Sanitation Updates

The implementation of a dengue control programme in Puerto Rico led to the discovery of previously unknown mosquito breeding sites underground. Research published in the March 2008 issue of Medical and Veterinary Entomology showed that large number of mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti), which transmit dengue fever to humans, were found to breed in septic tanks.

R. Barrera, M. Amador, A. Diaz, J. Smith, J. L. Munoz-Jordan, Y. Rosario (2008). Unusual productivity of Aedes aegypti in septic tanks and its implications for dengue control.
Medical and Veterinary Entomology ; vol. 22, no. 1 ; p. 62-69.

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Leptospirosis, a life-threatening zoonotic disease, has become an important urban slum health problem. Epidemics of leptospirosis now occur in cities throughout the developing world, as the growth of slum settlements has produced conditions for rat-borne transmission of this disease. In this prevalence survey of more than 3,000 residents from a favela slum community in Brazil, Geographical Information System (GIS) and modeling approaches identified specific deficiencies in the sanitation infrastructure of slum environments-open sewers, refuse, and inadequate floodwater drainage-that serve as sources for Leptospira transmission. In addition to the environmental attributes of the slum environment, low socioeconomic status was found to independently contribute to the risk of infection. These findings indicate that effective prevention of leptospirosis will need to address the social factors that produce unequal health outcomes among slum residents, in addition to improving sanitation.

Citation: Reis RB, Ribeiro GS, Felzemburgh RDM, Santana FS, Mohr S, et al. (200 Impact of Environment and Social Gradient on Leptospira Infection in Urban Slums. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2(4): e228. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0000228

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HEALTH and Environment Minister Rudyard Spencer yesterday announced Government’s intention to create a master plan for sewerage as part of efforts to improve Jamaica’s sanitation.

The plan, the minister said, will include the institutional arrangements for the provision of sewerage services in Jamaica.

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NEW LATIN AMERICAN CINEMA: Basic Sanitation, the Movie (Saneamento basico, o filme), JORGE FURTADO, Brazil, 2008, 112 minutes, Color

“In order to stem “the smell of poop” in the river that runs through the Italian immigrant village of Crystal Line in Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul, Marina Marghera Figueiredo applies for government money to build a new sewer. Unfortunately, there are no funds allocated for sanitation, but there is a sizeable grant available to make a 10-minute fiction video. After much bickering with affable husband Joaquim and dad Otaviano, they decide to write and produce “The Sewer Monster” as a way to get the money to clean the river. (.. .) -Eddie Cockrell-”

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Only 3.5% of Costa Rica’s wastewater is treated before being discharged into the country’s rivers, water utility AyA chairman Ricardo Sancho said. Costa Rica has only five operating wastewater treatment plants, which can only serve one-third of the population. The San Isidro treatment plant, in Choluteca municipality, has collapsed while Limón province only has a sea outfall pipe.

Source: BNamericas.com [subscription site], 7 Apr 2008

Industries in Peru will have to accommodate environmental standards for wastewater treatment set by developed countries, otherwise they cannot export their products, said José Salazar, president of Sunass, the national water authority. To comply with the free trade agreement with the USA, Peru also needs to raise industrial water use rates. A study on water rate revision must be ready by the end of 2008.

Source: BNamericas.com [subscription site], 1 Apr 2008

UNITED NATIONS - / MaximsNews Network / 07 April 2008. Conagua, Mexico’s national water authority, recently approved a budget of 1.8bn pesos (US$168mn) for sanitation and infrastructure projects along the Balsas River.

The river flows through eight states in the country’s central region. It is one of the country’s longest rivers. It is used as a source of hydro-electric power and irrigation.

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El Salvador’s government is making sanitation a national priority and increasing coverage throughout the country, national aqueduct and sewerage authority Anda sanitation department director Rubén Alemán told BNamericas.

Although sanitation has not been a priority in this country for many years, we are beginning to incorporate it in a nationwide policy,” he said.

“In 2008 we are getting ready to design a national sanitation agenda, based on the country report presented at the first Latin American Sanitation Conference [Latinosan] that took place in Cali, Colombia, in 2007,” he added.

A UN regional report presented at Latinosan found that only 81 of El Salvador’s 262 municipalities have sewerage systems. In addition, only 3% of the country’s wastewater is treated before being discharged into natural waters.

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El Salvador: Sanitation is a national priority in 2008 « WASH news Latin America and Caribbean

The Virginia Hospital Center Medical Brigade (VHCMB), through its Remote Village Project, has partnered with Engineers Without Borders (EWB) to provide potable water and sanitation to the community of Valle Bonito. The village of Valle Bonito consists of various neighborhoods only some of which are served by the water distribution system. Recently renovated by the VHCMB / EWB artnership, this system now provides chlorinated drinking water to those homes connected. Unfortunately, more than half of the Community remains to be served by this system.

Further information about the project and instructions on how to donate funds for the project are at ewb-honduras.pdf