Water as a mirror of environmental health:A symbiotic baseline study in
Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula.
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.