Abstract
Women are the primary decision makers regarding household water sources in many developing nations, but are often overlooked by researchers and organizations as primary water managers. This study took place in Pótam, Sonora, Mexico, during the summer of 2007, with a follow-up visit in February 2008. The study aimed at understand the human cycle of water by identifying potential exposure pathways for water contamination, as well as to understand the link between cultural beliefs, perceptions, and associated health issues. In total, sixty women were interviewed, as well as community elders and the Water Committee president. Discussions of household water use decisions, perceptions of disease causation, and treatment proved crucial in the discovery of potential pathways by which anthropogenic contaminants come into contact with the water cycle in Pótam. Most of the households (87%) believe their water sources are contaminated with biological and or chemical contaminants. Furthermore, of the sixty informants interviewed, seventy percent reported diarrhea as a common symptom. The majority of informants (76%) made a link between consumption of contaminated water and high rates of diarrhea. The study determined that the community is in need of outreach programs geared toward women as household water managers, independent lab analysis of water quality samples, and an epidemiological study to determine the causes for the most commonly reported illness and symptoms.
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Notes
For the purposes of this article, the human cycle of water consists of all water source, collection, storage, use, pathways of potential contamination and disposal.
The Water Committee is comprised of an elected (male) official and several volunteer positions (women).
The six pesticides were Lindane, Aldrin, Dieldrin, pp-DDD, Malathion, and Parathion.
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Pilling, S.A. The human cycle of water: water management and anthropogenic contaminant pathways in Pótam, Sonora, Mexico’s water cycle. Environ Dev Sustain 13, 1007–1019 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-011-9302-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-011-9302-z