of water bills in Guatemala: Dissatisfaction or inability to pay?

Vásquez

2015

Water Resources Research

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This paper investigates nonpayment behavior in Guatemala. Determinants of nonpayment behavior are identified through zero‐inflated negative binomial regression models in order to take into account particular distributional characteristics of the amount of outstanding payments. Findings indicate that nonpayment behavior is a demonstration of consumer dissatisfaction with current water services. The amount of outstanding bill payments also responds to system unreliability. Results also suggest that nonpayment behaviors are more prominent in community‐managed systems than in municipal systems. No evidence was found on a potential relationship between nonpayment behavior and household income. Policy implications are discussed.

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“…In addition, there are growing concerns regarding the quality of drinking water. Several studies have reported that water sources are contaminated in urban and rural areas representing a significant health risk at the national level [e.g., Galindo and Molina , ; Instituto de Agricultura, Recursos Naturales y Ambiente , ; Vásquez , ]. In order to improve the quality of water services, MSPAS has recently issued a number of ministerial agreements that regulate system operations, including treatment methods.…”

Section: Drinking Water Services In Guatemala and Study Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

Willingness to pay and willingness to work for improvements of municipal and community‐managed water services

Vásquez

2014

Water Resources Research

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This study investigates household preferences, in labor time and monetary terms, for improved water services in Guatemala using sequential contingent valuation questions. The household survey was implemented in areas served by municipal and community-managed systems, which allows for comparing household preferences under those governance approaches. Results show that respondents with municipal services are willing to pay a substantial increase (more than 200%) in their water bills for reliable supplies of safe drinking water. They are also willing to work approximately 19 h per month for such improved services when labor hours are proposed as the payment vehicle. In contrast, households with community-managed services are not willing to pay or work for service improvements, even though they report to be quite dissatisfied with current services. Policy implications are discussed.

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Rural water services in Guatemala: a survey of institutions and community preferences

Cited by 12 publications

References 10 publications

Acceptance and Impact of Point‐of‐Use Water Filtration Systems in Rural Guatemala

Acceptance and Impact of Point‐of‐Use Water Filtration Systems in Rural Guatemala

Nonpayment of water bills in Guatemala: Dissatisfaction or inability to pay?

Willingness to pay and willingness to work for improvements of municipal and community‐managed water services

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