January 2017 Update on Water Purification Practices

Barangay Goaw has a total number of the 152 households. Out of these, 73 households (48%) have level 2 water sources, and 66 households (43%) have level 1 water sources. Most of the households with level 3 water source are piped connections into the yard, and only 90 households (59%) have either cemented or fenced water source. Wastewater stagnates in its surrounding, resulting to a muddy environment of the household’s water source. Almost all households use water containers to store drinking water. The water supply in the barangay is rotational and cycles every 12 hours, thereby storage is a practice commonly found in every household. The main water source of the barangay is not yet treated and only 78 households (47%) directly drink their water without purification practices. The other 53% of households claimed of practicing at least one water purification method, but proper practice and adequacy of resources still affect their correct and consistent use.

Source improvement and risk reduction can be done either by making the water source protected. Source improvement can be done by fulfilling the criteria of World Health Organization (2002) of low risk water sources. Low risk water sources can be done by decreasing the chances of contamination in the source level and can be achieved by:

·      Open water sources are fully enclosed or capped

·      Distance between the latrines and the water sources must be far away as possible and not on a higher ground

·      Stagnant water must not be within 25 meters of the water source

·      Resources used to collect water from sources must also be kept clean as possible

Clean water storage and proper water treatment method can be done with correct and consistent practice and available and clean resources. These household practices need to be taught and to be encouraged in order to ensure that their drinking water is free from any contamination. Also, accessibility and availability of proper resources are needed to ensure the correct and consistent practice.

Below are the strategies employed to meet the objectives as well as their corresponding outcomes:

Specific Objectives # 1 & 2

1.     To increase the number of households who practice proper drinking water storage from 48% to 90%,

2.     To increase the number of households who practice proper drinking water purification practices from 53% to 90%,

Previous Strategies Done

ü  “Agianan sa Tubig na Limpyo” was done in order to educate the people in the community about different ways of drinking water contamination, and methods to prevent it through proper water storage and purification practices last April 2015.

ü  “Juan 4:14 Posters” were given to each households to be posted on the walls of their kitchen. The posters include household methods in the prevention of drinking water contamination.

            Current Strategies Done

ü  Proper drinking water storage and purification practices are currently in its monitoring and evaluation phase.

Results

·      As of November – December 2016, the percentage of households practicing proper water storage is 94% and the percentage of households practicing proper water purification practices is 90%.

Future Plans

o   Continuous household monitoring and evaluation for proper water storage and purification practices

o   “Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage” Lecture – To be done by the Provincial Health Office – Sanitary Inspector, it discusses and demonstrates proper household water handling practices from the source to point of use.

o   “WASH in schools” – A proposal to the barangay addressing the facility development in Goaw Elementary School for water, sanitation, and hygiene

Specific Objective #3

To increase the number of low risk household water sources in the barangay from 54% to 90%

Current Strategies Done

ü  Primary water source microbiological analysis done by the Municipal Sanitary Inspector last November 2016 complemented by the ocular assessment of each primary water source were conducted in order to properly identify the problems of primary water sources and how it will be addressed effectively.

            Results

·      All of the 5 main water sources of the barangay failed the microbiological analysis based on the standards of Philippine National Safe Drinking Water.

·      Three out of five water sources are boreholes and the remaining two are ground water with water tank.

·      Three out of five water sources have a sanitary toilet or septic tank within 25m.

·      All main water sources are closed and sealed

Future Plans

o   “Ayaw sa Hugaw ng Goaw” – A community engagement program where households will be encouraged to improve their household water sources with the support of the barangay council

“Water Source Chlorination” –  To be done by the Municipal Sanitary Inspector, in order to secure that the main water sources of the barangay is free from microbiological contamination

From 30% of households, 87% of the total households are currently practicing both proper water storage and purification practices. As of now, the activities done are still having its effects as shown by the continuous increase of households practicing proper water storage and purification practices. With the activities left for the next exposure, specifically targeting the improvement of household water sources, the program has the high chance of achieving its target, which is 90% of total households practicing proper water handling.