The Potential for Citizen Science to Improve the Reach of Sanitary Inspections

Jo Herschan, Richard King, Theresa Mkandawire, Kenan Okurut, Dan J. Lapworth, Rosalind Malcolm and Katherine Pond
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Jo Herschan: Centre for Environmental Health and Engineering (CEHE), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 5XH, UK
Richard King: Centre for Environmental Health and Engineering (CEHE), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 5XH, UK
Theresa Mkandawire: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Malawi—The Polytechnic, Private Bag 303, Blantyre 312225, Malawi
Kenan Okurut: Department of Civil and Building Engineering, University of Kyambogo, Kyambogo Road, Kiwatule—Banda, Kampala, Uganda
Dan J. Lapworth: British Geological Survey, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK
Rosalind Malcolm: School of Law, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 5XH, UK
Katherine Pond: Centre for Environmental Health and Engineering (CEHE), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 5XH, UK

Resources, 2020, vol. 9, issue 12, 1-19

Abstract: To achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6, universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking-water quality and sanitation for all, and 10, to reduce inequality within and among countries, additional and urgent work is required. Efforts to achieve these Goals in the context of small drinking-water supplies, which are the furthest behind in regards to progress, are of particular need. Reasons for this disparity in progress include the remoteness of access to small drinking-water supplies and the lack of technical and financial capacity for monitoring supplies. The World Health Organization promote the use of Sanitary inspection (SI) as an on-site assessment of risk. Despite the potential to increase the body of knowledge and information on supplies in a region, there has been limited research into the role of citizen science and SIs. To meet SDG targets, we need to improve the reach of SIs. This study uses a mixed methods approach of quantitative on-site SI data collection and remote SI data collection via photographic images, together with qualitative data collection, collected by non-expert students, who are citizens of Malawi, as well as a panel of experts in the field of SI. Results indicate that, although further research into the topic is required prior to widescale implementation, the potential exists for citizens to conduct SI, with remote expert verification of the results using photographic images of supplies. Further documentation or guidance is required to support citizens in this process. The results highlight a critical gap in the availability of appropriate documentation for unprotected spring sources which is urgently required. The use of citizen science for SI data collection is in its infancy. However, this study indicates that there is potential to explore the use of citizen science in this area, which will contribute to achieving SDGs 6 and 10.

Keywords: citizen science; drinking-water quality; photographic sanitary inspection; remote sanitary inspection; risk assessment; risk management; sanitary inspection (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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