Abstract

Rapid development in the US-Mexico border region, fueled by international commerce and industrialization, places pressure on resources, particularly potable water, and challenges communities providing these resources. In Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, some neighborhoods have intermittent delivery of water through pipes, other areas lack piped water and relied on water delivered by truck. People receiving delivered water often get sick through multiple sources such as contaminated water storage containers, contaminated delivery trucks tanks, and potentially contaminated water loaded into the trucks. Based on the literature, the people in Nogales are not receiving contaminated water supplies but instead perceive a risk of contamination, especially for those living in poorer communities. Little information is available on human health relationships with water quality in this area. We developed a survey to examine quality of life, water consumption, and impacts on human health in two areas of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico; one area with comparatively high socio-environmental conditions (Colonia Lomas de Fàtima) and another area with low socio-environmental conditions (Colonia Luis Donaldo Colosio). Questions describing the household's water source, delivery, personal disinfection practices, and gastrointestinal disease frequency were asked at each participating residence to investigate the relationship between water quality and quality of life. A total of 21 households were recruited for the study (14 in Colosio and 7 in Lomas de Fatima). Respondents identified diarrhea as an issue for 50% of participating households. In fact, 11 people were hospitalized due to diarrhea; more than half from Colosio. The majority of respondents seemed satisfied with their overall quality of life, but they felt helpless in tackling community water issues. People, businesses, industry and society thrive when there is a dependable source of high quality water. Further research and investigation of water quality is needed for links between prevalence and source of diarrhea.