Water/Sanitation

Yuriko Kubota

Nature of WaterComposition of fresh water: 69.56% is frozen,

30.06% is groundwater, and the rest is lakes, soil moisture, water vapour, wetlands, rivers, and etc.

Composition of total water: 97.46% is salt water, 2.522% fresh water frozen or underground, and 0.0103% is fresh water that is not frozen or underground

Total water on earth (1000 km³): 1 385 984 km³

Water covers three quarters of the earth’s surface

Why is water vital to our life?An average person is composed of 55% of waterHuman needs at least two litres of water a day;

without water we would not be able to surviveMost of our food is composed of waterMore than half of the world’s animal and plant

life live in waterWater is necessary for household and industrial

uses, thermal and nuclear power generation, irrigation, and livestock watering

What are the underlying problems concerning water/sanitation?Fresh water is limitedToxic chemicals contaminating water (such

as, arsenic in drinking water)Risks to health and potential diagnosis of

water related diseasesWastewater, greywater, etc is used for

agriculture and aquaculture Radiological hazardsPoor quality of water becomes a threat to

animal and plants

CausesScarcity of good quality waterInfectious agents contaminating waterUnsafe use of recreational waterUnsafe use of wastewater, excreta, and

greywater2.5 billion people lack improved sanitation

facilitiesRadiological hazards due to radionuclide that

occur in water

FactsApproximately 1 billion people of the world’s

population are denied access to clean water and 2.5 billion people lack access to improved sanitation facilities

Countries with most renewable fresh water: 1. Brazil 2. Russia 3.Canada

Almost 9% of Canada’stotal area is covered withfreshwater

Lists of water/sanitation related diseasesAnaemia ArsenicosisCholera FluorosisLeptospirosisMalariaRingwormScabiesTyphoid and Paratyphoid Enteric Fevers

Emerging Issue LegionellosisDefinition: collection of infections caused by

legionella pneumophila and related bacteriaWater is legionella’s most natural reservoirCommonly found in water systems of hotels,

homes, ships; cooling towers; respiratory therapy equipments; and spa pools

Usually caused by warm temperaturesMay cause a mild febrile illness to a fatal

pneumonia

How to prevent the matterConsidering regulatory aspects of managing

legionella in water systems and limiting exposure to such infections

Identifying source of the diseases Raising awareness to the public and prevent

recurrence of the diseaseEnforcing regulations to deal with outbreaks

of legionella related infections

Preventive Management ApproachesMonitoring the quality of waterTo build more improved sanitation facilitiesTo teach developing countries about hygieneTo enforce more strict laws and policiesPreserve fresh waterControl of safe recreational waterPreventing unsafe use of wastewater,

excreta, etc

Bibliographyhttp://www.ec.gc.ca/water/e_main.htmlhttp://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/

dwq/guidelines/en/index.htmlhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=0uYInDZoD5ohttp://www.ec.gc.ca/default.asp?

lang=En&n=24F7F60E-1