Post on 26-Mar-2015
WATER AND HEALTH
CAPT John Walmsley, REHSUS Dept. of Health and Human Services
Water and HealthAccess to safe drinking water is a
fundamental need and human rightSafe water is critical for:
Drinking/hydrationFood preparation and clean upPersonal hygieneMedical care (hospitals)
Safe water also impacts:Development of industryOther economic development (tourism)
Water and HealthSAFE WATER• Enormous health and economic benefits to
communities• Facilitates the achievement of all eight MDGs• Lack contributes to illness and death, esp.
children• Diarrhea is 2nd leading cause of death in the
“under 5s”• Children under 5 represent 90% of all deaths
caused by diarrheal diseases – nearly 1 in 5 deaths
Water and HealthDISEASES TRANSMITTED THRU WATERDiarrheal diseases including intestinal
parasites and wormsBacterial/viral infections including E.coli,
cholera, typhoid, hepatitis A and dysenteryWash water can also transmit diseases of skin
& eyesSurveillance and reporting systems don’t
capture wellChallenging to document scope of problemBaseline surveillance data is lacking
Water and HealthSURVEILLANCE & REPORTINGExtent of waterborne illness not always
obvious when communities have been impacted for a long time
Enhanced surveillance systems needed to develop accurate statistics and allocate program resources
Improved surveillance systems positively impact public health across the board – not just for waterborne illness
Water and HealthWATER SOURCESLarge scale catchment systems (airport runways)Residential rooftop catchment systemsFreshwater lenses and wellsSeawater run thru reverse osmosis systemsStreams and springs (Japanese spring
containment)Coconuts!Imported/bottled water (Kwajelein Army Base)Most PICTs have a need to develop and implement
water source protection measures to prevent contamination
Water and HealthDISTRIBUTION / REGULATIONPublic water systems in more urbanized areas
Regulated by local EPAs or WAsSmaller, village based water systems
May or may not be regulatedIndividual water supplies: catchment, wells,
streamsUsually not regulated
Bottled water companies in larger population centersRegulation highly variableIMPORTANT ROLE IN EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Water and HealthWATER RESOURCE VULNERABILITIESDrought and heat wavesTidal surgeTsunamiSevere storms / extreme weather eventsClimate change: rise in sea level will result in
saltwater intrusion into freshwater suppliesCRITICAL: Any disaster can impact water
resources – emergency preparedness & water safety plans should address risks posed by potential emergencies
Water and HealthTREATMENT ISSUESChlorination in municipal water systems – but
can be compromised due to loss of system pressure
“First Flush” mechanisms divert initial rainfall from carrying rooftop contamination into cisterns + screens
Chlorination plus periodic cleaning and sanitizing of cisterns and catchment tanks
Solar pasteurizationUV light disinfectionBoiling (often impractical)No treatment in many island settings
Water and HealthLOCAL EPAS/WA & HEALTH DEPARTMENTSHealth issues related to unsafe water dealt
with by health departmentsBUT – water systems overseen by EPAs and
Water AuthoritiesCritical that local HDs and EPAs work
together to improve on the availability of safe water
Much potential for enhanced coordination and collaboration
Water and HealthWHO’S WORKING ON WATER ISSUES IN THE
PACIFIC?US DOIUS EPAUS DHHS: OPH / CDC / FDAPRELSPC/SOPACSPREPADBWHO
Water and HealthWHO’S WORKING ON WATER ISSUES IN THE
PACIFIC?UNICEFUN-HABITATUoH College of Tropical Ag. and HRUoH Sea GrantUoG Water and Env. Research InstituteFramework for the Pacific WASH CoalitionPacific Framework for Action on Drinking
Water Quality and HealthGlobal WASH Cluster
Water and Health
CURRENTLYHHS working within the Department to
synergize efforts related to EH, including water (CDC, FDA)
Enhancing relationships with DOI, US EPA and other Federal agencies active in EH and water issues
Seeking to work with regional programs to promote EH programs and issues (NPEHA)
Water and HealthMDG 7 – Target 10: Halve, by 2015, the
proportion of people w/o sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation
Water and sanitation interventions are cost effective across all world regionsEconomic benefits range from US$5 to US$46 per
US$1 spent (Journal of Water and Health, 2007)Investment in water services, hygiene promotion
and sanitation is among the most cost-effective ways of reducing child mortality (World Bank)
CAPT John Walmsley, REHSOffice of Pacific HealthHHS Region IXSan Francisco, CA415-437-8114John.Walmsley@hhs.gov