IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v11y2019i18p4884-d264768.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Improving Water Access and Health through Rainwater Harvesting: Perceptions of an Indigenous Community in Jalisco, Mexico

Author

Listed:
  • Shiara K. González-Padrón

    (Posgrado en Ciencias de la Sostenibilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico)

  • Amy M. Lerner

    (Laboratorio Nacional de Ciencias de la Sostenibilidad, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, (LANCIS-IE-UNAM), Mexico City 04510, Mexico)

  • Marisa Mazari-Hiriart

    (Laboratorio Nacional de Ciencias de la Sostenibilidad, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, (LANCIS-IE-UNAM), Mexico City 04510, Mexico)

Abstract

This article presents a mixed methods case study of an isolated indigenous community (the Wixaritari) in Jalisco state, Mexico, where the patterns of access to water have been changing due to Rainwater Harvesting Systems (RWHSs). The lack of water in this region is extremely precarious; women and children spend approximately one to three hours a day fetching water, and families live with less than 20 L per person/day. To better understand the relationship between water access and health derived from the use of RWHSs, we first analyzed epidemiological data (2014–2017) from cases of Acute Diarrheal Diseases (ADDs) and household water quality. Next, we surveyed households on water access after the introduction of RWHSs, including questions about perceptions of health problems associated with water. The results revealed that the introduction of RWHSs water access in this community has increased quantitatively and qualitatively and the incidence of ADDs has decreased significantly. However, the surveys and interviews indicate a disconnect between the incidence of ADDs and perceptions of health problems. We conclude that RWHSs can have tangible benefits, but they can be potentially undermined by perceptions of communities that have different understandings of the cause of disease.

Suggested Citation

  • Shiara K. González-Padrón & Amy M. Lerner & Marisa Mazari-Hiriart, 2019. "Improving Water Access and Health through Rainwater Harvesting: Perceptions of an Indigenous Community in Jalisco, Mexico," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-17, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:18:p:4884-:d:264768
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/18/4884/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/18/4884/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Rijsberman, Frank R., 2006. "Water scarcity: Fact or fiction?," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 80(1-3), pages 5-22, February.
    2. Jacqueline Evangelista Fonseca & Mariângela Carneiro & João Luiz Pena & Enrico A Colosimo & Nívea Bispo da Silva & André Gabriel F C da Costa & Luciano E Moreira & Sandy Cairncross & Léo Heller, 2014. "Reducing Occurrence of Giardia duodenalis in Children Living in Semiarid Regions: Impact of a Large Scale Rainwater Harvesting Initiative," PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(6), pages 1-10, June.
    3. Mireya Ímaz Gispert & María Aurora Armienta Hernández & Enrique Lomnitz Climent & María Fernanda Torregrosa Flores, 2018. "Rainwater Harvesting as a Drinking Water Option for Mexico City," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-13, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Antonio J. Castro & Cristina Quintas-Soriano & Jodi Brandt & Carla L. Atkinson & Colden V. Baxter & Morey Burnham & Benis N. Egoh & Marina García-Llorente & Jason P. Julian & Berta Martín-López & Feli, 2018. "Applying Place-Based Social-Ecological Research to Address Water Scarcity: Insights for Future Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-13, May.
    2. Gong, Feng & Wang, Wenbin & Li, Hao & Xia, Dawei (David) & Dai, Qingwen & Wu, Xinlin & Wang, Mingzhou & Li, Jian & Papavassiliou, Dimitrios V. & Xiao, Rui, 2020. "Solid waste and graphite derived solar steam generator for highly-efficient and cost-effective water purification," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(C).
    3. Ignazio Gallo & Nicola Landro & Riccardo La Grassa & Andrea Turconi, 2022. "Food Recommendations for Reducing Water Footprint," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-20, March.
    4. Hatem Jemmali & Mohamed Salah Matoussi, 2012. "A Multidimensional Analysis of Water Poverty at A Local Scale- Application of Improved Water Poverty Index for Tunisia," Working Papers 730, Economic Research Forum, revised 2012.
    5. Liang, Kaiming & Zhong, Xuhua & Huang, Nongrong & Lampayan, Rubenito M. & Pan, Junfeng & Tian, Ka & Liu, Yanzhuo, 2016. "Grain yield, water productivity and CH4 emission of irrigated rice in response to water management in south China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 319-331.
    6. Eric Njuki & Boris E. Bravo-Ureta, 2019. "Examining irrigation productivity in U.S. agriculture using a single-factor approach," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 51(2), pages 125-136, June.
    7. Sana Khalid & Muhammad Shahid & Natasha & Irshad Bibi & Tania Sarwar & Ali Haidar Shah & Nabeel Khan Niazi, 2018. "A Review of Environmental Contamination and Health Risk Assessment of Wastewater Use for Crop Irrigation with a Focus on Low and High-Income Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-36, May.
    8. Robert L. Oxley & Larry W. Mays & Alan Murray, 2016. "Optimization Model for the Sustainable Water Resource Management of River Basins," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 30(9), pages 3247-3264, July.
    9. Alberto, Ma. Carmelita R. & Quilty, James R. & Buresh, Roland J. & Wassmann, Reiner & Haidar, Sam & Correa, Teodoro Q. & Sandro, Joseph M., 2014. "Actual evapotranspiration and dual crop coefficients for dry-seeded rice and hybrid maize grown with overhead sprinkler irrigation," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 1-12.
    10. Chuang-lin Fang & Chao Bao & Jin-chuan Huang, 2007. "Management Implications to Water Resources Constraint Force on Socio-economic System in Rapid Urbanization: A Case Study of the Hexi Corridor, NW China," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 21(9), pages 1613-1633, September.
    11. Sevilla Jiménez, Martín & Torregrosa, Teresa & Moreno, Luis, 2010. "Un Panorama sobre la Economía del Agua/An Overview on Water Economy," Estudios de Economia Aplicada, Estudios de Economia Aplicada, vol. 28, pages 265-304, Agosto.
    12. Kherbache, Nabil & Oukaci, Kamal, 2020. "Assessment of capital expenditure in achieving sanitation-related MDG targets and the uncertainties of the SDG targets in Algeria," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 19(C).
    13. Zafar Hussain & Zongmin Wang & Jiaxue Wang & Haibo Yang & Muhammad Arfan & Daniyal Hassan & Wusen Wang & Muhammad Imran Azam & Muhammad Faisal, 2022. "A comparative Appraisal of Classical and Holistic Water Scarcity Indicators," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 36(3), pages 931-950, February.
    14. Mikail Pehlivan & Nazan Susam, 2022. "Transformation of Water Services: Lessons Learned from Water Privatization in Multiple Countries," Journal of Economy Culture and Society, Istanbul University, Faculty of Economics, vol. 65(65), pages 129-160, June.
    15. Sandhya Karki & M. Arlene A. Adviento-Borbe & Joseph H. Massey & Michele L. Reba, 2021. "Assessing Seasonal Methane and Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Furrow-Irrigated Rice with Cover Crops," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-15, March.
    16. Karamaziotis, Panagiotis I. & Raptis, Achilleas & Nikolopoulos, Konstantinos & Litsiou, Konstantia & Assimakopoulos, Vassilis, 2020. "An empirical investigation of water consumption forecasting methods," International Journal of Forecasting, Elsevier, vol. 36(2), pages 588-606.
    17. Fontina Petrakopoulou & Marina Olmeda-Delgado, 2019. "Studying the Reduction of Water Use in Integrated Solar Combined-Cycle Plants," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-27, April.
    18. Hafeez, Mohsin & Bundschuh, Jochen & Mushtaq, Shahbaz, 2014. "Exploring synergies and tradeoffs: Energy, water, and economic implications of water reuse in rice-based irrigation systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 889-900.
    19. Hafeez, M.M. & Bouman, B.A.M. & Van de Giesen, N. & Vlek, P., 2007. "Scale effects on water use and water productivity in a rice-based irrigation system (UPRIIS) in the Philippines," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 92(1-2), pages 81-89, August.
    20. Vivek Vivek, 2016. "Rainwater Harvesting In Chennai: What Made It Work?," IIM Kozhikode Society & Management Review, , vol. 5(1), pages 91-106, January.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:18:p:4884-:d:264768. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.