A d v A n c E m E n t o f t H E SCIENCE
I N t E r N at I o N a L P E r S P E C t I V E S
Although most of the information presented in
the Journal refers to situations within the United
States, environmental health and protection
The Challenges of Sustainable know no boundaries. The Journal periodically
runs International Perspectives to ensure that
Access to Safe Drinking Water issues relevant to our international constituency,
representing over 60 countries worldwide, are
in Rural Areas of Developing addressed. Our goal is to raise diverse issues of
interest to all our readers, irrespective of origin.
Countries: Case of Zawtar
El-Charkieh, Southern Lebanon may A. massoud, Phd, dIc, mS
Abdolmonim Al-Abady, md
mey Jurdi, Phd
Iman nuwayhid, md, drPh
2003; World Health Organization [WHO] &
Abstract Adequate and safe water is important for human United Nations International Children’s Fund
[UNICEF], 2000).
health and well-being, economic production, and sustainable development.
Water is subjected to biological and chem-
Failure to ensure the safety of drinking water may expose the community to ical contamination originating from many
the risk of outbreaks of waterborne and infectious diseases. Although drink- sources in the catchment area or during
ing water is a basic human right, many people do not have access to safe and collection, storage, and distribution (Han-
adequate drinking water or proper sanitation facilities. The authors con- sen, 2001; Howard, Ince, & Smith, 2003).
Chemical and biological contaminants in
ducted a study to assess the quantity, cost, continuity, coverage, and quality
water can cause many problems related to
of drinking water in the village of Zawtar El-Charkieh, Lebanon. Their aim human health (diseases) or people’s accep-
was to identify the challenges of sustainable access to safe drinking water in tance of water (a bad taste, odor, or color).
order to determine the short-term management actions and long-term strat- Water-related diseases are either infectious
egies to improve water quality. Results revealed that contamination of the (caused by pathogens) or noninfectious
(caused by toxic chemicals) (Howard et al.,
source, absence of any disinfection method or insufficient dose, poor main- 2003). While chemical pollutants in water
tenance operations, and aging of the networks are significant factors con- can cause adverse health effects in the long-
tributing to water contamination during the storage and distribution pro- term, microbial pathogens can cause health
cess. Establishing a comprehensive drinking water system that integrates effects within a short period of time.
Waterborne diseases are a great burden on
water supply, quality, and management as well as associated educational
both public health and the economy. Glob-
programs in order to ensure the safety and sustainability of drinking water ally, four billion cases of diarrhea occur an-
supplies is essential. nually, of which 2.2 million are fatal (WHO
& UNICEF, 2000). In developing countries,
nearly 80% of all diseases are linked to wa-