Source Selections - DRAFT

Best Reference Sources

Encyclopedias

Nathanson, Jerry A. "Environmental Works." Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 2008. Encyclopædia Britannica. Seattle Central Community College Library. 4 Feb. 2008 http://www.search.eb.com.ez.sccd.ctc.edu:2048/eb/article-72298.

Nathanson is currently an associate professor at Union County College in Cranford, NJ, and he holds a Master of Science degree in Environmental Health Engineering. This article presents an introduction to the fundamentals of environmental works infrastructure with its main focus on the modern facilities and systems that provide communities with water supply, waste disposal, and pollution control services. It discusses the importance of municipal water supply, the historical background regarding the evolution of public water supply systems, the problems of global distribution of water resources, health concerns related to water quality issues, and a host of other water related details. Sub-topics are organized into sections with bold headings, and various video links and schematic illustrations are included throughout the article. There is an “Additional Reading” section at the end of the article, which contains an impressive list of other related articles. Since there are no citations, one would have to assume that the article is based upon the author’s first-hand knowledge. This article provides great foundational information regarding water sources, water quality, and municipal water systems.


Linden, Karl G., and Richard Hazen. “Water Treatment.” McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2007.

Linden is a professor of environmental engineering at Duke University and Hazen is a former consulting engineer. This article explains the physical and chemical processes for making water suitable for human consumption including sedimentation, coag and flocculation, filtration, disinfection, granular activated carbon, pressure-driven membranes, and advanced treatment. This provides good overview information regarding purification methodology.


Organizations

Global Water. 2007. GlobalWater.org. 19 Feb. 2008 http://www.globalwater.org/index.htm.

Global Water is an international, non-profit humanitarian organization focused on creating safe water supplies, sanitation facilities and related health programs for rural villagers in developing countries. It was founded by former U.S. Ambassador John McDonald and former White House Special Assistant Dr. Peter Bourne in response to a challenge by the United Nations at the World Conference on Water. The website content includes planned projects, completed projects, progress reports, trip reports, media releases, and information on where to make donations toward their on-going projects. The most useful information for my research is their Rural Outreach Water Supply Program (ROWS) which is their model for distribution of water and sanitation solutions. This addresses the distribution aspect of my research outline.

Contact Info:
Global WaterProject Management Office
3600 S. Harbor Blvd., # 514
Oxnard, CA 93035 USA
Phone: (805) 985-3057
Fax: (805) 985-3688
info@globalwater.org


Health Education To Villages. 19 Sep. 2007. Rehydration Project. 19 Feb. 2008 http://hetv.org/.

HETV, a private, non-profit development group, is devoted to improving health education, including water safety, in underdeveloped countries. They work within the existing health framework already established in their target areas, partnering with national and state governments. This organization is a good source for statistical information as well as a source of information for a variety of projects currently addressing water and health issues.

Contact Info:
Health Education to Villages
P.O. Box No. 1
Cavelossim, Goa, 403731
India
Phone: +91 832 274 5151


Statistical Source

Downs, Timothy J., and I. H. Suffet. “Sanitation in Developing Countries.” Encyclopedia of Public Health. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2002.

Downs is a professor of environmental science and policy at Clark University and Suffet is a professor of environmental health sciences at UCLA. This article provides statistics on the top 20 water-related diseases including the name of the disease, the regions affected by it, the number of cases per year, and the number of deaths per year (worldwide). The authors support the notion that sanitation and water issues are interrelated and that both problems need to be addressed together. This provides information for the framework and context of the overview portion of my research.



Best Books

Moss, Frank E. The Water Crisis. New York: Frederick A. Praeger Publishers, 1967.

Moss is a former United States Senator from Utah and was a member of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs (which handled legistation regarding water research, planning, and conservation) and the Committee on Public Works (which handled water pollution control measures). This gave him an exceptional vantage point from which to view the rapidly growning water crisis. His book gives great breadth and depth regarding this issue and will provide a broad perspective for the background portion of my research.


Gleick, Peter H, et al. The World’s Water 2004-2005: The Biennial Report on Freshwater Resources. Washington: Island Press, 2004.

At the time of printing Gleick was president of the Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment, and Security. This book is a compilation of reports, articles, discussions, and statistical data regarding the world’s freshwater resources. It offers data and insights into wate challenges facing the public, policymakers, and scientists. The intent of this publication is to create an informed public throughout the world regarding the water crisis. This book has a wealth of information that can contribute to various aspects of my research.



Best Periodicals

Montgomery, Maggie A., and Menachem Elimelech. “Water and Sanitation in Developing Countries: Including Health in the Equation.” Environmental Engineering. 1 Jan. 2007. Yale University. 19 Feb. 2008 http://www.yale.edu/env/elimelech/News_Page/files/ES&T_Jan2007.pdf.

This journal article presents the research findings of a doctoral student and professor of the Environmental Engineering Program at Yale University. It gives a well-documented, comprehensive presentation of the issues surrounding water, sanitation, and health problems. I am particularly interested in the section entitled, “ A Shift to Household Technologies.” The authors suggest that a relying on household water treatment and sanitation technologies may be the best solution for rural and peri-urban areas, and they present a supported analysis. An impressive list of references may also prove useful. The section regarding household water treatment supports my interest on these sorts of solutions.


"Water Filters That Work.(SPECTRUM)." Environment 49.4 (May 2007): 5-6. Health Reference Center Academic. Gale. Seattle Central Community College Library. 12 Feb. 2008 http://find.galegroup.com.ez.sccd.ctc.edu:2048/itx/start.do?prodId=HRCA

This is a scholarly journal featuring peer-reviewed articles on development and the environment geared toward an academic audience. This article provides study results from Professor Mark Sobsey (Environmental Sciences and Engineering, UNC School of Public Health) who, along with a team, spent four months in two villages near Banao, Dominican Republic monitoring 150 households lacking in filtered water and assessing rates of illness before and after bio-filters were installed. The study shows that sand filters are effective in improving health and provides an answer to my topic question.


Bartram, Jamie, et al. "Focusing on Improved Water and Sanitation for Health." The Lancet 365.9461 (26 Feb. 2005): 810. Health Reference Center Academic. Gale. Seattle Central Community College Library. 12 Feb. 2008 http://find.galegroup.com.ez.sccd.ctc.edu:2048/itx/start.do?prodId=HRCA

Authors Lenton and Wright are coordinators of the UN Millennium Project Task Force on Water and
Sanitation, Lewis is a senior policy adviser and manager, Bartram is a permanent observer on the task force for the World Health Organization and UN-Water. This article outlines the global water crisis and gives statistics regarding the health effects of poor water sanitation. Particularly interesting, is the statement that “expanding safe drinking water and sanitation coverage is not complex; it requires neither colossal sums of money nor scientific breakthroughs and technological advances.” This addresses my question regarding whether or not there are insurmountable economic barriers to mass distribution of water purification systems . A list of references includes other articles that could also prove useful.



Best Internet Sources

PlayPumps International. 2008. PlayPumps.org. 21 Jan. 2008 http://www.playpumps.org/.

PlayPumps International is a non-profit humanitarian aid organization focused on providing their a sustainable, free supply of clean drinking water throughout Africa. More than 1000 PlayPump systems have been donated to communities in South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique, and Zambia. This addresses the “solutions” portion of my research.


“Water: Turn on the Tap.” Samaritan’s Purse Canada. 21 Jan. 2008 http://www.samaritanspurse.ca/ourwork/water/.

Samaritan’s Purse is a non-profit, non-denominational, Christian humanitarian aid organization. “Turn on the Tap” is their bio-sand water filter solution for providing communities access to safe drinking water. The have installed more than 70,000 in homes, communities, schools, and clinics throughout the world. This addresses the “solutions” portion of my research.



Best Non-Print Sources

“Water Pump.” Historica Minute. DVD Historica Foundation of Canada, 2005.

This short one-minute video highlights a water pump project engineered by researchers at the University of Waterloo, Canada. It is their solution for bringing clean water to developing countries. This pump is simple, lightweight, corrosion resistant, made of readily available materials, and is inexpensive. The film is intending as a public awareness campaign to prompt its Canadian audience to think about potable water issues in the developing world. This addresses the question of what is being done to solve the problem of clean water distribution.