International Water Association
The International Water Association (IWA) is the global network of 10,000 water professionals spanning the continuum between research and practice and covering all facets of the water cycle. www.iwahq.org/
The Global Water Initiative
http://www.globalwaterinitiative.com/index.php/our-work/central-america/
The United Nations Millenium Development Goals
http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/
UN World Water Day
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=41605&Cr=Water&Cr1=Sanitation
UN-Water Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water (GLAAS) 2012
http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/glaas/en/
WHO; UNICEF
Progress on Drinking Water and Sanitation
http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/publications/2012/jmp_report/en/index.html
More information about the report launch
Download the publication (split into chapters)
Download the publication (full text)
Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water
http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/glaas/en/index.html
Drinking Water Quality
http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/en/
Water Resources
http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/resources/en/
Water Supply and Sanitation Monitoring
http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/monitoring/en/
Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene
http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/hygiene/en/
Water-related Diseases
http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/diseases/en/
Wastewater Use
http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/wastewater/en/
Healthcare Waste
http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/healthcare_waste/en/
Emerging Issues
http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/emerging/en/
Water, Health and Economics
http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/economic/en/
IWHA Publications
The Portable Microbiology Laboratory (PML)- English. IWHA. Robert Metcalf Ph.D. and Patrick Widner. 2010
The Portable Microbiology Laboratory
Enabling Water Testing in Developing Countries
A simple and effective water testing kit currently available that can be used at the community level in developing countries to test water sources for the potential risk of disease has been developed by Professor Bob Metcalf, California State University, Sacramento For easy use in the field, the Portable Microbiology Laboratory (PML), contains the best tests for the fecal indicator bacterium Escherichia coli in water and food – the Colilert® 10 ml presence/absence test (IDEXX, Westbrook, ME) and the E. coli/Coliform Count PetrifilmTM (3M, St. Paul, MN), a quantitative test for 1 ml.
The PML consists of 25 Colilert and Petrifilm tests that fit inside a gallon-size zip lock plastic bag, along with Whirl-Paks to collect water samples, sterile plastic pipettes, and a battery-operated long-wave UV light for the Colilert test. Just add water and incubate.
The Colilert and Petrifilm tests are specific for E. coli because they contain a substrate for the beta-glucuronidase enzyme that is produced by E. coli, but not by environmental coliform bacteria. The test results are present after 12-18 hours incubation. Results provide a disease risk assessment of water sources that correlate with the World Health Organization’s Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality:
| Disease Risk Level | E. coli in sample | Colilert MUG+ | # E. coli Colonies on Petrifilm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low | <1/10 ml | – | 0 |
| Moderate | 1/10 – 1 ml | + | 0 |
| High | <1-10 ml | + | 1-10 |
| Very High | >10 ml | + | >10 |
The PML and safe water community workshops include:
- a teaching component, easily understood by laymen, explains microbiology and the connection of contaminated water with disease.
- testing contaminated water before and after pasteurization, chlorination, bio-sand filtration, or other effective treatment process provides dramatic visual evidence of how to make water safe for drinking.
- how to introduce the PML and safe water into communities.
Use of the Colilert and Petrifilm tests at the community level in developing countries can contribute significantly to a reduction in water-borne disease.
To view photos of the PML tests and applications in Kenya and Tanzania go to: http://imageevent.com/bobmetcalf/watertestingpasteurizationinafrica
For more information contact Professor Metcalf or Patrick Widner at: info@waterinternational.org
El Laboratorio Portátil de Microbiología (LPM). IWHA. Robert Metcalf Ph.D, Gloria and Patrick Widner. 2011
El Laboratorio Portátil de Microbiología (LPM)
Avances en el análisis del agua en países en vías de desarrollo
Un método sencillo, accesible y efectivo para analizar el agua ha sido realizado por el doctor Bob Metcalf, catedrático en la Universidad de Estado de California, Sacramento. El Laboratorio Portátil de Microbiología (LPM) se puede usar a nivel de la comunidad, especialmente en países en vías de desarrollo, para analizar las fuentes del agua con riesgos de enfermedades. Para usar fácilmente en el campo, el LPM incluye el mejor análisis para el indicador de bacterium fecal Escherichia coli en el agua y la comida – el análisis de Colilert® 10 ml presente/ausente (IDEXX, Westbrook, ME) and the E. coli/Coliform Count PetrifilmTM (3M, St. Paul, MN), un análisis cuantitativo para1 ml.
El equipo (kit) del LPM consiste de 25 Colilert y Petrifilm para análisis que se incluyen en una bolsa plástica (que cierre) del tamaño de un galón también incluye Whirl-Paks para recoger muestras de agua, pipettes estériles de plástico, y una luz ultravioleta con baterías para el análisis de Colilert. Solamente se agrega agua y se deja incubar.
Los análisis de Colilert y Petrifilm son específicamente para el E. coli porque contienen un sustrato para el enzima betaglucuronidase que es producida por el E.coli, pero no por la bacteria coliform ambiental. Los resultados del análisis están presente después de 12-18 horas de incubación. Los resultados proporcionan una evaluación de las fuentes de agua con riesgos de enfermedades que se pueden correlacionar con las guías para la calidad del agua potable de la Organización Mundial de la Salud.
| Enfermedad Nivel de Riesgo | E. coli muestra | Colilert MUG+ | # E. coli Colonies en Petrifilm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bajo | <1/10 ml | – | 0 |
| Medio | 1/10 – 1 ml | + | 0 |
| Alto | <1-10 ml | + | 1-10 |
| Muy Alto | >10 ml | + | >10 |
El LPM y los talleres sobre agua potable incluyen:
- Un componente de enseñanza, en lenguaje accessible, explica la microbiología y la relación del agua contaminada con enfermedades
- Análisis del agua antes y después de la pasteurización, tratamiento con cloro, filtración de bio-sand, u otro proceso de tratatmiento efectivo que da una evidencia visual dramatica en como se convierte la calidad del agua potable.
- Cómo introducir el LPM y agua potable en las comunidades
El uso del Colilert y Petrifilm para análisis a nivel de la comunidad en países en vías de desarrollo pueden contribuir significantement en la reducción de enfermedades relacionadas con el agua.
Puede ver fotos del análisis con el LPM y las aplicaciones en Kenya y Tanzanía en lo siguiente: http://imageevent.com/bobmetcalf/watertestingpasteurizationinafrica
Para mas información, comuníquese con el Profesor Metcalf, o Patrick Widner, info@waterinternational.org
A Practical Method for Rapid Assessment of the Bacterial Quality of Water: A Field-Based Guide.
UN MÉTODO PRÁCTICO PARA LA EVALUACIÓN RÁPIDA DE LA CALIDAD BACTERIANA DEL AGUA: UNA GUÍA BASADA EN LA EXPERIENCIA EN EL CAMPO
Water testing & Pasteurization in Africa: A guide to water testing in developing countries using a Portable Microbiology Laboratory, and how to pasteurize contaminated water using sunshine and a simple solar cooker. Bob Metcalf. A 149 image slideshow. 2010. http://imageevent.com/bobmetcalf/watertestingpasteurizationinafrica
Solar cooking and safe water: synergies in action. Anna Ilaria-Mayrhofer. Interview with Robert Metcalf. OFID Newsletter, July-September 2008 http://www.ofid.org/publications/PDF/NL/NL_14_3.pdf
Additional Publications
Water Sanitation Health
http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/publications/en/
WHO technical notes on drinking-water, sanitation and hygiene in emergencies
These notes are prepared to assist those working immediately after an emergency to plan appropriate responses to the urgent and medium-term water and sanitation needs of affected populations
Water safety plan manual: Step-by-step risk management for drinking-water suppliers
The manual is about how to develop and implement a water safety plan (WSP) in clear and practical terms. Stepwise advice is provided through 11 learning modules, each representing a key step in the WSP development and implementation process
Full list of resources
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