Faecal contamination of groundwater in rural Vanuatu: prevalence and predictors

Foster, T; Willetts, J; Kotra, KK

Faecal contamination of groundwater in rural Vanuatu: prevalence and predictors

Foster, T

Willetts, J

Kotra, KK

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Publisher:: IWA Publishing
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Journal of Water and Health, 2019, 17, (5), pp. 737-748
Issue Date:: 2019-10-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Foster, T https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1738-3450
dc.contributor.author	Willetts, J https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3975-9642
dc.contributor.author	Kotra, KK
dc.date.accessioned	2022-03-16T06:02:38Z
dc.date.available	2022-03-16T06:02:38Z
dc.date.issued	2019-10-01
dc.identifier.citation	Journal of Water and Health, 2019, 17, (5), pp. 737-748
dc.identifier.issn	1477-8920
dc.identifier.issn	1996-7829
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/155261
dc.description.abstract	Groundwater is an important source of water for coastal communities in Pacific Islands Countries. This study assessed the prevalence and predictors of faecal contamination in groundwater sources across 11 islands in Vanuatu. Escherichia coli was detected in 49% of sources and E. coli concentration exceeded 10 MPN (most probable number)/100 mL for 23% of sources. When adjusting for other variables, the detection of E. coli was significantly associated with severe pump stand corrosion, suggestive of contaminated run-off directly entering boreholes. E. coli concentration >10 MPN/100 mL was also significantly associated with (i) hand-dug wells (as compared to drilled boreholes); (ii) severe pump stand corrosion; (iii) water points underlain by volcanic rocks (as compared to coral limestone); and (iv) rainfall in the previous 24 h. Encasing pump stands in concrete – as some communities had done – was found to have a significant protective effect. While baseline statistics for Sustainable Development Goal target 6.1 suggest that 87% of Vanuatu's rural population have access to at least a basic (improved) water source, the results from this study point to extensive microbial water quality concerns linked to degraded water supply infrastructure in need of rehabilitation.
dc.format	Print
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	IWA Publishing
dc.relation	University of Technology Sydney
dc.relation.ispartof	Journal of Water and Health
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.2166/wh.2019.016
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.classification	Microbiology
dc.subject.mesh	Environmental Monitoring
dc.subject.mesh	Escherichia coli
dc.subject.mesh	Feces
dc.subject.mesh	Groundwater
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Prevalence
dc.subject.mesh	Rural Population
dc.subject.mesh	Vanuatu
dc.subject.mesh	Water Microbiology
dc.subject.mesh	Water Pollution
dc.subject.mesh	Water Supply
dc.subject.mesh	Feces
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Escherichia coli
dc.subject.mesh	Prevalence
dc.subject.mesh	Water Microbiology
dc.subject.mesh	Environmental Monitoring
dc.subject.mesh	Water Pollution
dc.subject.mesh	Water Supply
dc.subject.mesh	Rural Population
dc.subject.mesh	Vanuatu
dc.subject.mesh	Groundwater
dc.title	Faecal contamination of groundwater in rural Vanuatu: prevalence and predictors
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	17
utslib.location.activity	England
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)/Institute For Sustainable Futures
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - ISF - Institute for Sustainable Futures
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	true
dc.date.updated	2022-03-16T06:02:36Z
pubs.issue	5
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	17
utslib.citation.issue	5

Abstract:

Groundwater is an important source of water for coastal communities in Pacific Islands Countries. This study assessed the prevalence and predictors of faecal contamination in groundwater sources across 11 islands in Vanuatu. Escherichia coli was detected in 49% of sources and E. coli concentration exceeded 10 MPN (most probable number)/100 mL for 23% of sources. When adjusting for other variables, the detection of E. coli was significantly associated with severe pump stand corrosion, suggestive of contaminated run-off directly entering boreholes. E. coli concentration >10 MPN/100 mL was also significantly associated with (i) hand-dug wells (as compared to drilled boreholes); (ii) severe pump stand corrosion; (iii) water points underlain by volcanic rocks (as compared to coral limestone); and (iv) rainfall in the previous 24 h. Encasing pump stands in concrete – as some communities had done – was found to have a significant protective effect. While baseline statistics for Sustainable Development Goal target 6.1 suggest that 87% of Vanuatu's rural population have access to at least a basic (improved) water source, the results from this study point to extensive microbial water quality concerns linked to degraded water supply infrastructure in need of rehabilitation.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/155261