Identifying Factors that Influence the Sustainability of a Gravity-Fed Water System in Rural Haiti

• Author / Creator

  Nixdorff, Heather

• Background: The sustainability of water supply systems in rural, low resource settings is imperative to address as approximately 25% of water systems fail within four years of installation. Due to a long history of political instability, government corruption, countless natural disasters, and extreme levels of poverty, Haiti has faced myriad challenges associated with adequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure for decades. Haiti Health Initiative (HHI) is a grassroots organization that has been present in the community of Timo, Haiti for 10 years. HHI worked with the community to expand a gravity-fed water system, now serving over 1,000 residents in the region. However, there were growing concerns regarding the sustainability of the water system expressed by both community members and the organization regarding the functionality and long-term sustainability of the water system.
  Objectives: The purpose of this research was to understand the socio-technical factors that may influence the sustainability of a gravity-fed water system in Timo, Haiti by exploring the experience and perceptions of Timo residents. This research also evaluated the microbial quality of the water system in order to enrich the comprehensive understanding of the water system.
  Methods: Qualitative description was used while following a community-based participatory research (CPBR) approach. Using purposeful sampling, 22 semi-structured interviews were conducted with adult residents of the community who had experience with the water system. Interviews were conducted in Creole by a Haitian research assistant, digitally recorded, and simultaneously translated and transcribed in English.
  To evaluate microbial water quality, Aquagenx CBT ® E. coli MPN Kits were used to test three water points from each of the five reservoirs. Tests were taken at the beginning, middle, and end of the system to determine the level of faecal pollution that occurred throughout the reservoir lines to community standpipes.
  Results: Three main categories emerged from the interviews; Perceived improved quality of life due to the system, initiative to maintain the system, and lack of community cohesion. These are all factors that are perceived to impact the overall sustainability of the system. Improved quality of life and community initiative appeared to not impact one another, but both influence initiative to maintain, which ultimately impacts sustainability. Regarding microbial testing, only 27% of water points tested were concluded as Safe based on the World Health Organization’s Guidelines on Drinking Water Quality.
  Conclusions: Sustainable delivery of safe drinking water in Timo is more a function of the human system than the technical, yet faecal pollution needs improved technical control. Ongoing maintenance and initiatives to preserve the safe function of the system are key to its success or failure. Based on the findings, a report for the organization and community has been created with recommendations to improve the functionality and sustainability of the system. This research will also inform those working on creating more context-specific water supply systems in rural/remote regions globally.
   

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Rural
  • Water
  • Sustainability
  • Haiti

• Graduation date

  Spring 2020

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/r3-n1pd-cz80

• License

  Permission is hereby granted to the University of Alberta Libraries to reproduce single copies of this thesis and to lend or sell such copies for private, scholarly or scientific research purposes only. Where the thesis is converted to, or otherwise made available in digital form, the University of Alberta will advise potential users of the thesis of these terms. The author reserves all other publication and other rights in association with the copyright in the thesis and, except as herein before provided, neither the thesis nor any substantial portion thereof may be printed or otherwise reproduced in any material form whatsoever without the author's prior written permission.