loading page

Water as a mirror of environmental health:A symbiotic baseline study in Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula.
  • +3
  • Milena Argentina Castro,
  • Valentina Rodríguez,
  • Luis César Rivera Montero,
  • Daniel Ulloa,
  • Manuel Salas,
  • Oscar Andrey Herrera
Milena Argentina Castro
Centro de Investigaciones en Matemática Pura y Aplicada, Universidad de Costa Rica

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
Valentina Rodríguez
Escuela de Tecnologías en Salud, Universidad de Costa Rica
Author Profile
Luis César Rivera Montero
Instituto de Investigaciones en Salud, Universidad de Costa Rica
Author Profile
Daniel Ulloa
Escuela de Ingeniería Química, Universidad de Costa Rica
Author Profile
Manuel Salas
Escuela de Ingeniería Mecánica, Universidad de Costa Rica
Author Profile
Oscar Andrey Herrera
Centro de Investigación en Ciencia e Ingeniería de Materiales, Universidad de Costa Rica
Author Profile

Abstract

To understand an integral environmental health dynamic a symbiotic observation of water and its socio-environmental interactions should be knitted. Assuming circularity of water can provide related knowledge. A robust scientific evidence baseline is essential to allow health impact evaluation, in order to inform collective decisions on infrastructure development. Mixed methods are used to elaborate an analytical process to combine different heterogeneous data sources. Three analytical levels were defined: Population health, socioeconomic status infrastructure and natural resources specifically river basin. In 2017, water quality perception was surveyed in Drake, Osa Peninsula, Southern of Costa Rica. Then in 2018, a socioeconomic and general health census strategy was undertaken. A water microbiology survey was applied to assess river basin quality. Interaction between population health economics and river basin was observed on aqueducts. This technology play an essential role enabling communities for health improvement and address reduction of socio-economic inequalities by means of community-specific tools for social learning. Since water filtering was identified missing in overall water systems, a water bio-sand filter was designed and tested as a novel conservation technology to cultivate drinkable water at a very low cost. Drake’s inhabitants perceived the need for technologies to treat drinkable water. Conservation culture should be considered for the design of new aqueduct communal systems. An integral ecosystem health assessment index (IEHAI) is proposed as a baseline specification model to improved water resources research.