Analysis of dry and wet season water quality in the municipality of La Gomera, Guatemala

There is a need for access to clean potable water worldwide. However, almost every source of surface water in Guatemala is contaminated. This study assesses the potential exposure to water contaminants in proximity to Medecins Sans Frontieres's (MSF) chronic kidney disease clinic population in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Water practice and technology 2024-04, Vol.19 (4), p.1399-1411
Main Authors: Caballero, Alejandra, Garcia, Margareth, Pérez-Sabino, Francisco, Lickes, Sergio, Guzmán-Quilo, Carolina, Pérez-Folgar, Jorge, Johnson, Derek, Pouit, Silvie, Gomez, Diana, Rodriguez, Darío, Arroyo, Gerardo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aquifers
Arsenic
Chemical contaminants
Chronic illnesses
Coasts
Coliforms
Contaminants
Drinking water
Dry season
E coli
Feces
guatemala
heavy metal
Heavy metals
Kidney diseases
Land area
Mercury
Perfluoroalkyl & polyfluoroalkyl substances
Pesticide residues
Pesticides
Physicochemical processes
Physicochemical properties
Pollutants
Rain
Rainy season
Seasons
Surface water
Urban areas
Water analysis
Water pollution
Water quality
Water resources
Water sampling
Water supply
Water wells
Watershed management
Watersheds
Wet season
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Summary:There is a need for access to clean potable water worldwide. However, almost every source of surface water in Guatemala is contaminated. This study assesses the potential exposure to water contaminants in proximity to Medecins Sans Frontieres's (MSF) chronic kidney disease clinic population in La Gomera, Guatemala during wet and dry seasons. Five municipal wells and four artisanal wells (servicing approximately 18.9% of La Gomera) were selected for their proximity to MSF La Gomera clinic to determine the presence of coliforms, physicochemical parameters, heavy metals, and pesticide residues. Water samples were collected over 3 consecutive days during La Gomera's wet season and again during the dry season. Wet season 2022: Total coliforms and Escherichia coli exceeded the acceptable limits for several artisanal wells but were not detected in municipal wells. Mercury and arsenic were detected in all wells during at least one sampling period. Dry season 2023: Total coliforms exceeded the acceptable limits for all wells and E. coli was detected in all four artisanal wells. Lead and arsenic were detected in all wells. Our results suggest that water from artisanal wells does not meet COGUANOR or WHO microbiological criteria for human consumption.
ISSN:1751-231X
1751-231X
DOI:10.2166/wpt.2024.074