ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROTECTION

ENVIRONMENT
- Physical and biological factors with chemical interaction that affect an
organism or a group of organisms
- Composes of all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
- Physical, chemical, and biological factors that are external to a person and
all the related factors impacting behaviors
- Encompasses the assessment and control of those environmental factors
that can potentially affect health
- To prevent disease and to create health-supported environments

COMPOSITION OF AN ENVIRONMENT
Four Spheres of the Earth:
1. Lithosphere 3. Atmosphere
2. Hydrosphere 4. Biosphere

BIOSPHERE (zone of life on Earth)

- Global ecological system integrating all living beings, their relationships,
and their interaction with the other 3 spheres
- Comprises of life, air, water, and rocks WHAT WILL POSSIBLY HAPPEN IF THE WATER SOURCES ARE UNPROTECTED?
1. Open to contamination
WATER a. springs c. poorly constructed wells
- WATER CYCLE: evaporation, condensation, precipitation b. traditional wells d. ponds
- IMPORTANCE:
• 2/3 of Earth’s surface is covered with water 2. May pose a potential health risk
• Human Body: 75% water - Health effects of drinking contaminated water can range from no
• Circulates throughout the land just as it does in the human body, physical impact to severe illness or even death
transporting, dissolving, and replenishing nutrients and organic matter
while carrying away waste materials EFFECTS OF DRINKING UNPROTECTED WATER
• Average Adult: 42L water and with just a small loss of 2.7L water, he/she Some effects of drinking contaminated water can be immediate or not
can suffer from dehydration, displaying symptoms of irritability, fatigue, noticed for many years.
nervousness, dizziness, weakness, headaches Gastrointestinal and Stomach Illnesses
- Critical to life; limited resource a. nausea c. cramps
- FACTORS that decrease water’s availability: b. vomiting d. diarrhea
• Lowered water tables (water forms) – river, sea, lakes, etc.
• Increased demand FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE POSSIBLE IMPACT ON HEALTH
• Climate change 1. Age and general health status of the person
• Environmental degradation 2. Type of contaminant
- PROBLEMS associated with water: 3. Amount of contaminated water
• Resource Allocation – determines who is able to use water resources, 4. How long the person has been drinking the contaminated water
how, when, and where; directly affects value or amount; quantities of
water required CHARACTERISTICS OF LOW-RISK WATER SOURCES
• Source Suitability – term used to express the suitability of water to - Water source is fully enclosed or protected (capped) and no surface water
sustain various uses or processes; quality of water can run directly into it
- CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS needed for SUITABILITY of water: - Do not step into water during collection
• Limits on the concentrations of toxic substances for drinking water use - Latrines are located as far away as possible
• Temperature - Solid waste pits, animal excreta, and other pollution sources are located
far away
• pH range: 6.5 - ___ (I forgot, sorry ☹)
- No stagnant water within 5m of the water source
- PROVIDING COMMUNITY with WATER SUPPLIES:
- If wells are used, clean buckets are used and/or a hand pump
• To promote community health
▪ Water supply should be easily accessible to provide safe water to meet
community needs; water must be POTABLE – water supply should be
protected or treated before use

TYPES OF WATER SOURCES

1
TYPE OF WATER SOURCE DESCRIPTION
a. Gravity Springs – when the water table meets the ground surface
b. Artesian Springs – groundwater is held under pressure and springs come to the surface because of a natural break in the rock
or because of a shallow excavation
PROTECTED SPRINGS c. Gravity Overflow Springs or Contact Springs – water is forced into the surface because the water-carrying layer meets an
impermeable layer; works well in consolidated rocks, such as, limestone, sandstone, and shale
d. Spring – where underground water flows to the surface; makes as a very good water supply, provided that they are properly
protected against contamination
HOW TO PROTECT A SPRING?
- To protect a spring, a retaining wall or box is constructed around the eye of the spring where the water emerges from the ground
- Area behind the wall or box is back-filled with sand and stones to filter the water as it enters the box
- Backfill area should be capped with clay and grass is planted on top
- Whole area should be fenced and a ditch should be dug above the spring to prevent surface water from eroding the backfill area and contaminating the spring
- Collection area should be covered with concrete and sufficient space left beneath the outlet pipe for people to place buckets
- A lined drain should be constructed to carry spilled water away from the spring (can be used for laundry, feed animal-watering troughs, irrigating a garden, etc.)
- To prevent mosquito breeding, water from the spring should not be allowed to form pools

2
TYPE OF WATER
DESCRIPTION ADVANTAGES DISDAVANTAGES
SOURCE
Shallow wells dug by hand and lined with bricks Can be deepened and if the hand pump Likely to go dry
fails, water can still be collected although
Communal rope and bucket attached to the well Have very little water in dry periods
care should be taken as to not contaminate
can be used to draw water because it is difficult to sink wells
the water by using individual buckets
DUG WELLS below the water table without using
In some arid areas, dug wells have traditionally
Provide low-cost water supply more sophisticated techniques
been constructed in sandy riverbeds
Once a dug well is completed, it should be Communities can be actively involved in
Easily contaminated
cleaned with chlorine and pump is installed their construction
HOW TO PROTECT A DUG WELL?
- To protect the well from river damage during the rainy seasons, well-opening can be covered with a concrete slab and a concrete barrier built upstream from
the well
- In sandy riverbeds with water-resistant bedrock beneath, walls can be constructed under the sand to create sand dams
- Shaft of an improved dug well has a concrete lining above the dry season, water table and a series of concrete rings (caissons) sunk below this level to ensure a
year-round supply of water

3
TYPE OF WATER
DESCRIPTION DISDAVANTAGES
SOURCE
If in drilling the motorized rigs are used, the cost is
narrow holes drilled into the ground that tap into ground water
expensive
can be drilled using motorized rigs operated by trained staff (expensive) Should be maintained from time to time
can also be drilled by hand using an augur or by forcing water into ground Spare parts are expensive and should be within reach
BOREHOLES
under pressure (“jetting”) by the community
a hand pump may be used or required to bring the water to the surface; Water may contain harmful chemicals, such as,
practical limit for most hand pumps is 45m – beyond this is a motorized pump fluoride and arsenic or nuisance chemicals, such as,
(diesel-powered, electric-powered, or solar-powered) that may be required iron

4
TYPE OF WATER
DESCRIPTION ADVANTAGES DISDAVANTAGES
SOURCE
Supply communal taps or yard taps Require regular maintenance
Pipe leaks need to be repaired rapidly
Often small and rely on community management and many Good for large quantities to prevent water loss and to prevent
use untreated groundwater sources surface water from entering the pipes
and contaminating the supply
Users do not consider the impact of
PIPED WATER
Most piped water supplies include storage tanks so that how much water they use and may
SUPPLIES
water is available, even in the heaviest demand not think it is important to turn off the
Water is always available even in tap after use
the highest demands If the pipes are dry or have very low
The tanks also provide emergency storage in the event of flow rates, surface water may enter
breakdown the pipes and may contaminate the
piped water
HOW TO PROTECT THE PIPED WATER SUPPLY?
- Users should be aware of the impact of their use of water on others and good water use should be promoted
- Villagers or the community should create or implement regulations or by-laws that penalize people who persistently abuse the system

5
TYPE OF WATER
DESCRIPTION ADVANTAGES
SOURCE
Can be a good source of water for drinking and domestic use
May be seasonal If the rainwater is for drinking, it is better to collect it
RAINWATER
Best collected through large roofs/tanks and the supply may still not be sufficient from a roof rather than from a ground catchment
HARVESTING
Usually collected by households for their own consumption where it may be contaminated
50mm of rainfall on a 4-meter squared roof yields 200L
HOW TO PROTECT WATER THROUGH RAINWATER HARVESTING?
- Any roof used to collect rainwater for human consumption must be thoroughly cleaned at the start of the rainy period or before the first rain begins
- There should be a system for diverting the flow of water in gutters away from the tank, so that the first rains (which are likely contaminated) are not collected
- Tank should be cleaned every year and any silt or algal matter must be removed
- After cleaning and before use, the tank should be scrubbed using a chlorine solution (bleach)
- Lastly, covering the tank is very essential to prevent other contamination and to reduce opportunities for disease vectors to breed

6
TYPE OF WATER HOW TO PROTECT THE PONDS AND LAKES?
DESCRIPTION
SOURCE - It is advised to construct a ramp or platform steps near the water edge in
Traditionally been used as sources for drinking not to contaminate the pond or lake when collection of water is done
water - People should not urinate and defecate closet o or into the pond to
PONDS AND LAKES Easily contaminated prevent schistosomiasis
Water quality can be improved through careful - Domestic water drawn from ponds and lakes must always be treated
use before consumption

HOUSEHOLD WATER TREATMENT

TYPE OF HOUSEHOLD
DESCRIPTION
WATER TREATMENT
Bring water to a rolling boil to destroy the pathogens present in the water and it is safe to drink
BOILING
Tastes “flat” but it will absorb air when it is left for hours in a partly filled, covered container (it will absorb air and lose its flat taste)
Considered as the simplest type of home filter
CANVAS FILTERS OR Bag is filled with water and the water collected seeps our of the bag, making the water cleaner but does not remove all the pathogens
CANVAS BAGS present in the water
Useful for removing Cyclops containing guinea-worm eggs
Hollow and porous ceramic cartridges
Not all pathogens can be removed but it can remove large pathogens, such as, protozoa, worms, and bacteria but not viruses
Ceramic candles need careful maintenance and should be cleaned and boiled once a week, even if they are not clogged
CANDLE FILTERS If it becomes clogged, it should be scrubbed under running water with a stiff brush that is free of soap, grease, and oil
Should be regularly checked to reduce the risk of passing through unfiltered water; replacement is necessary if and only if it is needed
to be replaced
Some candle filters contain silver, but this does not affect the treatment nor acts as a disinfectant
Addition of chlorine and should be added to clear water otherwise it will be absorbed by the dirt
This treatment kills most bacteria and some viruses
Since the taste of chlorine disappears when water is left in open containers, a very small lump of bleaching or powder or one drop of
household bleach can be added to a 20L water container and the mix left to stand for at least 30 minutes
DISINFECTION
If a faint smell of chlorine is detected, then the water is low-risk and palatable to drink
If chlorine is stored for a long time, then it will lose its potency
Other disinfection system treating the household water uses SOLAR RADIATION of Solar Disinfection (SoDis), which can effectively
treat the water although it will take a longer time than the addition of chlorine
If the water is muddy of cloudy, a simple treatment is to allow the particulates in the water to settle overnight
Clear water on top of the container is poured in a clean container
Adding certain chemicals can help settling, such as, a pinch of aluminum sulfate (alum) or powder from the ground seeds of Moringa
SETTLING
oleifera (horseradish tree) and Moringa stenopefala, sprinkled onto the water surface
DOES NOT REMOVE ALL PATHOGENS, SILT, OR CLAY
May reduce pathogens, but some will remain and water should be boiled or disinfected before it is consumed

SAFE HANDLING OF WATER MICROBIAL QUALITY

1. All water containers should be clean, especially the inside. - The principal method of assessing the water for the presence of feces that
2. Clean the insides of storage containers with either detergent or chlorine. contaminate the water supply of the community
3. Leaving a capful of bleach in a sealed plastic or metal container full of water - Water supply of the community should undergo infectious water-related
for 30 minutes will kill most pathogens. diseases, such as, cholera and dysentery
4. Ash may be used to clean pots if chlorine and bleach are not available. - Although these diseases can also be transmitted through poor hygiene and
5. Plastic or metal containers should be cleaned WEEKLY by putting clean inadequate sanitation, control of drinking water with poor microbial
sand and water inside them and shaking them for a few minutes. quality is one of the many ways of preventing their spread
6. The top of the water container should be covered to stop dusts in
contaminating the water. WATER BACTERIOLOGY
7. Best for water to be poured from the container to prevent contact with - In order to determine whether water has been contaminated by fecal
dirty fingers and hands. material, a series of tests are used to demonstrate the presence or
absences of coliforms
MONITORING WATER QUALITY - Coliforms: these are a group of organisms which is comprised of Gram-
- WATER OF POOR QUALITY has significant impact on the health of the negative, non-spore-forming, aerobic to facultatively anaerobic rods,
community members by causing disease and may contribute to the spread which ferment lactose to acid and gas
of epidemics - Organisms that are considered as coliforms:
- Water quality should be monitored regularly a. Enterobacter aerogenes c. Klebsiella spp.
- The community should request a sanitary check-up for their community b. Escherichia coli – true fecal coliform d. Citrobacter spp.
and conduct a testing of water and the results should be delivered and
announced to the community for their welfare
 WATER-BORNE DISEASES
BACTERIAL PARASITE
Vicino cholerae
Yersinia enterocolitica
Escherichia coli
Shigella spp. [Shigella dysenteriae]
Listeria monocytogenese
Salmonella spp. [Salmonella typhi]
Campylobacter jejuni
Giardia lambia
CHEMICAL QUALITY
DISEASES - CERTAIN CHEMICALS THAT REPRESENT HEALTH RISK:
Cholera • Fluoride
Gastroenteritis • Nitrate
Gastroenteritis • Arsenic
Gastroenteritis • Iron/Manganese/Sulfate – can change the water unpleasant to drink
Flu-like symptoms and can stain clothes
Gastroenteritis, typhoid fever
Gastroenteritis (animal source) MANAGING COMMUNITY WATER RESOURCES
Giardiasis 1. Preventing over-pumping of groundwater
2. Water conservation
3. Managing water for agriculture
- Small stone dykes or growing hedges along the edges of fields can
prevent rainwater from running down slopes too fast and reduce
erosion

WATER SUPPLY FACILITIES

THREE TYPES OF APPROVED WATER SUPPLY FACILITIES
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> LEVEL 1
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
POINT SOURCE
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Protected well or a developed
DESCRIPTION spring with an outlet but
without a distribution system
Rural areas where houses are
SUITABLE AREA
thinly scattered
NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS SERVED 15 to 25 households
DISTANCE FROM FARTHEST Not less than 250m from the
HOUSEHOLD farthest house
WATER YIELD OR DISCHARGE 40-140L per minute
LEVEL 2
COMMUNAL FAUCET SYSTEM OR
STAND POSTS
A system composed of a source, a
reservoir, a piped distribution
network, and communal faucets
Rural areas where houses are
clustered densely to justify a
simple piped water system
Average of 100 households
Not less than 25m from the
farthest house
40-80L per capita per day with
one faucet per 4-6 households
LEVEL 3
WATERWORKS SYSTEM OR INDIVIDUAL HOUSE
CONNECTIONS
A system without source, a reservoir, a piped
distribution network, and household taps
Requires minimal treatment or disinfection
Densely-populated urban areas
More than 100 households
Reaches even outlying communities
At least one faucet per household

WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT
WHAT IS THE EXISTING SITUATION?
- In the Philippines, only 10% of wastewater is treated while 58% of the groundwater is contaminated.
- Only 5% of the total population is connected to a sewer network. The vast majority uses flush toilets connected to septic tanks.
- Since sludge treatment and disposal facilities are rare, domestic wastewater is discharged without treatment.
- Data from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), Philippines showed that out of the 127 freshwater bodies being sampled, 47% were found to have
good water quality. However, 40% of those sampled were found to have only fair water quality while 13% showed poor water quality.
- It is estimated than in 2025, water availability will be marginal in most major cities and in 8 of the 19 major river basins in the country.
- Waterborne diseases remain a severe public health concern in the country.
- About 4,200 people die each year due to contaminated drinking water.

MAJOR SOURCES OF POLLUTION

- Inadequately treated domestic wastewater or sewage – 48%
- Agricultural wastewater – 37%
- Industrial wastewater – 15%
- Non-point sources, such as, rain and groundwater run-offs from solid waste or garbage deposits which is also known as leachate

MANDATES OF LGUs AND WATER SERVICE PROVIDERS UNDER THE CLEAN SERVICE ACT OF 2004 (RA 9275)
Declaration of Policy
- The State shall pursue a policy of economic growth in a manner consistent with the protection, preservation, and revival of the quality of the country’s fresh,
brackish, and marine waters (Section 2).
- One objective of the Clean Water Act is to formulate a holistic national program of water quality management that recognizes that waterquality management
issues cannot be separated from concerns about water sources and ecological protection, water supply, public health, and quality of life (Section2, c).

LGU’s ROLE UNDER THE CLEAN WATER ACT

- LGUs shall share the responsibility in the management and improvement of water quality within their territorial jurisdictions (Section 20).
- LGUs are the key players in the Water Quality Management Areas designated by DENR in accordance with Section 5 of the Clean Water Act and its IRR.

NOTE: Also read Chapter 3 and a bit of Chapter 4 of the Healthy Villages book 😊