Employing CBPR to investigate function, utility, and longevity of household filters to improve potable water quality for indigenous peoples at Lake Atitlán, Guatemala: a pilot study with San Pedro de La Laguna

Abstract

Cyanobacterial blooms at Lake Atitlán in Guatemala threaten and compromise the livelihood and health of local residents. Indigenous Tz'utujil, Kaqchikel, and K'iche' rely directly on lake water for drinking, bathing, cleaning, cooking, and fishing. Nonpoint source runoff and untreated wastewater pumped directly into the lake contribute to high fecal pathogen loads into source waters. Concurrent nutrient loading results in cyanobacterial blooms further compromising water quality. A lakeside municipality facing high rates of childhood gastrointestinal illness volunteered to engage in community-based participatory research (CBPR) to evaluate efficacy, utility, and longevity of filters in households. The filters consistently reduced the risk of coliforms and E. coli in household water drawn from the lake based on World Health Organization guidelines. Household surveys were simultaneously administered through a student leadership group regarding water usage, water quality, and community health. Filters demonstrated ability to reduce high loads of fecal indicators from source waters and ability to remove a cyanobacterial toxin (microcystin) at 10 lg/L in deionized water. Further studies are imperative to determine longevity of use in households and CBPR provides a powerful avenue to test efficacy of a possible intervention while engaging stakeholders and empowering community members with sustainable solutions.

Childhood parasitic infections and gastrointestinal illness in indigenous communities at Lake Atitlán, Guatemala

“…Much lower rates of household water treatment in the region have been previously reported ( Nagata et al., 2011a ; Nagata et al., 2011b ; Roegner et al, 2016 ). While the results of reported household treatment varied substantially by community, we found that (1) communities and households without additional household level treatment are at increased risk of protozoal infections in children 5 years of age and younger; and (2) communities with lower rates of household treatment of water also report higher incidence of household gastrointestinal illness in children 5 years of age and younger.…”

“…This permitted greater participant trust and retention, as well as the confidential distribution of results and follow up care. Previous community-based work has demonstrated direct engagement with households around filter use or other intervention methods can drastically improve water quality at point of use in the household ( Roegner et al, 2016 ). However, this approach has its limitations and sampling bias as we had uneven participant distribution among locations ( Fig.…”

“…Described as “the most beautiful lake in the world,” Atitlán continues to attract international tourists, expatriates, and internal migration. This tourism and human movement, compounded by a lack of urban and territorial planning, has resulted in disorderly population growth, expansion of agricultural monoculture, deforestation through slash and burn activities, and this recent change has occurred with little to no wastewater management ( Castellanos et al, 2002 ; Ferráns et al, 2018 ; Roegner et al, 2016 ). Streams and runoff from an expansive watershed (540 km 2 ) drain high nutrient and contaminant loads into the lake, with direct sewage inflow ( Castellanos et al, 2002 ; Corman et al, 2015 ; Ferráns et al, 2018 ; Rejmánková et al, 2011 ).…”

“…This deep, once oligotrophic lake, serves as the primary drinking water source for more than 70,000 inhabitants around the lake ( Orozco, 2017 ; Roegner et al, 2016 ). It provides ecosystem services for a basin of close to a million people.…”

“…The twelve municipalities on the lake shores face dilapidated and undersized, or completely lack, wastewater treatment facilities ( Chandra et al., 2013 ). The persistent entry of raw sewage into the lake, estimated at 45,000 m 3 per day, has resulted in direct fecal contamination ( Ferráns et al, 2018 ; Orozco, 2017 ; Roegner et al, 2016 ). At least five lakeside towns draw a portion of municipal water directly from the lake.…”