Working With an Aboriginal Community to Understand Drinking Water Perceptions and Acceptance in Rural New South Wales

Abstract

This study explored the Walhallow Aboriginal community's experiences with drinking water to gain a shared understanding about community concerns and to develop ways to address these concerns together. There is a strong connection between people and water, as well as a need to appreciate the social factors associated with the unique cultural and socioeconomic factors that the provision of drinking water has for Aboriginal communities. We used a mixed method design within a community-based participatory action Research (PAR) framework. Water hardness and parental influence were the key factors associated with participants' decisions to drink rainwater. This study provides important insights for water supply authorities when assessing health risks and when choosing appropriate mitigation measures for water quality improvement programs in Aboriginal communities.

O uso da água de chuva para atividades de fins potáveis e não potáveis: percepção dos usuários do Instituto Federal de Sergipe – campus Lagarto

“…Barros et al (2013), por exemplo, observaram a satisfação de agricultores no interior da Paraíba, que sofrem com a baixa disponibilidade hídrica, quanto ao uso da água em cisternas para beber após tratamento simplificado por cloro. Jaravani et al (2017) abordaram a influência cultural, onde aborígenes australianos preferem a água da chuva, mesmo que comprovadamente seja de qualidade inferior do Sousa., I., F. que a do abastecimento convencional, devido a uma tradição parental, passada de geração em geração. Mahmood et al (2017) identificou que a interferência econômica em aldeias da Palestina, onde pessoas sem acesso aos recursos hídricos e sem subsídios para construir cisternas admitem o uso de água de baixa qualidade para atividades mais nobres.…”

Measuring the gaps in drinking water quality and policy across regional and remote Australia

“…The ADWG Good definition reflects the ADWG definition of 'good' water quality and the emphasis in the guidelines on water suppliers meeting consumer expectations. In practice, accounting for aesthetic considerations in defining basic service levels is necessary because: (i) unpalatable water affects consumer risk perceptions, potentially leading to indirect health impacts from accessing unsafe alternative sources of hydration 48,64,65 , including sugary drinks 66,67 ; (ii) buying bottled or trucked water due to distrust of water services 68,69 is a financial burden for low-income households inconsistent with affordable access; and (iii) high levels of hardness and TDS may affect water infrastructure integrity, operational costs, and safety 70 . Note that the ADWG definition of 'good' water also includes 'taste and odour' which is specified as "not offensive to most people" 21 .…”