Spatial and Seasonal Drinking Water Quality Assessment in a Sub-Saharan Country (Guinea-Bissau)
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal target 6.1 calls for universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water. Worldwide, about 2.2 billion people live without access to safe water, and millions of people suffer from waterborne pathogens each year, representing the most p...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/13/1987 |
| _version_ | 1797441649794613248 |
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| author | Ana Machado Eva Amorim Adriano A. Bordalo |
| author_facet | Ana Machado Eva Amorim Adriano A. Bordalo |
| author_sort | Ana Machado |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal target 6.1 calls for universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water. Worldwide, about 2.2 billion people live without access to safe water, and millions of people suffer from waterborne pathogens each year, representing the most pressing situation in developing countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the drinking water quality dynamics across an endemic cholera sub-Saharan country (Guinea-Bissau), and understand its implications for public health. Microbiological and physical–chemical quality parameters of 252 major water sources spread all over the country were seasonally surveyed. These comprised hand-dug shallow wells and boreholes, fitted with a bucket or a pump to retrieve water. The results showed that the majority of water sources available to the population were grossly polluted with faecal material (80%), being unsuitable for consumption, with significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.05) higher levels during the wet season. Hand-dug wells revealed the highest contamination levels. The chemical contamination was less relevant, although 83% of the water sources were acidic (pH < 6.5). This study highlights the potential health risk associated with the lack of potable drinking water, reinforcing the evidence for water monitoring, and the need to improve WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) infrastructure and water management in West African countries. In addition, the authors suggest easy-to-implement interventions that can have a dramatic impact in the water quality, assisting to reduce the associated waterborne diseases rise. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:26:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e002f62e5576466381d8755a6ed1d97c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:26:13Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-e002f62e5576466381d8755a6ed1d97c2023-11-30T22:34:53ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412022-06-011413198710.3390/w14131987Spatial and Seasonal Drinking Water Quality Assessment in a Sub-Saharan Country (Guinea-Bissau)Ana Machado0Eva Amorim1Adriano A. Bordalo2Laboratory of Hydrobiology and Ecology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS—UP), University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, PortugalLaboratory of Hydrobiology and Ecology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS—UP), University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, PortugalLaboratory of Hydrobiology and Ecology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS—UP), University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, PortugalThe United Nations Sustainable Development Goal target 6.1 calls for universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water. Worldwide, about 2.2 billion people live without access to safe water, and millions of people suffer from waterborne pathogens each year, representing the most pressing situation in developing countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the drinking water quality dynamics across an endemic cholera sub-Saharan country (Guinea-Bissau), and understand its implications for public health. Microbiological and physical–chemical quality parameters of 252 major water sources spread all over the country were seasonally surveyed. These comprised hand-dug shallow wells and boreholes, fitted with a bucket or a pump to retrieve water. The results showed that the majority of water sources available to the population were grossly polluted with faecal material (80%), being unsuitable for consumption, with significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.05) higher levels during the wet season. Hand-dug wells revealed the highest contamination levels. The chemical contamination was less relevant, although 83% of the water sources were acidic (pH < 6.5). This study highlights the potential health risk associated with the lack of potable drinking water, reinforcing the evidence for water monitoring, and the need to improve WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) infrastructure and water management in West African countries. In addition, the authors suggest easy-to-implement interventions that can have a dramatic impact in the water quality, assisting to reduce the associated waterborne diseases rise.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/13/1987water qualitydrinking waterWASHwaterborne diseasesOne HealthGuinea-Bissau |
| spellingShingle | Ana Machado Eva Amorim Adriano A. Bordalo Spatial and Seasonal Drinking Water Quality Assessment in a Sub-Saharan Country (Guinea-Bissau) Water water quality drinking water WASH waterborne diseases One Health Guinea-Bissau |
| title | Spatial and Seasonal Drinking Water Quality Assessment in a Sub-Saharan Country (Guinea-Bissau) |
| title_full | Spatial and Seasonal Drinking Water Quality Assessment in a Sub-Saharan Country (Guinea-Bissau) |
| title_fullStr | Spatial and Seasonal Drinking Water Quality Assessment in a Sub-Saharan Country (Guinea-Bissau) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Spatial and Seasonal Drinking Water Quality Assessment in a Sub-Saharan Country (Guinea-Bissau) |
| title_short | Spatial and Seasonal Drinking Water Quality Assessment in a Sub-Saharan Country (Guinea-Bissau) |
| title_sort | spatial and seasonal drinking water quality assessment in a sub saharan country guinea bissau |
| topic | water quality drinking water WASH waterborne diseases One Health Guinea-Bissau |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/13/1987 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT anamachado spatialandseasonaldrinkingwaterqualityassessmentinasubsaharancountryguineabissau AT evaamorim spatialandseasonaldrinkingwaterqualityassessmentinasubsaharancountryguineabissau AT adrianoabordalo spatialandseasonaldrinkingwaterqualityassessmentinasubsaharancountryguineabissau |