Hygiene risk of waterborne pathogenic viruses in rural communities using onsite sanitation systems and shallow dug wells

Abstract

We evaluated the hygienic influence of onsite sanitation systems (OSSs) on drinking water wells in rural Sri Lanka by determining the safe setback distance between wells and the management of OSSs. Although previous studies have used bacterial indicators such as E. coli to evaluate the OSS impact, these parameters cannot assess the hygiene risk for waterborne pathogenic viruses (e.g. rotaviruses). Therefore, pepper mild mottle virus was selected as an indicator of human-specific faecal virus contamination. From a viral perspective, not only can the horizontal distance between a well and the nearest OSS reasonably represent hygiene safety, but the OSS sludge management can mitigate the contamination of wells even at short distances from the OSSs. Quantitative microbial risk assessment suggests that the infection risk of rotavirus was extremely high compared to the international standard. As proper management of OSSs would be key to reducing viral risk, it is necessary to reach out to the residents who are unaware of the importance and necessity of such management.

Keywords: Onsite sanitation system management; Residents' perception; Sludge removal; Viral risk.