Utilidad de los registros sanitarios locales para vincular la tasa de incidencia de diarreas con la calidad del agua de consumo / Usefulness of local health reports to link the incidence rate of diarrhea with the quality of drinking water

En este trabajo se realizó un relevamiento de los informes del centro de salud ubicado en Vaqueros (Salta, Argentina) durante un período de 8 meses. Al mismo tiempo se determinó la concentración de Escherichia coli y de quistes de Giardia spp. en muestras procedentes de cuatro fuentes de agua diferentes. No se encontró una relación estadísticamente significativa entre la calidad del agua y los casos de diarrea. Sin embargo, mediante un cálculo de odds ratios, se pudo determinar que uno de los sistemas de potabilización estudiados actúa como factor de protección contra diarreas. El presente trabajo brinda información útil para la planificación de medidas preventivas por parte del sistema de salud local.

In this study, we analyzed the reports of the health care center located in Vaqueros (Salta, Argentina) over an 8-month period. Moreover, we determined the concentration of Escherichia coli and Giardia spp. cysts in samples from four different drinking water sources. A statistical relationship between water quality and cases of diarrhea could not be found. However, using an odds ratio calculation, it was possible to determine that one of the studied drinking water systems acts as a protection factor in cases of diarrhea. The present work provides useful information for planning preventive measures by the local health system.

[Usefulness of local health reports to link the incidence rate of diarrhea with the quality of drinking water]. / Utilidad de los registros sanitarios locales para vincular la tasa de incidencia de diarreas con la calidad del agua de consumo.

In this study, we analyzed the reports of the health care center located in Vaqueros (Salta, Argentina) over an 8-month period. Moreover, we determined the concentration of Escherichia coli and Giardia spp. cysts in samples from four different drinking water sources. A statistical relationship between water quality and cases of diarrhea could not be found. However, using an odds ratio calculation, it was possible to determine that one of the studied drinking water systems acts as a protection factor in cases of diarrhea. The present work provides useful information for planning preventive measures by the local health system.

Caracterización espacial y estacional del agua de consumo proveniente de diversas fuentes en una localidad periurbana de Salta / Spatial and seasonal characterization of the drinking water from various sources in a peri-urban town of Salta

El control del agua de consumo es importante, ya sea que esta provenga de sistemas de potabilización o que carezca de tratamiento previo. El acceso creciente a agua potabilizada ha sido monitorizado a lo largo de los últimos anos a fin de alcanzar los denominados «Objetivos de desarrollo del milenio¼, cuyo plazo se cumplió en 2015. De cara al futuro, los llamados «Objetivos de desarrollo sostenible¼, que se han propuesto para el año 2030, buscan garantizar el acceso a agua segura de toda la población mundial. En el marco de estas metas mundiales, es importante la monitorización de los sistemas locales. En este trabajo se estudió una población que cuenta con diferentes sistemas de provisión de agua de consumo, que incluyen o no el tratamiento de aquella. Se realizó la monitorización de todos los indicadores microbiológicos regidos por el Código Alimentario Argentino y de diversas variables fisicoquímicas, a fin de diferenciar los sitios de muestreo de acuerdo con la influencia de la estacionalidad, el tipo de fuente de provisión de agua y la correlación entre las variables microbiológicas y las fisicoquímicas. Se observó que el agua proveniente de fuentes con tratamiento presentó desviaciones en algunas de sus variables en época de lluvias, mientras que las fuentes sin tratamiento no cumplieron con los requerimientos bacteriológicos en forma permanente. Este estudio pone de manifiesto la importancia de reevaluar los sistemas de potabilización, que deberían garantizar su eficacia de manera constante, así como la inmediata necesidad de desarrollar nuevos sistemas de tratamiento para dar solución a la población que aún no cuenta con agua de consumo segura.

Drinking water monitoring plans are important to characterize both treated and untreated water used for drinking purposes. Access to drinking water increased in recent years as a response to the Millennium Development Goals set for 2015. The new Sustainable Development Goals aim to ensure universal access to safe drinking water by 2030. Within the framework of these global goals, it is crucial to monitor local drinking water systems. In this paper, treated and untreated water from different sources currently consumed in a specific town in Salta, northern Argentina, was thoroughly assessed. Monitoring extended along several seasons and included the physical, chemical and microbiological variables recommended by the Argentine Food Code. On the one hand, treated water mostly complies with these standards, with some non-compliances detected during the rainy season. Untreated water, on the other hand, never meets microbiological standards and is unfit for human consumption. Monitoring seems essential to detect anomalies and help guarantee a constant provision of safe drinking water. New treatment plants are urgently needed to expand the water grid to the entire population.

[Spatial and seasonal characterization of the drinking water from various sources in a peri-urban town of Salta]. / Caracterización espacial y estacional del agua de consumo proveniente de diversas fuentes en una localidad periurbana de Salta.

Drinking water monitoring plans are important to characterize both treated and untreated water used for drinking purposes. Access to drinking water increased in recent years as a response to the Millennium Development Goals set for 2015. The new Sustainable Development Goals aim to ensure universal access to safe drinking water by 2030. Within the framework of these global goals, it is crucial to monitor local drinking water systems. In this paper, treated and untreated water from different sources currently consumed in a specific town in Salta, northern Argentina, was thoroughly assessed. Monitoring extended along several seasons and included the physical, chemical and microbiological variables recommended by the Argentine Food Code. On the one hand, treated water mostly complies with these standards, with some non-compliances detected during the rainy season. Untreated water, on the other hand, never meets microbiological standards and is unfit for human consumption. Monitoring seems essential to detect anomalies and help guarantee a constant provision of safe drinking water. New treatment plants are urgently needed to expand the water grid to the entire population.

Participatory, Multi-Criteria Evaluation Methods as a Means to Increase the Legitimacy and Sustainability of Land Use Planning Processes. The Case of the Chaco Region in Salta, Argentina.

Conflicts over land use and ownership are common in South America and generate frequent confrontations among indigenous peoples, small-scale farmers, and large-scale agricultural producers. We argue in this paper that an accurate identification of these conflicts, together with a participatory evaluation of their importance, will increase the social legitimacy of land use planning processes, rendering decision-making more sustainable in the long term. We describe here a participatory, multi-criteria conflict assessment model developed to identify, locate, and categorize land tenure and use conflicts. The model was applied to the case of the "Chaco" region of the province of Salta, in northwestern Argentina. Basic geographic, cadastral, and social information needed to apply the model was made spatially explicit on a Geographic Information System. Results illustrate the contrasting perceptions of different stakeholders (government officials, social and environmental non-governmental organizations, large-scale agricultural producers, and scholars) on the intensity of land use conflicts in the study area. These results can help better understand and address land tenure conflicts in areas with different cultures and conflicting social and enviornmental interests.

Development of a relative risk model for drinking water regulation and design recommendations for a peri urban region of Argentina.

Argentina is a developing Latin American nation that has an aim of achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals for potable water supplies. Their current regulations however, limit the continued development of improved potable water quality and infrastructure from a microbiological viewpoint. This is since the current regulations are focused solely to pathogenic Eschericia coli (E. coli), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) and fecal indicators. Regions of lower socioeconomic status such as peri-urban areas are particularly at risk due to lessened financial and political ability to influence their environmental quality and infrastructure needs. Therefore, a combined microbiological sampling, analysis and quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) modeling effort were engaged for a peri-urban area of Salta Argentina. Drinking water samples from home taps were analyzed and a QMRA model was developed, results of which were compared against a general 1:10,000 risk level for lack of a current Argentinian standard. This QMRA model was able to demonstrate that the current regulations were being achieved for E. coli but were less than acceptable for P. aeruginosa in some instances. Appropriate health protections are far from acceptable for Giardia for almost all water sources. Untreated water sources were sampled and analyzed then QMRA modeled as well, since a significant number of the community (∼9%) still use them for potable water supplies. For untreated water E. coli risks were near 1:10,000, however, P. aeruginosa and Giardia risks failed to be acceptable in almost all instances. The QMRA model and microbiological analyses demonstrate the need for improved regulatory efforts for the peri-urban area along with improved investment in their water infrastructure.

Two-step upflow anaerobic sludge bed system for sewage treatment under subtropical conditions with posttreatment in waste stabilization ponds.

A pilot-scale sewage treatment system consisting of two upflow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) reactors followed by five waste stabilization ponds (WSPs) in series was studied under subtropical conditions. The first UASB reactor started up in only 1 mo (stable operation, high chemical oxygen demand [COD] removal efficiency, low volatile fatty acids concentration in the effluent, alkalinity ratio above 0.7, biogas production above 0.1 Nm3/kg of CODremoved). Removal efficiencies up to 90% were obtained in the anaerobic steps at a hydraulic retention time of 6 + 4 h (80% removal in the first step). Fecal coliform removal in the whole system was 99.9999% (99.94% in anaerobic steps and 99.98% in WSPs). COD balances over UASB reactors are provided. A minimum set of data necessary to build COD balances is proposed. Intermittent sludge washout was detected in the reactors with the COD balances. Sludge washout from single-step UASB reactors should be monitored and minimized in order to ensure constant compliance with discharge standards, especially when no posttreatment is provided. The system combined high COD and fecal coliform removal efficiency with an extremely low effluent concentration, complying with discharge standards, and making it an attractive option for sewage treatment in subtropical regions.

Tratamiento de líquidos cloacales en reactores UASB y lagunas de estabilización

Los objetivos del trabajo fueron: evaluar la puesta en marcha y consiguiente operación de un sistema de tratamientos de líquidos cloacales consistente en dos reactores UASB (Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket) seguidos de cinco lagunas de estabilización en serie, en condiciones de clima subtropical; y construir y contribuir a la estandarización de los balances de DQO para reactores UASB

Evaluación de las lagunas de estabilización; zona norte ciudad de Salta

Se evalúa el sistema de Lagunas de Castañares a fin de determinar las consideraciones reales de funcionamiento, valorar aproximadamente los parámetros característicos y preevaluar los parámetros cinéticos