A new innovative method, MICA Legionella, allows for the automatic enumeration of Legionella pneumophila in domestic water samples in 2 days, with a detection limit of 2 CFU per test portion. Here we show that it gives equivalent results to those obtained by the French standard method NF T90-431 in 7 to 15 days.

The domestic water (DW) quality of an island province in the Philippines that experienced two major mining disasters in the 1990s was assessed and evaluated in 2021 utilizing the heavy metals pollution index (MPI), Nemerow\'s pollution index (NPI), and the total carcinogenic risk (TCR) index. The island province sources its DW supply from groundwater (GW), surface water (SW), tap water (TP), and water refilling stations (WRS). This DW supply is used for drinking and cooking by the population. In situ analyses were carried out using an Olympus Vanta X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF) and Accusensing Metals Analysis System (MAS) G1 and the target heavy metals and metalloids (HMM) were arsenic (As), barium (Ba), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn). The carcinogenic risk was evaluated using the Monte Carlo (MC) method while a machine learning geostatistical interpolation (MLGI) technique was employed to create spatial maps of the metal concentrations and health risk indices. The MPI values calculated at all sampling locations for all water samples indicated a high pollution. Additionally, the NPI values computed at all sampling locations for all DW samples were categorized as \"highly polluted\". The results showed that the health quotient indices (HQI) for As and Pb were significantly greater than 1 in all water sources, indicating a probable significant health risk (HR) to the population of the island province. Additionally, As exhibited the highest carcinogenic risk (CR), which was observed in TW samples. This accounted for 89.7% of the total CR observed in TW. Furthermore, all sampling locations exceeded the recommended maximum threshold level of 1.0 × 10-4 by the USEPA. Spatial distribution maps of the contaminant concentrations and health risks provide valuable information to households and guide local government units as well as regional and national agencies in developing strategic interventions to improve DW quality in the island province.

The study uses an emerging soil treatment technology, the Multi-Soil Layering System (MSL), which is composed of the zeolite permeability layers (PL) and the soil mixture block layers (SMB). The experimental results show that the SMBs with iron particle (SMB-I) removed more than 83% of the total phosphorus (P) pollution in the water, and the outflow sewage concentration is 9.6 mg/L. In contrast, the SMBs with red clay (SMB-R) has 23% removal rate, and the outflow sewage concentration is 46.45 mg/L. Only 0.013 mg/L Fe concentration was detected in the SMB-R system and release of Fe from red soil is hardly achieved under neutral water environment. The SMB-R and SMB-I systems reduced 108.89 mg/g and 20.93 mg/g respectively and the SMB-R had higher removal efficiency of P per gram released Fe. The chromaticity problem of the effluent water in the SMB-I is up to 225 platinum cobalt, and that of the SMB-R is 172 platinum cobalt. Adding 10 g oyster shell (slice-only) and/or 0.65 g polyglutamic acid have effectively removed up to 99% 25-mg/L Fe in the effluent water; the chromaticity problem caused by Fe effluent was successfully solved. Furthermore, the iron particle has the highest unit cost among the materials in the SMBs (US$1.47/kg in lab and US$0.12/kg in field). Removal of 1 mg/L TP in the MSL system costs US$0.036 (by lab) in terms of removal TP rate in the laboratory was 83% and is economically feasible in field development.

This study assessed fluoride levels in domestic water, commonly consumed food crops, cow\'s, and human milk. Samples of vegetables were collected from farmer\'s home gardens, green banana from local markets, maize flour, and domestic water from households, while cow\'s and human (breast) milk were obtained from cows and lactating mothers. Fluoride levels were determined by using a fluoride ion-selective electrode. Fluoride levels were 0.03 ± 0.02 mg/kg in maize, In leafy vegetables the highest levels were found in nightshade 0.081 ± 0.008 mg/kg, while for banana varieties the highest levels were found in in East African highland 0.025 ± 0.004 mg/kg. Levels in cows and human breast milk were 0.34 ± 0.2 mg/L and 0.077 ± 0.06 mg/L, respectively. Levels in domestic and public tap water were 4.57 ± 0.4 mg/L and 4.74 ± 0.8 mg/L, respectively. Study provided useful knowledge of fluoride levels in several crops, milk, and domestic water.

BACKGROUND: There is a dearth of information on the relationship between domestic water source and malaria infection in malaria-endemic regions such as Tanzania. This study examined the geospatial variability and association between domestic water source and malaria prevalence in Tanzania.
METHODS: We analyzed data from a sample of 6707 children, aged 6-59 months, from the 2017 Tanzania Malaria Indicator Survey. The outcome variable was the result of malaria testing (positive or negative) and the main explanatory variable was domestic water source (piped or non-piped). Random effect variables were administrative region and geographical zone. ArcGIS 10.7 was used to create geospatial distribution maps. A STATA MP 14.0 was used to fit a mixed-effects multilevel logistic regression to examine the factors associated with malaria prevalence.
RESULTS: The prevalence of malaria and non-piped domestic water source was respectively 7.3% and 59.6%. The regions and zones with a higher prevalence of malaria also had a higher percentage of non-piped water. There was a statistically significant variation in the risk of malaria across the regions (variance = 1.27; 95% CI, 0.40-4.07) and zones (variance = 4.75; 95% CI, 1.46-15.46). The final fixed-effects model showed that non-piped domestic water was significantly associated with malaria prevalence (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.18; 95% CI, 1.64-2.89; P < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: A non-piped source of domestic water was independently associated with positive testing for malaria. Moreover, regions with a high percentage of non-piped domestic water had a correspondingly high prevalence of malaria.

BACKGROUND: Access to adequate quantities of water has a protective effect on human health and well-being. Despite this, public health research and interventions are frequently focused solely on water quality, and international standards for domestic water supply minimums are often overlooked or unspecified. This trend is evident in Inuit and other Arctic communities even though numerous transmissible diseases and bacterium infections associated with inadequate domestic water quantities are prevalent.
OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to explore the pathways by which the trucked water distribution systems being used in remote northern communities are impacting health at the household level, with consideration given to the underlying social and environmental determinants shaping health in the region.
METHODS: Using a qualitative case study design, we conducted 37 interviews (28 residents, 9 key informants) and a review of government water documents to investigate water usage practices and perspectives. These data were thematically analysed to understand potential health risks in Arctic communities and households.
RESULTS: Each resident receives an average of 110 litres of municipal water per day. Fifteen of 28 households reported experiencing water shortages at least once per month. Of those 15, most were larger households (5 people or more) with standard sized water storage tanks. Water shortages and service interruptions limit the ability of some households to adhere to public health advice. The households most resilient, or able to cope with domestic water supply shortages, were those capable of retrieving their own drinking water directly from lake and river sources. Residents with extended family and neighbours, whom they can rely on during shortages, were also less vulnerable to municipal water delays.
CONCLUSIONS: The relatively low in-home water quantities observed in Coral Harbour, Nunavut, appear adequate for some families. Those living in overcrowded households, however, are accessing water in quantities more typically seen in water insecure developing countries. We recommend several practical interventions and revisions to municipal water supply systems.