Microbial contamination and associated health burden of rainwater harvesting in Bangladesh

2010 ◽  
Vol 61 (8) ◽  
pp. 2129-2135 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. Karim

Rooftop rainwater harvesting has received an increased attention as a potential alternative water supply source both in the coastal and arsenic affected rural areas in Bangladesh. Several programs in installing rainwater harvesting systems have been implemented to mitigate the drinking water problem in the coastal and arsenic affected areas in the country. This study was conducted with a view to assess sanitary integrity, microbial contamination and the associated health risk of the currently practiced rooftop rainwater harvesting mainly used for drinking water supply. Sanitary inspection of the rainwater harvesting systems and an extensive sampling of harvested rainwater from the storage reservoirs and laboratory analysis were conducted. The study findings reveal that harvested rainwater was found to microbiologically contaminated to some extend. The disease burden estimated using QHRA model showed a significant microbial health burden associated with drinking untreated rainwater and both viral and bacterial pathogens dominate the microbial disease burden. In context of arsenic mitigation, rainwater harvesting reduces the health risk from arsenic; however it may increase the microbial disease burden much higher than the level of arsenic health risk at 50 μg/L of Bangladesh standard. Microbial risk needs proper attention through the implementation of a water safety plan for safe and sustainable rainwater harvesting in Bangladesh.

2011 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 415-428 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md. Atikul Islam ◽  
Hiroyuki Sakakibara ◽  
Md. Rezaul Karim ◽  
Masahiko Sekine ◽  
Zahid Hayat Mahmud

This study was conducted to assess the bacteriological quality of alternative drinking water supply options in southwest coastal areas of Bangladesh. A total of 90 water samples were collected during both dry and wet seasons from household based rainwater harvesting systems (RWHSs), community based rain water harvesting systems (CRWHSs), pond-sand filters (PSFs) and ponds. The samples were evaluated for faecal coliform, Escherichia coli and Heterotrophic Plate Count, as well as Vibrio cholerae, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp. and Pseudomonas spp. Physico-chemical parameters (pH, electrical conductivity, and color) were also examined. In addition, sanitary inspections were conducted to identify faecal contamination sources. All options showed varying degrees of indicator bacterial contamination. The median E. coli concentrations measured for RWHSs, CRWHSs, PSFs, and ponds were 16, 7, 11, and 488 cfu/100 ml during the wet season, respectively. Vibrio cholerae O1/O139, Salmonella and Shigella spp. were not found in any samples. However, Vibrio cholerae Non-O1/Non-O139 and Pseudomonas spp. were isolated from 74.4% and 91.1% of the water samples collected during the wet season. A maximum pH of 10.4 was found in CRWHSs. Estimation of the disease burden for all options in disability adjusted life years (DALYs) showed an increased disease burden during the wet season. According to sanitary inspections, poor maintenance and unprotected ponds were responsible for rainwater and PSF water contamination, respectively. The findings of the present study suggest that alternative drinking water supply options available in southwest coastal Bangladesh pose a substantial risk to public health.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 6475-6490
Author(s):  
Roberto Mena Rivero ◽  
Ricardo Enrique Vega Azamar ◽  
Flor Virginia Cruz Gutiérrez ◽  
David Gustavo Rejón Parra ◽  
Fermín Téllez Gómez

La baja disponibilidad de agua potable de buena calidad puede ser complementada con agua proveniente de la lluvia, si esta última es recolectada en cantidad suficiente para cubrir la demanda, aprovechándose esta combinación para resolver el problema de abastecimiento, todo esto sujeto a restricciones de inversión. El presente trabajo tiene por objetivo presentar un análisis de los sistemas de captación de agua de lluvia existentes en la zona limítrofe entre los estados mexicanos de Quintana Roo y Campeche para estimar los montos de inversión máxima que justifiquen un proyecto de mejora en la disponibilidad de agua de lluvia. En esta investigación se identificó el nivel de aprovechamiento y los requerimientos de los sistemas de captación de agua pluvial en techos (SCAPT) y se determinó el monto de inversión máxima para solucionar esta situación problemática. Los resultados muestran que los SCAPT no se aprovechan debido a limitaciones o subutilización en la superficie de captación y/o capacidad de almacenamiento, por lo que se recurre al suministro de agua en pipas. Se concluye que se puede sustituir el acarreo en pipas por agua de lluvia con un adecuado dimensionamiento de la superficie y el volumen de captación, asegurando el consumo de agua mínimo recomendado, con una inversión menor de la que se requeriría para la implementación de un sistema de abastecimiento de agua convencional.   Low availability of good quality drinking water can be complemented with rainwater, if the latter is collected in sufficient quantity to cover the demand, taking advantage of this combination to solve the supply problem, all of this subject to investment restrictions. The present work aims to present an analysis of the existing rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems in the border area between the Mexican states of Quintana Roo and Campeche to estimate the maximum investment amount that justifies a project to improve rainwater availability. In this research, the use level and the requirements of rooftop rainwater harvesting (RTRWH) systems were identified and the maximum investment amount needed to solve this problematic situation was determined. Results show that RTRWH systems are not used due to insufficient or underutilized catchment area and / or storage capacity, so water is supplied in tankers. It is concluded that transport in tankers can be replaced by RTRWH with an adequate dimensioning of surface and catchment volume, ensuring the minimum recommended water supply, with a lower investment than that required for the implementation of a conventional water supply system.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 215-223
Author(s):  
MA Rahman ◽  
MA Ali ◽  
T Ahmed ◽  
ME Habib ◽  
MS Hossain

Widespread groundwater arsenic contamination in south, south-western and north-eastern regions and high salinity in the south-western coastal region are the two major challenges for drinking water supply in Bangladesh. In this study, we assessed various water supply technologies used for mitigating arsenic and salinity in Laksam of Cumilla and Assasuni of Satkhira district. Water samples were analyzed for Arsenic, Iron, Chloride (indicator for salinity) and FC from different water extraction systems (shallow, deep and Tara tubewells), groundwater arsenic treatment units (SIDKO and READ-F), rainwater harvesting systems (RWH), pond sand filters (PSF), and managed aquifer recharge units. Most shallow tubewells, both in Laksam and Assasuni, have been found to produce arsenic contaminated water. But water from deep and Tara tubewells have been found arsenic-free, though high concentration of iron was observed in the wells in Laksam. Rainwater harvesting systems, PSF and MAR units in Assasuni have been found to provide water free from the common chemical contaminants but suffer from high bacterial contamination. Deep tubewell appear to be the most preferred option where a suitable aquifer is available. The community-scale groundwater treatment systems would require strong operation and maintenance support from the service providers to be successful. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 12(1&2): 215-223, 2019


2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 359-366 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md. Rezaul Karim

Several programs have been undertaken during the last few years to install rooftop rainwater harvesting systems as an alternative drinking water supply source both in the coastal and arsenic affected areas in Bangladesh. In this study, quality of the harvested rainwater used for drinking water supply was assessed. A total of 308 harvested rainwater samples were collected from the different storage reservoirs located both in coastal and arsenic affected areas and analysed for various physical, chemical and microbial indicators. Most of the physical and chemical water quality parameters were well below the Bangladesh Drinking Water Standard and WHO guideline values. However, the harvested rainwater was found microbiologically contaminated to some extent and the water is not suitable for consumption without treatment. For safe and sustainable rainwater harvesting, WHO guideline and water safely plan (WSP) can be adopted in Bangladesh.


2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 243-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. Karim

Rainwater harvesting is a potential option of water supply to the coastal and arsenic affected rural communities in Bangladesh and during the last few years, several projects were undertaken to promote and install various types of rainwater harvesting systems by government organizations and NGOs mainly for drinking and cooking water supply. A study was undertaken to assess the currently practiced rainwater harvesting systems located in the south west coastal and arsenic affected areas in the country. A total of 1,000 rainwater-harvesting systems were investigated using structured questionnaires; among them 14.8% were community based and 85.2% were household rainwater harvesting systems. The results of this assessment are presented in this paper. Availability of the harvested rainwater, operation, storage and maintenance of community based rainwater harvesting and ensuring water quality to meet the drinking water standard are the important issues that must be addressed properly. A protocol for the operation and maintenance according to WHO guideline can be adopted for the safe and sustainable rainwater harvesting in the country.


2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 291-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brandon Reyneke ◽  
Thomas Eugene Cloete ◽  
Sehaam Khan ◽  
Wesaal Khan

Solar pasteurization systems are able to reduce microbial contamination in rainwater to within drinking water guidelines and thereby provide households in informal settlements and rural areas with an alternative water source.


2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 1514-1518 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen Fang Long ◽  
Spencer Lloyd ◽  
Fan Zhang ◽  
Qiao Li ◽  
HaiRong Huang ◽  
...  

The article aimed to find the causes of microbial contamination of drinking water source, by exploring the influencing factors of water on the incidence of diarrhea in children. Random stratified-cluster sampling was used to study Li and Han communities of rural Lingshui County with regard to water quality and environmental sanitation. Water samples were evaluated for microbial contamination using National Standard of the People's Republic of China and World Health Organization drinking water standards. Data were compared between ethnic groups. Li communities had more contamination than Han. The correlation between the frequency of diarrhea among children and the presence of microorganisms in the water was positive, for both total coliforms and Escherichia coli (E. coli). Regression analysis showed the substandard risk factors of total coliforms for source water were type of water supply (OR = 3.508) and garbage disposal methods (OR = 2.430). For E. coli, risk factors included the source of water supply (OR = 2.417); depth of wells (OR = 0.536) and distance of wells from the cesspit (OR = 0.723). The content of bacterium in drinking water source was high in the rural county. Water from open wells had higher contamination rates than water from centralized systems and tube-well sources. Improvement of water supply and environmental hygiene would decrease diarrheal diseases among children under five.


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