Confronting social justice of water quality and public health through a service-learning program in the Dominican Republic

Rural families in the Dominican Republic have limited access to a continued supply of potable water. Since 2003, The Institute for Latin American Concern (ILAC) has directed a public health program centered on social justice and human dignity that distributes low-cost personal water filtration systems, consisting of two five gallons buckets, ceramic filter, and a spigot that provide a reliable source of purified water. A major obstacle to creating a successful program to combat social and economic injustices is the lack of education about the role bacteria and pure water play in the cause and prevention of gastrointestinal disease. Our service-learning model is a combination of household visits and sampling and analysis of water from the filters and local water sources. With the aid of a community health provider, students conduct filter inspections and take samples to be cultured, testing for the presence of fecal bacteria. The educational aspect of the program is built upon the students returning to households and explaining the results to owners. The explanations include demonstrations of proper usage, maintenance and repair procedures. This has been a vital step in the project's sustainability. Approximately 90% of the filters sampled produce low or no risk water according to the World Health Organization standards. About 200 filters in 12 communities can be tested and revisited in a one week period by using three teams. Sustainability is also maintained by a filter cost/payment model to enable a permanent employee to oversee the program and purchase supplies for new filters.