Water as a Mirror of Environmental Health: A Symbiotic Baseline Study in Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula

Abstract

To understand an integral environmental health dynamic a symbiotic observation of water and its socio-environmental interactions should be knitted. Assuming 19 circularity of water can provide related knowledge. A robust scientific evidence baseline is essential to allow health impact evaluation, in orderto inform collective decisions on infrastructure development. Mixed methods are used toelaborate an analytical process to combine different heterogeneous data sources. Threeanalytical levels were defined: Population health, socioeconomic status infrastructure and natural resources specifically river basin. In 2017, water quality perception was surveyed in Drake, Osa Peninsula, Southern of Costa 26 Rica. Then in 2018, a socioeconomic and general health census strategy was undertaken. A water microbiology survey was applied to assess river basin quality. Interaction betweenpopulation health economics and river basin was observed on aqueducts. This technologyplay an essential role enabling communities for health improvement and address reduction 30 of socio-economic inequalities by means of community-specific tools for social learning. Since water filtering was identified missing in overall water systems, a water bio-sand filter was designed and tested as a novel conservation technology to cultivate drinkable water at a very low cost. Drake’s inhabitants perceived the need for technologies to treat drinkable water. Conservation culture should be considered for the design of new aqueduct communal systems. An integral ecosystem health assessment index (IEHAI) is proposed as a baseline specifi37 cation model to improved water resources research.