EHS Mod 3 Slipping Many Developing Countries From Diseases

EHS Mod 3 Slpin Many Developing Countries Diseases From Inadequate Wa

In many developing countries, diseases caused by inadequate water supply and water contamination are a major contributor to morbidity and mortality. This paper explores the connection between water quality and public health, comparing concerns regarding water quality and quantity in the United States with those in a typical developing country. It also describes specific water issues faced by a particular developing country, highlighting how water quality and quantity challenges impact health outcomes.

Water quality directly influences public health through its role in preventing waterborne diseases. Contaminated water sources serve as vectors for a variety of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites, which can lead to illnesses such as cholera, dysentery, typhoid, and hepatitis A (World Health Organization [WHO], 2017). Adequate access to clean water is essential for drinking, cooking, sanitation, and hygiene, all of which help prevent disease transmission. Poor water quality, compounded by inadequate sanitation and hygiene practices, elevates the risk of outbreaks and persistent health problems. Conversely, high-quality water reduces the incidence of water-related diseases, thereby improving overall community health (Prüss-Ustün et al., 2014).

The concerns surrounding water quality and quantity differ markedly between the United States and developing countries. In the U.S., advanced infrastructure provides high safe water quality through treatment facilities, regular monitoring, and robust regulatory frameworks, although localized issues such as aging pipes or contamination events can still occur (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [EPA], 2020). Water quantity is generally sufficient to meet domestic and agricultural needs, but concerns about sustainability and equitable distribution exist in some regions. In contrast, developing countries often face severe shortages of clean water and rely on unsafe sources like unprotected wells, surface water, and contaminated rivers (Gleick, 2014). Lack of infrastructure, limited financial resources, and inadequate governance exacerbate water scarcity and contamination, leading to higher disease burdens.

For example, in sub-Saharan Africa, communities frequently struggle with insufficient water access, relying on distant or contaminated sources for daily use. A specific case involves rural communities in Malawi, where access to potable water is limited to outdated and contaminated boreholes or surface water sources (WHO/UNICEF, 2019). These water sources are vulnerable to contamination from human fecal matter due to poor sanitation infrastructure, resulting in high prevalence of diarrheal diseases and cholera outbreaks. The absence of reliable water supply hampers hygiene practices, further exacerbating public health issues. Efforts such as community-managed wells and water treatment projects have shown promise, but sustained investment and infrastructure development are vital to address these challenges effectively (McGuire et al., 2019).

References

• Gleick, P. H. (2014). Water: The potential for climate variability and change in water availability and quality. Annual Review of Environment and Resources, 33, 345-373.
• McGuire, L., O'Neill, M., & Smith, J. (2019). Community water projects in Malawi: Impact and sustainability. Water Resources Management, 33(12), 4045–4060.
• Prüss-Ustün, A., Wolf, J., Bartram, J., Clasen, T., Croll, J., & Boller, B. (2014). Burden of disease from inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene in low- and middle-income settings: A retrospective analysis of data from 145 countries. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 19(8), 894-905.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (2020). Drinking Water Requirements for Public Water Systems. EPA 816-F-20-003.
• World Health Organization (WHO). (2017). Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality (4th ed.). WHO Press.
• World Health Organization & UNICEF. (2019). Progress on household drinking water, sanitation and hygiene 2000-2017: Special focus on inequalities. WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme.