According to United Nations, about 2 million people die each year from water, sanitation, and hygiene-related causes globally. An estimated 525,000 children under the age of five die from diarrhea each year, often as a result of unsafe water. Childhood diarrhea is still the second-leading cause of childhood mortality. The most common approach to water has emphasized access to water, often by building large number of wells. However, we now know that access is not enough. The quality of water as per National Standard for Drinking Water still remains the best way if the water is relatively safe to drink.
Unsafe drinking water has been a problem in Brgy. Venus, Sergio Osmena, Zamboanga del Norte. Various approaches has already been done in the past. However, the problem still remains. Different interventions such as water disinfection methods were already taught to the residents of the barangay yet some still do not practice boiling, SODIS and chlorination. Past researches has been done and showed that people of this barangay only practice water disinfection methods if they feel the need to but most of them don’t. The residents are already satisfied with the quality of water they have. They don’t see this as a problem because accordingly, nobody got sick from drinking water. However, water analysis says otherwise.
With the latest bacteriological examination for water samples, most of the household water samples as well as samples from the main source and barangay water tanks failed the analysis. With this, the team decided to inspect the water source, its tanks and the distribution of water to each households. This approach will give us a clear picture as to which source and tanks the household is connected to. Measurement of each water tank was also done during the inspection. This will be needed for the future water tank cleaning and chlorination. With the proper identification and assessment, we can give correct intervention or treatment to the barangay water system.
