Right to water in lower rank settlements. Contribution from local to global. A study case in BsAs province (Arg)

DIAZ ADRIANA; RODRIGUEZ CORINA

Cracovia

Congreso; International Geographic Union. Regional Conference; 2014

Institute of geography and spatial managemente of the Jagiellonian University

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights establishes the "right to an adequate standard of living to ensure the health and well-being for themselves and their families". One of the Millennium Development Goals aims to "ensure the sustenance of the environment", including the halving of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation by 2015. Therefore, the trinomial "water-sanitation-hygiene" is essential, knowing that their lack will affect population health. In this context, the broadest conception of right to water and the holistic and interdisciplinary approach are elemental points to archive knowledge and direct action on affected communities. In Argentina, the lower rank settlements have historically delayed regarding sanitary services coverage because of their low-density. Maria Ignacia (Buenos Aires) is a village with 2000 inhabitants, and drinking water service cover the most part of the urban area provided by a cooperative. However, many urban and suburban housing are not connected, using private boreholes to exploit groundwater. The discharge system consists on seepage pits. The occurrence of waterborne diseases alerted the Municipal Hospital´s staff, who took the initiative to know in detail the water quality. Under this scenario, this work was based on the characterization of chemical and microbiological quality of groundwater and its hydrodynamics. 16 sites that made the network were measurement and sampling were selected. Two sampling campaigns (one in November 2011 and another in September 2012) were performed for measurement of groundwater level and sampling for physico-chemical analysis. In the sampling campaign of September 2012, were obtained samples for microbiological analysis. The presence of pathogens and elevated nitrates levels in individuals boreholes was detected. Resulting 81,25% of the samples not apt for human consumption in microbiological terms, and 18,75% of the samples had nitrates values much above the current standard. Neighbours, key informant interviews and direct observations were surveyed. Poor construction and sanitary protection of boreholes was detected. In addition, education activities with the community were developed with the goal of promoting the water quality and to prevent contamination and potential diseases. The work allowed to know holistically system operation as the first step in diagnosis connection with waterborne diseases. The approach to the community was facilitated by the hospital´s team, which favoured dialogue with the community, allowing knowledge of water use, capture and disposal techniques. the join and coordinated work from different disciplines, has been a key factor in the first step toward meeting the Millennium Development Goals at local level.