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A Critique of Existing Water Supply System Reconstruction Policies in the Aftermath of Hurricane Mitch, Northwest Coast of Honduras
Hurricane Mitch caused extensive damage to water supply systems (WSS) on the Northwest Coast of Honduras in October. The WSS of four communities were evaluated to determine the effects of the flooding and landslides that occurred during and after the hurricane. Water resource managers were interviewed to determine the WSS reconstruction policy in use at present in order to formulate improvements in this methodology for the future. In this paper, these policy improvements are divided into technical, health-related, socioeconomic, and legal issues. Water main destruction was the most common type of damage. In the future, water mains should be constructed outside of streambed and off steep slopes. Poor water quality results from the four communities suggest that the use of chlorinators, sediment traps, and sand filters must be mandatory in the future. Given that water mains represent some 39 to 52 percent of the cost of a stream- or spring-fed WSS, the use of wells can often significantly decrease the cost of a WSS. However, the higher cost of maintenance and energy necessary to run the pump is an expense that the community bears and can represent a heavy financial burden over the lifetime of the WSS. Those communities which have difficulties in negotiating the purchase of the water sources necessary to supply their WSS, often lack legal advice. Regulatory and administrative functions of the National Autonomous Water and Sewage Company (Servicio Autónomo Nacional de Acueductos y Alcantarillado [SANAA]) must be separated into two separate institutions to avoid conflicts of interest. An insufficient number of professionals in the fields of hydrogeology and sanitary engineering have delayed reconstruction efforts. This situation could be improved by providing short course education to existing professionals and paying higher salaries.
A Critique of Existing Water Supply System Reconstruction Policies in the Aftermath of Hurricane Mitch, Northwest Coast of Honduras
Hurricane Mitch caused extensive damage to water supply systems (WSS) on the Northwest Coast of Honduras in October. The WSS of four communities were evaluated to determine the effects of the flooding and landslides that occurred during and after the hurricane. Water resource managers were interviewed to determine the WSS reconstruction policy in use at present in order to formulate improvements in this methodology for the future. In this paper, these policy improvements are divided into technical, health-related, socioeconomic, and legal issues. Water main destruction was the most common type of damage. In the future, water mains should be constructed outside of streambed and off steep slopes. Poor water quality results from the four communities suggest that the use of chlorinators, sediment traps, and sand filters must be mandatory in the future. Given that water mains represent some 39 to 52 percent of the cost of a stream- or spring-fed WSS, the use of wells can often significantly decrease the cost of a WSS. However, the higher cost of maintenance and energy necessary to run the pump is an expense that the community bears and can represent a heavy financial burden over the lifetime of the WSS. Those communities which have difficulties in negotiating the purchase of the water sources necessary to supply their WSS, often lack legal advice. Regulatory and administrative functions of the National Autonomous Water and Sewage Company (Servicio Autónomo Nacional de Acueductos y Alcantarillado [SANAA]) must be separated into two separate institutions to avoid conflicts of interest. An insufficient number of professionals in the fields of hydrogeology and sanitary engineering have delayed reconstruction efforts. This situation could be improved by providing short course education to existing professionals and paying higher salaries.
A Critique of Existing Water Supply System Reconstruction Policies in the Aftermath of Hurricane Mitch, Northwest Coast of Honduras
Stimson, Jesse (author) / Peñón, Marcelino Losilla (author)
Water International ; 29 ; 91-104
2004-03-01
14 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
Unknown
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