BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Availability of clean water and adequate sanitation facilities are of prime importance for limiting diarrhoeal diseases. We examined the water and sanitation facilities of a village in southern India using geographic information system (GIS) tools. METHODS: Places of residence, water storage and distribution, sewage and places where people in the village defaecated were mapped and drinking water sources were tested for microbial contamination in Nelvoy village, Vellore district, Tamil Nadu. RESULTS: Water in the village was found to be microbiologically unfit for consumption. Analysis using direct observations supplemented by GIS maps revealed poor planning, poor engineering design and lack of policing of the water distribution system causing possible contamination of drinking water from sewage at multiple sites. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Until appropriate engineering designs for water supply and sewage disposal to suit individual village needs are made available, point-of-use water disinfection methods could serve as an interim solution.
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Availability of clean water and adequate sanitation facilities are of prime importance for limiting diarrhoeal diseases. We examined the water and sanitation facilities of a village in southern India using geographic information system (GIS) tools. METHODS: Places of residence, water storage and distribution, sewage and places where people in the village defaecated were mapped and drinking water sources were tested for microbial contamination in Nelvoy village, Vellore district, Tamil Nadu. RESULTS:Water in the village was found to be microbiologically unfit for consumption. Analysis using direct observations supplemented by GIS maps revealed poor planning, poor engineering design and lack of policing of the water distribution system causing possible contamination of drinking water from sewage at multiple sites. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Until appropriate engineering designs for water supply and sewage disposal to suit individual village needs are made available, point-of-use water disinfection methods could serve as an interim solution.
Authors: D Kattula; M R Francis; A Kulinkina; R Sarkar; V R Mohan; S Babji; H D Ward; G Kang; V Balraj; E N Naumova Journal: Epidemiol Infect Date: 2015-02-18 Impact factor: 4.434
Authors: Parimita Routray; Wolf-Peter Schmidt; Sophie Boisson; Thomas Clasen; Marion W Jenkins Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2015-09-10 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Alexandra V Kulinkina; Venkat R Mohan; Mark R Francis; Deepthi Kattula; Rajiv Sarkar; Jeanine D Plummer; Honorine Ward; Gagandeep Kang; Vinohar Balraj; Elena N Naumova Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2016-02-12 Impact factor: 4.379