Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering (Jun 2024)
Investigation of canal water quality, sanitation, and hygiene amongst residents living along the side of the canals - A cross - Sectional epidemiological survey at Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam
Abstract
Background: Socioeconomic development and population growth have led to canal pollution, a challenge in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam. In HCMC, diffuse pollution of rivers and canals makes applying pollution control measures at the source challenging. Poor sanitation, insufficient safe drinking water, and poor hygiene practices are the leading causes of the emergence of waterborne diseases. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was done to investigate the knowledge, behavior, and factors associated with sanitation and hygiene of residents living along the side of canals in HCMC. This study also investigated the pollution of canal water in the primary canal systems in HCMC. Results: The canal water systems at Ho Chi Minh City exceeded the permissible thresholds of Vietnam's discharge limit standards of total coliforms and E. coli. Among the 640 households interviewed, 60% of residents perceived that the polluted canal environment affected their lives. Most residents (99%) used tap water for daily activities, but 25% of households did not filter water before drinking. The hygiene behavior is uneven; more than 30% of households discharged wastewater into the canal, and nearly 60% of children have the conditions to contact flood water on the street. The causes of water pollution in canals are people's low awareness, with only 38.4% of respondents interested in canal-environmental protection activities, inadequate infrastructure (59%), and the ineffective management of surface water resources (57.8%). Conclusion: The study indicated incorrect knowledge and behavior toward sanitation and protecting the canal environment of the local people caused increasing pollution of canal water. Hence, measures must be implemented to protect the canal water environment and the community's health, such as training about sanitation and hygiene for local people.
