Improving Water Access and Health through Rainwater Harvesting: Perceptions of an Indigenous Community in Jalisco, Mexico
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Background
2.1. Traditional Knowledge, Practices, and Beliefs
2.2. Access to Water for the Wixarika People
2.3. Sustainable Development in an Indigenous Context
3. Materials and Methods
3.1. The La Laguna Social–Ecological System Case Study
3.2. Data Collection
3.2.1. Epidemiological Data at the Community Level
3.2.2. Statistical Analysis
3.2.3. Semi-Structured Interviews and the Cosmo–Eco–Health Calendar
3.2.4. Samples of Water Quality Indicators at the Household Level
4. Results
4.1. Population Demographics of La Laguna Community
4.2. Water Use and Management at Household Level (Rainy and Dry Season)
4.3. Microbiological Contamination
4.4. The Epidemiological Data and Cases of Acute Diarrheal Diseases from 2014 to 2017
4.5. Health Perceptions at the Household Level
4.5.1. Disease Incidence by Month (perceived and recorded) and Seasonality
4.5.2. Perceptions of Causes and Origins of Disease
4.5.3. Household Hygiene Practices and Sanitation
5. Discussion
5.1. The Potential for RWHSs to Improve Water Quantity and Quality in Indigenous Rural Communities
5.2. Implications for Sustainable Development
6. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Age Group (Years) | Count (%) |
---|---|
0–9 | 36.15 |
10–19 | 23.91 |
20–64 | 37.69 |
≥65 | 2.25 |
Sex | |
Male | 47.12 |
Female | 52.88 |
Practice | Percentage (%) |
---|---|
Using rainwater from cisterns during the rainy season | 80 |
Using rainwater from cisterns during the dry season | 64 |
Using rainwater and another source during the rainy season | 36 |
Using rainwater and another source during the dry season | 40 |
Annual cleaning frequency of cisterns | 76 |
Rainy Season | Dry Season | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Range of Contamination (CFU/100 mL) | Percentage of Samples with Contamination: Rainwater Harvesting Systems (RWHS) | Percentage of Samples with Contamination: Another Source | Percentage of Samples with Contamination: RWHS | Percentage of Samples with Contamination: Another Source |
Total Coliform * | ||||
0 | 47.37 | 14.29 | 47.06 | 33.33 |
1–10 | N.D. | N.D. | N.D. | N.D. |
11–100 | 5.26 | N.D. | 5.88 | 11.11 |
101–1000 | 31.58 | 14.29 | 17.65 | N.D. |
>1000 | 21.05 | 71.43 | 29.41 | 55.56 |
E. coli * | ||||
0 | 94.74 | 71.43 | 100 | 88.89 |
1–10 | 5.26 | N.D. | N.D. | 11.11 |
11–100 | N.D. | N.D. | N.D. | N.D. |
101–1000 | N.D. | 14.29 | N.D. | N.D. |
>1000 | N.D. | 14.29 | N.D. | N.D. |
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González-Padrón, S.K.; Lerner, A.M.; Mazari-Hiriart, M. Improving Water Access and Health through Rainwater Harvesting: Perceptions of an Indigenous Community in Jalisco, Mexico. Sustainability 2019, 11, 4884. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11184884
González-Padrón SK, Lerner AM, Mazari-Hiriart M. Improving Water Access and Health through Rainwater Harvesting: Perceptions of an Indigenous Community in Jalisco, Mexico. Sustainability. 2019; 11(18):4884. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11184884
Chicago/Turabian StyleGonzález-Padrón, Shiara K., Amy M. Lerner, and Marisa Mazari-Hiriart. 2019. "Improving Water Access and Health through Rainwater Harvesting: Perceptions of an Indigenous Community in Jalisco, Mexico" Sustainability 11, no. 18: 4884. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11184884