Center for Water and Health | International Research

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International Research

Nicaragua: Point-of-Use Evaluation: Center researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of two low-technology water treatment methods for home use in removing disease-causing pathogens. The point of use treatments-a ceramic water filter and slow sand filters-are used in isolated, rural communities but have not undergone extensive scientific testing. The researchers will also conduct field tests in Nicaragua to assess how effective the treatments are during long-term household use.

South Africa: Ram Pump Irrigation in KwaZulu-Natal: Two Center-affiliated doctoral students are assessing the public health and community benefits of the installation of irrigation systems in two rural villages in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The students helped to build the water systems as part of a project with the Johns Hopkins chapter of Engineers Without Borders to improve the crop yields of the villages’ community vegetable gardens. The gardens are tended by older women in the villages, who prior to the installation of the water systems, had to walk more than the length of a football field to collect water. They walked back balancing water-filled, 70-pound buckets on their heads.

Peru: An Assessment of Water Quality in Lima’s Peri-Urban Neighborhoods: Center researchers are collaborating with International Health colleagues to evaluate water quality in peri-urban slums on the outskirts of Lima. The work focuses on the use of molecular detection methods to identify enteric viruses in the water supply. Initial water sampling found that more than 20 percent of diarrheal illnesses in children are caused by Norovirus.

Ireland: Efficiency of Secondary Sewage Treatment Systems: Center researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of wastewater treatment facilities in Western Ireland to remove Cryptosporidium and other human enteric pathogens.

Safe Water Initiative: Center researchers are assessing drinking water access in developing countries and conducting economic studies to determine the countries’ capabilities with respect to the provision of safe drinking water.

Research Projects

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Click on the projects map to learn about the Center’s current work—from developing simple techniques to identify minute pathogenic viruses that escape conventional means of detection to assessing the human health risk posed by a parasite that infects Chesapeake Bay oysters to testing in-home water treatments for isolated populations who lack safe drinking water.

Collaborators

The Johns Hopkins Center for Water and Health welcomes inquiries from foundations, public agencies and private sector concerns with an interest in forging partnerships to translate Center research on water and public health into innovative, evidence-based applications.