Effects of Wastewater Drainage and Oxidation Lagoons on Community Health in Rural Peru

Access to clean water sources and improved sanitation greatly impacts community health worldwide. In Peru, wastewater management and treatment is often overlooked resulting in potentially hazardous materials invading local water sources. Together, the communities of Huaquina and Juli, located in southeastern Peru, have struggled with effective wastewater management solutions through culturally and technologically appropriate methods. Currently an oxidation lagoon system is located in the rural community of Huaquina filtering wastewater from Juli, a community with a significantly larger population. However, the infrastructure of this lagoon system does not function properly and has prompted environmental and community concerns. In collaboration with a Peruvian non-governmental organization, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was conducted by Public Health graduate students and faculty to systematically assess the wastewater system in Huaquina and Juli. EIA methodology investigated three priority areas: microbiological data collection of wastewater and water from nearby Lake Titicaca; geographically-referenced data collection for spatial analysis; and qualitative data collection through interviews with key stakeholders. Microbiological data analysis revealed significant contamination of Escherichia coli and fecal coliforms in Lake Titicaca, the lagoon system, and drinking wells in Huaquina. ArcGIS software was utilized to create a visual representation of key geographic points and data for analysis. Qualitative analysis revealed stakeholders' views of current and potential health effects from ineffective wastewater treatment. Short- and long-term recommendations were provided to the community and government including: improving drinking well infrastructure, providing community environmental education, and implementation of a technologically appropriate wastewater treatment system. This EIA has captured the attention of the local government and has led to initial planning of lagoon modifications and overall infrastructure improvements. This research method can be utilized in a variety of international settings to raise awareness for environmental concerns and provide appropriate methods of wastewater management and treatment.