Previous work by our research team has identified a ubiquitous source of lead in an urbanizing coastal city in Madagascar. In that location, decentralized, manually-operated pitcher pumps supply drinking water to many of the city’s population. These pumps are typically manufactured using lead-containing components including two check valves and well screen, and lead concentrations in pumped water often exceed the World Health Organization guideline of 10 μg/L.   This presentation will provide an overview of  an associated humanitarian project that has a goal to improve the health of children in a low-income community in Sub-Saharan African by making water safe from chemical contamination (i.e., lead).  To date, the project has remediated over 1,000 hand pumps by removal of the major leaded components.   Water analysis has shown a significant reduction in lead concentration in pumped water due to the intervention.   The presentation will also summarize results of laboratory tests that identify mechanisms of lead leaching and the importance of water stagnation on lead levels.  The talk also provides evidence that replacement of lead components leads to lower modeled and measured blood lead levels (BLLs) of children and the associated economic savings to the local population from reduction of lead in water.  Furthermore, using a social marketing framework, formative research was conducted, which led to a communication/skill-based intervention that resulted in a training program for location technicians who manufacture and repair pitcher-pumps.    This project is important because an estimated one-third of children globally have blood lead levels (BLLs) exceeding the U.S. CDC reference value of 5 μg/dL; this value may be as high as one-half for children in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC).

Safeguarding pumped drinking water from lead (Pb) contamination in sub-Saharan Africa

ACS Spring 2022

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