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Drinking water supply and human health: Alberta cattle feedlot operators' and family members' perspective

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dc.contributor.authorKalischuk, R.G.
dc.contributor.authorAcharya, M.P.
dc.contributor.authorKlein, K.K.
dc.contributor.authorBjornlund, H.
dc.date.issued2009
dc.description.abstractA safe and secure drinking water supply is vital for human health and well-being.Increasingly, drinking water management and sustainability have been identified as major public health challenges worldwide. Managing this precious resource is important,especially in the water rich province of Alberta where agriculture is one of the largest consumers and polluters of freshwater. Confined beef feedlots can be a significant source of water pollution and vector water born infections. Research related to cattle feedlot operators' and family members' views about drinking water supply and human health is sparse, a topic examined in this article.In 2005, a pilot study was conducted in the Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District (LNID) in southern Alberta, Canada. Using an interviewer-administered survey, data were collected from 33 cattle feedlot operators and/or family members All study respondents made a connection between drinking water supply and human health.While 88% believed that clean and safe drinking water is essential for good health, 61%expressed concern about the possible adverse effects of poor water quality on their health and well being. Sixty-six percent believed that access to clean drinking water within this region is not an issue because they access treated irrigation water from LNID. However, all respondents used bottled water and/or household water treatment systems for purifying waterfor consumption and household use. Slightly less than half conducted annual water qualitytests as recommended in the provincial water quality guidelines. Within this population, regular water quality monitoring occurred on a sporadic basis. This water monitoring practice of the study respondents may have been influenced by LNID water management practices and their personal experience. The results of this study are likely to have implications for public health policy, practice and education. For example, the infrequent water monitoring practices of study respondents suggest a need for public health policy development related to water management (e.g., regular water quality monitoring)and sustainability.
dc.identifier.citationJournal of environmental research and development, 2009; 3(4):951-958
dc.identifier.issn0973-6921
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1959.8/115113
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherJerad Publications
dc.rightsCopyright 2009 Jerad Publications
dc.subjectwater quality
dc.subjectdrinking water
dc.subjectfeedlots
dc.subjectAlberta
dc.subjectCanada
dc.titleDrinking water supply and human health: Alberta cattle feedlot operators' and family members' perspective
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished
ror.mmsid9915910655401831

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