Sources and microbiological quality of domestic water in three rural communities in the southern Caribbean
This study investigated the sources and microbiological quality of domestic water used by rural communities of Speightstown, Barbados; Carriacou, Grenada; and Nariva, Trinidad. The primary water source was harvested rainwater in Carriacou, and the public water supply for Nariva and Speightstown. Sec...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IWA Publishing
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Water and Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://jwh.iwaponline.com/content/21/1/109 |
| _version_ | 1797903439672377344 |
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| author | Akilah Stewart Catherine Seepersad Aliya Hosein John Agard Adrian Cashman Dave Chadee Adesh Ramsubhag |
| author_facet | Akilah Stewart Catherine Seepersad Aliya Hosein John Agard Adrian Cashman Dave Chadee Adesh Ramsubhag |
| author_sort | Akilah Stewart |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study investigated the sources and microbiological quality of domestic water used by rural communities of Speightstown, Barbados; Carriacou, Grenada; and Nariva, Trinidad. The primary water source was harvested rainwater in Carriacou, and the public water supply for Nariva and Speightstown. Secondary water supplies of the communities came from untreated sources including rainwater, wells, boreholes and springs. E. coli was detected at higher frequencies in water from Carriacou (41.3%) and Nariva (47.4%) than Speightstown (3.6%). Generally, more untreated samples of rainwater (44.6%) and surface/ground water (58.3%) were E. coli positive than treated water obtained from the public supply (9.9%). These findings demonstrate the increased risk to residents in rural communities of the Caribbean who utilize untreated rainwater and environmental sources such as springs and wells. These results demonstrate the usefulness of traditional methods such as the compartment bag test in determining the microbiological quality of domestic water in resource-challenged rural communities of the Caribbean.
HIGHLIGHTS
Residents from Carriacou depended on harvested rainwater while those in Speightstown and Nariva relied more on the public distribution system.;
E. coli was detected at higher frequencies in water samples from Carriacou and Nariva than Speightstown.;
More untreated samples of rainwater and surface/ground water were E. coli positive.;
The CBT method proved useful for determining microbiological water quality in rural communities.; |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T09:32:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4eaf420ae6ba4f8992fe7fc3e7366a38 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1477-8920 1996-7829 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T09:32:57Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | IWA Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Water and Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-4eaf420ae6ba4f8992fe7fc3e7366a382023-02-18T09:20:12ZengIWA PublishingJournal of Water and Health1477-89201996-78292023-01-0121110912410.2166/wh.2022.249249Sources and microbiological quality of domestic water in three rural communities in the southern CaribbeanAkilah Stewart0Catherine Seepersad1Aliya Hosein2John Agard3Adrian Cashman4Dave Chadee5Adesh Ramsubhag6 The Department of Life Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago The Department of Life Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago The Department of Life Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago The Department of Life Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago The Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies, The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados The Department of Life Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago The Department of Life Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago This study investigated the sources and microbiological quality of domestic water used by rural communities of Speightstown, Barbados; Carriacou, Grenada; and Nariva, Trinidad. The primary water source was harvested rainwater in Carriacou, and the public water supply for Nariva and Speightstown. Secondary water supplies of the communities came from untreated sources including rainwater, wells, boreholes and springs. E. coli was detected at higher frequencies in water from Carriacou (41.3%) and Nariva (47.4%) than Speightstown (3.6%). Generally, more untreated samples of rainwater (44.6%) and surface/ground water (58.3%) were E. coli positive than treated water obtained from the public supply (9.9%). These findings demonstrate the increased risk to residents in rural communities of the Caribbean who utilize untreated rainwater and environmental sources such as springs and wells. These results demonstrate the usefulness of traditional methods such as the compartment bag test in determining the microbiological quality of domestic water in resource-challenged rural communities of the Caribbean. HIGHLIGHTS Residents from Carriacou depended on harvested rainwater while those in Speightstown and Nariva relied more on the public distribution system.; E. coli was detected at higher frequencies in water samples from Carriacou and Nariva than Speightstown.; More untreated samples of rainwater and surface/ground water were E. coli positive.; The CBT method proved useful for determining microbiological water quality in rural communities.;http://jwh.iwaponline.com/content/21/1/109caribbeancompartment bag testdrinking waterhealth riskmicrobial water qualityrainwater harvesting |
| spellingShingle | Akilah Stewart Catherine Seepersad Aliya Hosein John Agard Adrian Cashman Dave Chadee Adesh Ramsubhag Sources and microbiological quality of domestic water in three rural communities in the southern Caribbean Journal of Water and Health caribbean compartment bag test drinking water health risk microbial water quality rainwater harvesting |
| title | Sources and microbiological quality of domestic water in three rural communities in the southern Caribbean |
| title_full | Sources and microbiological quality of domestic water in three rural communities in the southern Caribbean |
| title_fullStr | Sources and microbiological quality of domestic water in three rural communities in the southern Caribbean |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sources and microbiological quality of domestic water in three rural communities in the southern Caribbean |
| title_short | Sources and microbiological quality of domestic water in three rural communities in the southern Caribbean |
| title_sort | sources and microbiological quality of domestic water in three rural communities in the southern caribbean |
| topic | caribbean compartment bag test drinking water health risk microbial water quality rainwater harvesting |
| url | http://jwh.iwaponline.com/content/21/1/109 |
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