Sanitation Mapping of Groundwater Contamination in a Rural Village of India

Abstract

Availability of clean water and adequate sanitation facilities are of prime importance for limiting diarrheal diseases. We examined the spatial information on the groundwater quality and sanitation facilities of a village in southern India using Geographic Information System (GIS) tools. Place of residence, position of wells and latrines were mapped and well water samples were tested for microbial contamination (Total Coliform Counts (TCC), Fecal Coliform Counts (FCC) and Fecal Streptococcal Counts (FSC)). A well structured questionnaire was administered to 50 residents of the selected areas to elicit information on water collection, handling and storage. The location and distances of wells from latrines were determined using the Global Positioning System (GPS) device and a tape rule respectively. Data on 170 cases of various water-borne diseases were collected from primary health centers in the study area. Groundwater in the village was found to be microbiologically unfit for consumption. Analysis using direct observations supplemented by GIS maps revealed poor planning, design of the wells and improper siting of wells from latrines which were found to be the possible reasons of groundwater contamination. There was a significant difference in TCC between covered and uncovered wells (p < 0.01) but no significant differences were observed in the FCC, FSC and well covering. The mean distance (6.44 ± 2.37 m) of wells from the latrines in the study area was below the limit (15.24 m or 50 ft) set by United State Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). TCC and FCC increased with a decrease in distance between the wells and latrines with a significance (p < 0.01). A moderate negative correlation (r =-0.593, r =-0.470) was ensued between the distance from latrine and coliform count. This study accentuates the need to set standards for the siting of wells from latrines and need for treatment.

Impact of Different Irrigation Systems on Water Quality in Peri-Urban Areas of Gujarat, India

“…Studies have shown that in a rural setting, the proximity of latrines to a groundwater body is negatively related to the microbiological quality of the groundwater (Megha et al 2015). Our study also found that the households located closer to an area with open drains were more likely to have poorer water quality, although the estimated effects were very small.…”

“…Studies have also found a negative relationship between the proximity of latrines to groundwater and the groundwater's microbiological quality in a rural setting (Mahadevan and Krishnaswamy 1984;Megha et al 2015).Groundwater contamination is an even bigger problem in peri-urban areas, where population is dense, drainage systems are not developed, and water infrastructure is located closely to on-site sanitation systems. Pit latrines and sceptic tanks are common types of on-site sanitation facility in rural areas of India and are sources of groundwater contamination.…”

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“…Studies conducted around the world heavily criticize the UN's basic notion of safe/improved water sources where potable water quality degradation by a variety of chemical/microbial species is ubiquitous 44,41 . In India, where open defecation practices are rampant, especially in rural areas, the potential for microbial contamination of water resources is a dark reality.…”

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“…Keberadaan koliform seperti E.coli mengindikasikan adanya patogen penyebab penyakit pada air seperti bakteri, virus dan parasit (Pal, 2014). Megha et al (2015) mendeskripsikan dua mekanisme utama pencemaran air yaitu ketidaksempurnaan distribusi dan rendahnya kesadaran individu memenuhi syarat higienis.…”