Environmental Factors Affecting Water Quality in Dilaire, Haiti

Many developing countries face the same problem: poor quality drinking water. Haiti, the poorest country in the western hemisphere, has been struggling with waterborne diseases for years. Rural Haitians rely heavily on rivers, springs, and shallow wells for water. Water purification methods and environmental factors such as demographics, agriculture, and well types were investigated to see how water is being affected in Dilaire, Haiti. Through our research, it was found that having concrete slabs and walls around wells prevented exterior contaminants from seeping through and minimized the presence of coliform bacteria. To familiarize the group with the test kits and find the most viable purification method for Haitians, samples were taken from 8 sites on the University of South Florida Tampa campus. The water sanitation methods used included chlorination, slow sand filtration, and SODIS (Solar water disinfection). A 48-hour coliform test was used to see what sanitation method worked best. It was discovered that SODIS was the most effective method of purification and after 48 hours, all samples tested negative for coliform. Different levels of chlorine were tested in the water and after 48 hours, all the samples treated in this manner were positive for E. Coli. It can be concluded that an implementation of SODIS and infrastructural improvement to wells can bring better water quality to rural Haiti. In a world where water is a necessity, it is crucial to try and help developing countries have and maintain acceptable water quality.