T3 ONE HEALTH MALAWI Research Papers Water Quality

T3 ONE HEALTH MALAWI Research Papers Water Quality

Water Quality

2019

• TITLE - Food safety policies and practices in public spaces: The urban water, sanitation, and hygiene environment for fresh fish sold from individual vendors in Mzuzu, Malawi
• AUTHOR - Jazimoni Lazaro, Fanuel Kapute, Rochelle H. Holm
• JOURNAL - Food Science & Nutrition
• ABSTRACT - In sub Saharan Africa, informal markets account for more than 80% of the total food selling. Fish is a major protein source for households in Malawi and is commonly purchased from individual vendors. The aim of this study was to review national acts and policies and local regulations focused on fresh fish sold at open air markets or by mobile vendors and to further examine the water, sanitation, and hygiene environment that may impact food safety in Mzuzu City, Malawi. The study used interviews, an observational checklist, and sampling of water and fish skin. In general, there was limited oversight of food safety where fresh fish are sold by vendors, and food safety guidance was inadequate. There was access to water in three of the four markets, but only two markets had safe water (0 cfu/100 ml for Escherichia coli). All vendors stored water in a container for use throughout the day to sprinkle over the fish with their bare hands to keep them from drying out. The mean washing water E. coli level was 700 cfu/100 ml. All fish skin samples (25/25) were positive for the presence of Salmonella spp., and most had high levels of E. coli. Sanitation facilities were available for vendors and customers in two of the four markets, but the use was limited. This research identified three key opportunities: (a) Regulatory framework including informal markets and mobile vendors; (b) Safe water, clean and functional toilets, and handwashing stations with soap at every market; and (c) Foodborne disease education for vendors. There was access to water for vendors at three of the four markets, but only two markets had toilets. All samples of fish skin were positive for Salmonella spp. There are few available national acts and policies and local regulations, with limited monitoring and evaluation criteria. Good food safety behaviors such as access to a sanitation facility and washing hands with soap represent a safety gap for fresh fish being sold by mobile and market‚Äêbased vendors in Mzuzu City, Malawi.
• ISSUE - 9
• VOLUME - 7
• DOI - 10.1002/fsn3.1155

2021

• TITLE - Evaluation of the performance of Mzuzu Central Hospital wastewater oxidation ponds and its effect on water quality in Lunyangwa River, Northern Malawi
• AUTHOR - Fortunate Kayira, Elijah M.M. Wanda
• JOURNAL - Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C
• ABSTRACT - Mzuzu Central Hospital wastewater oxidation ponds discharge effluent onto Lunyangwa River, but data on its performance is scant. It was thus imperative to assess the performance in terms of levels of pH, EC, TDS, phosphates, feacal coliforms, biological oxygen demand (BOD5) and total suspended solids (TSS) removal from the influent. Grab water samples were collected from the influent, facultative pond, effluent and upper, point of discharge and downstream of the discharge point. Levels of temperature, pH, EC, TDS were determined on site using HANNA instrument model H19812 pH-EC-TDS meter. Levels of BOD5 were determined using DO meter. Feacal coliforms were determined using dilution method. Nitrates and phosphates were determined spectrophotometrically, whereas TSS was determined gravimetrically. Data was analysed using Minitab version 17. The removal efficiencies of TSS, TDS, E.coli, nitrates and EC were observed to be 46.67%, 59.43%, 96.23%, 6.34% and 59.34%, respectively. Except for E.coli, the performance of Mzuzu Central Hospital Wastewater Oxidation Ponds in removal of all parameter was generally low (i.e¬†<¬†60%). In addition, the removal efficiencies of pH, temperature, PO4 3‚àí and BOD were ‚àí23.19%, ‚àí4.35%, ‚àí20.65% and ‚àí69.23%, respectively, indicating that regardless of the weak wastewater (BOD5< 200¬†mg/L) of a raw wastewater collected, the performance of the oxidation is a challenge. Levels of BOD5, fecal coliform, phosphate, and pH, above Malawi Standards specifications for industrial effluents tolerance limits for Malawi in both the effluent and the receiving waters, were indicative of significant pollution resulting from the oxidation ponds, suggesting a pressing need for improvement in wastewater treatment in order to improve the water quality ratings prior to discharge into Lunyangwa River. There is also a dire need for risk communication and public sensitization with respect to the need to boil and filter the water prior to consumption for communities that rely on downstream of the discharge point as their drinking water sources.
• VOLUME - 123
• DOI - 10.1016/j.pce.2021.103015

2019

• TITLE - Evaluation of coagulating efficiency and water borne pathogens reduction capacity of Moringa oleifera seed powder for treatment of domestic wastewater from Zomba, Malawi
• AUTHOR - Ephraim Vunain, Effita Fifi Masoamphambe, Placid Mike Gabriel Mpeketula, Maurice Monjerezi, Anita Etale
• JOURNAL - Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering
• ABSTRACT - For many communities in the developing world, conventional water treatment methods are often unaffordable because of the high cost associated with them and inavailability of chemical coagulants in the developing countries. Employing Moringa oleifera seed (as powder or extracts) to treat municipal domestic wastewater effluent presents an alternative practice to improving water quality effluent of existing wastewater treatment plants in developing countries. In the present study, domestic wastewater from a local wastewater treatment plant in Zomba, Malawi, was treated by Moringa oleifera seed powder in batch tests. The objective was to investigate the potential of Moringa oleifera seed powder in enhancing domestic wastewater treatment through the reduction of microbial load, turbidity and total dissolved solids (TDS). Moringa oleifera powder seed reduced turbidity from 287 to 38.8 Nephelometric turbidity unit (NTU), increased pH from 4.3 to 7.1, and set total dissolved solids (TDS) at standards recommended by World Health Organization guidelines for drinking water. Optimum reduction in microbial load was observed at a dosage of powder of 15‚ÄØg‚ÄØL‚àí1, with particular potency against Salmonella and Shigella spp. However, each dose of Moringa oleifera seed powder showed its own ideal settling (contact) time for microbe reduction before regrowth of microbes.
• ISSUE - 3
• VOLUME - 7
• DOI - 10.1016/j.jece.2019.103118

2018

• TITLE - Escherichia coli (E. coli) Distribution in the Lake Malawi Near Shore Zone
• AUTHOR - Emily H. Tyner, Phoebe Jensen, Maxon Ngochera, Harvey A. Bootsma
• JOURNAL - Journal of Great Lakes Research
• ABSTRACT - Residents along the shoreline of Lake Malawi depend on nearshore water for drinking, cooking, and bathing. Despite the importance of clean nearshore waters to public health, we are aware of no published studies of shoreline water quality in the lake. To address this gap, we explore seasonal and temporal trends of the fecal indicator bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) in nearshore water and sand. E. coli concentrations in sand ranged from 0 to 17,600 colony forming units (CFU)/100‚ÄØml, and in water concentrations ranged from 0 to 21,200‚ÄØCFU/100‚ÄØml. Fifty-three percent of water samples exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Recreational Water Quality Criteria of 126‚ÄØCFU/100‚ÄØml, and 90% exceeded the World Health Organization drinking water standard of 0‚ÄØCFU/100‚ÄØml. Distance from shore was the variable most predictive of E. coli concentration, with the level of beach use also playing a significant role. At 15‚ÄØm from the shore, E. coli concentrations dropped to between 0.3% and 17% of shoreline values. Results suggest that the collection of water at distances >15‚ÄØm from the beach could substantially decrease exposure to fecal bacteria. Further studies are needed to identify sources of fecal pollution and to determine the utility of E. coli as a predictor of the potential for waterborne disease.
• ISSUE - 6
• VOLUME - 44
• DOI - 10.1016/j.jglr.2018.10.011

2021

• TITLE - Detection Of Fecal Coliforms In Water Used In Formal And Informal Food Outlets In Kasungu District, Malawi
• AUTHOR - Elton Chavura, F Kapute, Balwani Chingatichifwe Mbakaya
• JOURNAL - European Scientific Journal
• ABSTRACT - Poor sanitary practices are common amongst many food handlers posing a health risk to consumers. Maintenance of high quality water is one of the most important aspects of ensuring consumer safety. Therefore, regular water testing is critical in public food outlets where bacterial contamination may cause outbreak of disease.
  The study aimed at analyzing water samples obtained from the formal and informal food outlets for the presence of fecal coliforms that are indicative of poor sanitation that result in foodborne infections amongst consumers.
  Using a cross-sectional design, water samples from participating food outlets (N=40) were analyzed using the membrane filtration method. Samples were filtered, under vacuum, through a cellulose acetate membrane of 0.45 μm
  pore size.
  Fecal coliforms exceeding permissible range were detected in 15 test samples (N=40). The median (IQR) concentrations of fecal coliforms (FC/100ml) in dishwashing water was 1(136) and 145(340) for the formal and informal food outlets respectively. The median (IQR) for drinking water was 0(0) with a minimum and maximum range of 0 and 14 FC/100mls. The study established a positive correlation between fecal coliforms and electrical conductivity, and total dissolved solids (p<0.05) in dish washing water used at both formal and informal food outlets. Contamination was attributed to
  lack of running water, poor pest control and unwholesome practices in many food outlets.
  Based on the study findings, it is concluded that electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids and turbidity values may be used to deduce the presence of fecal coliforms in water. The study recommends that water drawn from unprotected sources must be boiled or treated at the point of use before it can be safely used in food outlets. Periodic water testing and sanitary supervisions for all food outlets must be mandatory to ensure compliance with minimum set
  standards.
  
• ISSUE - 3
• VOLUME - 17
• DOI - 10.19044/esj.2021.v17n3p300

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