Waterborne Diseases, Treatment, and Environmental Health
Waterborne Diseases
Water serves as a transport agent for pathogens eliminated by humans through manure.
Biological Agents (Ingestion)
- Typhoid
- Paratyphoid
- Cholera
- Giardiasis
Chemical Agents
- Fluorosis (excessive fluoride)
- Lead Poisoning
- Metahemoglobinemia (nitrate)
Water Quality
- Physical impurities: related to color, odor, and flavor.
- Chemical impurities: dissolved substances resulting from the presence of water.
- Biological impurities: pathogenic microorganisms (viruses, bacteria).
Public Water Supply System
- Capture: from surface water bodies.
- Adduction: transport of water between the source and the rest of the system.
- Treatment: reduces impurities in the water to a minimum desirable level.
Water Treatment Plant (ETA)
- Coagulation: water is intensely agitated and receives coagulants like aluminum sulfate.
- Flocculation: after mixing, water is lightly shaken in chambers to form flocs.
- Settling/Sedimentation: flocs settle in chambers.
- Filtration: retains impurities that overcome decanters (90%).
- Disinfection: aims to exterminate pathogenic microorganisms.
- Storage and Distribution
Pits
- Septic: waste is transported, potentially carrying waterborne diseases.
- Dry: receives effluent directly without water.
- Ditches: septic systems used when the terrain is permeable or the water table is high.
Trash: Indirect Route of Transmission
- Insects and Rodents: solid waste promotes the proliferation of flies, etc.
- Animals that feed on garbage
- Environmental pollution: garbage can cause pollution with detrimental consequences to humans.
- Liquid manure: resulting from the anaerobic decomposition of waste.
- Anaerobic decomposition in landfills.
- Composting: reconditioning of soil, increasing water and air retention, and making chemical fertilizers more digestible.
Solid Waste Management
- Reduction: combat waste products and food waste.
- Reuse: reuse objects and returnable packaging for other purposes.
- Recycling: return waste to the productive cycle.
Benefits of Waste Management
- Decrease production costs
- Reduction of energy consumption
- Intensification of the local economy
Health Importance
The main objective is the promotion of human health in its broadest sense: a state of complete well-being (physical, mental, and social), not just the absence of disease.
Public Water Supply
- Spring water: quality.
- Capture: equipment used for water outlets of the springs.
- Pipeline: set of pipes that feed an industry.
Bioremediation
Application of microorganisms specialized in the degradation or transformation of toxic chemical substances found in soil.
Environmentally Sound Behavior
- Save energy: faster bathing, electric taps, walking short distances, unplugging electrical outlets.
- Conscious eating: prefer fresh produce, vegetables, and fruits.
Wells
- Shallow well: water is collected from the first sheets of water.
- Deep well: water reaches sheets below.
- Well table: water level is under atmospheric pressure.
- Well craft: water level is subject to atmospheric pressure.
- Gushing well: water flows above the soil surface.
Practical Steps to Water Treatment
- Filtration: useful in retaining most impurities, though it doesn’t remove all microorganisms.
- Boiling: simplest way to disinfection.
- Chlorine-based products: chlorine has germicidal action.
Origin of Organic Material in Compost
Organic waste causes smelly conditions and the proliferation of vectors and other undesirable animals. Through fermentation, these materials can be turned into organic fertilizer.