Abstract

Surveillance indicators of the quality of water for human consumption in the Amazon were analysed from 2016 to 2020 using 185,528 samples from 11 microregions. Of the samples analysed, 93.20% were from urban areas, 66.65% were from the public water supply system (WSS), 31.02% were from the Collective Alternative Solution-CAS, and 2.33% from the Individual Alternative Solution-IAS. There was an increase in the number of records by the WSS, with a downwards trend and fluctuations in records for the CAS and the IAS. The quality indicators of chemical and physical parameters for urban areas were higher than those for rural areas and traditional communities. Most of the samples presented pH values below the recommended level. In the quantification of microbiological parameters, a higher presence of total coliforms and E. coli was identified in samples from rural areas and in traditional communities. In conclusion, there were inadequacies in the chemical, physical and microbiological parameters as well as problems related to the supply, storage and surveillance of water distributed for human consumption. These findings indicate the need to build an agenda for public management to address water insecurity and its likely effects on food insecurity in the region.

Key words:
Drinking water; Water insecurity; Water supply; Health information systems; Environmental health surveillance

Introduction

Drinking water is a fundamental human right and is included in the sixth objective of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda, proposed by the United Nations in 2015, of which Brazil is a signatory; the objective consists of the universal guarantee of the sustainable management of water and sanitation¹1 World Health Organization (WHO). Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. New York: WHO; 2015.. Amazonas fits not this general context; despite being one of the Brazilian states with the greatest abundance of water resources, there is a lack of sufficient public service to allow equal access to water for the population²2 Rede Brasileira de Pesquisa em Soberania e Segurança Alimentar e Nutricional - PENSSAN. II Inquérito Nacional sobre Insegurança Alimentar no Contexto da Pandemia da COVID-19 no Brasil. São Paulo: Rede PENSSAN; 2022., compromising quality parameters (chemicals, physical and microbiological) based on the criteria recommended by regulatory agencies³3 Fortes ACC, Barrocas PRG, Kligerman DC. A vigilância da qualidade da água e o papel da informação na garantia do acesso. Saude Debate 2020; 43(Esp. 3):20-34.^,44 Santana ABC, Lopes AF, Mendes AP, Yamaguchi KKL. Análise de dados do Sistema de Informação de Vigilância da Qualidade da Água para Consumo Humano (Sisagua) no estado do Amazonas, 2016-2020. Vigil Sanit Debate 2021; 9(4):25-34..

Since 1997, the right to equal access to water has been protected by the Water Resources Policy (PNRH) (Federal Law No. 9,433/1997), which established actions to mitigate problems related to access to drinking water in sufficient quantity and of compatible quality with the expected potability standard (Consolidation Ordinance GM/MS No. 5, of September 28, 2017, and Ordinance GM/MS No. 888, of May 4, 2021)⁵5 Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE). IBGE cidades [Internet]. 2022. [acessado 2022 jun 11]. Disponível em: https://cidades.ibge.gov.br/brasil/am/panorama
https://cidades.ibge.gov.br/brasil/am/pa... . The National Program for the Surveillance of the Quality of Water for Human Consumption (Vigiagua) is notable, and its main instrument is the Surveillance Information System of the Quality of Water for Human Consumption (Sisagua), which allows local managers to monitor data on the quality of water for human consumption and the management of health risks⁵5 Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE). IBGE cidades [Internet]. 2022. [acessado 2022 jun 11]. Disponível em: https://cidades.ibge.gov.br/brasil/am/panorama
https://cidades.ibge.gov.br/brasil/am/pa... ^,66 Oliveira Júnior A, Magalhães TB, Mata RND, Santos FSGD, Oliveira DC, Carvalho JLB, Araújo WN. Sistema de informac¸a~o de vigila^ncia da qualidade da a´gua para consumo humano (Sisagua): caracteri´sticas, evoluc¸a~o e aplicabilidade. Epidemiol Serv Saude. 2019; 28(1) :e2018117..

In addition to Sisagua, information on water supply is available via the National Sanitation Information System (SNIS) or through population surveys, such as the National Household Sample Survey (PNAD) and, recently, the National Survey on Food Insecurity in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil²2 Rede Brasileira de Pesquisa em Soberania e Segurança Alimentar e Nutricional - PENSSAN. II Inquérito Nacional sobre Insegurança Alimentar no Contexto da Pandemia da COVID-19 no Brasil. São Paulo: Rede PENSSAN; 2022., which revealed that in 2022, there was a 12% restriction of access to household water (water insecurity - WI). Notably, 65% of these households also lived with moderate and severe food insecurity (quantitative food restriction), with a greater impact in the North region (48.3%)²2 Rede Brasileira de Pesquisa em Soberania e Segurança Alimentar e Nutricional - PENSSAN. II Inquérito Nacional sobre Insegurança Alimentar no Contexto da Pandemia da COVID-19 no Brasil. São Paulo: Rede PENSSAN; 2022..

According to the Organic Law on Food and Nutrition Security (LOSAN - No. 11,346, of September 15, 2006), access to water and measures to minimize the risk of shortage of drinking water are premises for the promotion of Food and Nutrition Security (FNS) and for the guarantee of the Human Right to Adequate Food⁷7 Brasil. Ministério da Saúde (MS). Vigilância e controle da qualidade da água para consumo humano. Brasília: Ministério da Saúde; 2006.. Based on the guidelines of the Unified Health System (SUS), water surveillance is based on the construction of an information system that enables the monitoring of indicators and facilitates social participation in ensuring water quality, which is one of the major monitoring challenges³3 Fortes ACC, Barrocas PRG, Kligerman DC. A vigilância da qualidade da água e o papel da informação na garantia do acesso. Saude Debate 2020; 43(Esp. 3):20-34..

The interrelationship between WI and FI harbours potential threats to safe access to food, increasing the chances of occurrence of foodborne diseases (FBDs)⁸8 Miller JD, Workman CL, Panchang SV, Sneegas G, Adams EA, Young SL, Thompson AL. Water security and nutrition: current knowledge and research opportunities. Adv Nutr 2021; 2525-2539. and damage to physical and mental health and nutrition⁹9 Miller JD, Workman CL, Panchang SV, Sneegas G, Adams EA, Young SL, Thompson AL. Water security and nutrition: current knowledge and research opportunities. Adv Nutr 2021; 12(6):2525-2539., compromising the prevention, treatment, and control of COVID-19¹⁰10 Stoler J, Miller JD, Brewis A, Freeman MC, Harris LM, Jepson W, Pearson AL, Rosinger AY, Shah SH, Staddon C, Workman C, Wutich A, Young SL; Household Water Insecurity Experiences Research Coordination Network (HWISE RCN). Household water insecurity will complicate the ongoing COVID-19 response: evidence from 29 sites in 23 low- and middle-income countries. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2021; 234:113715.^,1111 Hannah D, Lynch I, Mao F, Miller J, Young SL, Krause S. Water and sanitation for all in a pandemic. Nature Sustain 2020; 3(10):773-775.. Furthermore, water security, an incipient concept in the field of food and nutrition, plays an important role in guaranteeing HRAF¹²12 Young SL, Frongillo EA, Jamaluddine Z, Melgar-Quiñonez H, Pérez-Escamilla R, Ringler C, Rosinger AY. Perspective: the importance of water security for ensuring food security, good nutrition, and well-being. Adv Nutr 2021; 30;12(4):1058-1073.. Thus, monitoring the quality of water for human consumption in Brazil is strategic for managing the conditions of access to this natural resource by monitoring agents harmful to potability³3 Fortes ACC, Barrocas PRG, Kligerman DC. A vigilância da qualidade da água e o papel da informação na garantia do acesso. Saude Debate 2020; 43(Esp. 3):20-34.^,1313 Freitas MB, Freitas CM. A vigilância da qualidade da água para consumo humano: desafios e perspectivas para o Sistema Único de Saúde. Cien Saude Colet 2005; 10(4):993-1004..

The objective of this study was to analyse surveillance indicators of the quality of water for human consumption in the State of Amazonas from 2016 to 2020, seeking to identify connections with WI in this population.

The unprecedented nature of this study lies in the fact that it is the first to discuss population water security in terms of microbiological, supply, distribution and surveillance aspects using information available in national public databases. It starts from the premise that the availability of water, in quantity and quality, is an important protective factor against food insecurity, especially in vulnerable populations in the state of Amazonas, already subjected to such a situation. This investigation, therefore, makes it possible to fill a knowledge gap by revealing the paradox of the inexistence of sufficient drinking water for human consumption in the region with the greatest water abundance in the country.

Methods

Study design

This was a cross-sectional, exploratory-descriptive and analytical study with secondary data from samples of water distributed for human consumption in the state of Amazonas, covering the period from 2016 to 2020.

Study area

The state of Amazonas has a territorial area of 1,559,167.878 km², with an estimated population of 4,269,995 inhabitants in 2021 ¹⁴14 Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE). Cidades e estados [Internet]. 2021. [acessado 2021 ago 3]. Disponível em: https://www.ibge.gov.br/cidades-e-estados/am.html
https://www.ibge.gov.br/cidades-e-estado... , distributed among 62 municipalities.

Database

Open access public Sisagua databases made available by the Ministry of Health were used. The dataset and the dictionary of Sisagua variables were obtained by consulting and searching the Brazilian Open Data Portal (available at https://dados.gov.br/dataset?tags=SISAGUA - accessed on 12/13/2021 and 12/15/2021). Data from 185,528 samples were available for 2021, the time of data collection (Figure 1).

Statistical analyses [

Descriptive analyses, i.e., calculation of absolute (N) and relative (%) frequencies, were performed for the variables, which were categorized into form of supply (water supply system - WSS; collective alternative solution - CAS; and individual alternative solution - IAS); area (urban, rural, traditional community and unidentified); location (public/private institutions, households, commercial establishments, other and unidentified); origin of collection (water treatment plant, intrahousehold/building, collection point, distribution system and alternative solution); reason for collection (routine, complaint, disaster and outbreak); and institution responsible for management where the sample was collected (public, private, nongovernmental organization - NGO and unidentified).

The chemical, physical and microbiological parameters selected were consistent with those established in Consolidation Ordinance No. 5/2017 (Brasil, 2017), and the following classifications were used:

The chemical and physical parameter data did not follow a normal distribution, as verified by the Shapiro‒Wilk tests. Therefore, to measure the difference between the medians of the parameters, the Mann-Whitney test was applied.

A Prais-Winsten generalized linear regression model was used to evaluate the temporal variation trends for the percentages pertaining to water supply and area. In the design of the regression models, the classifications of supply and area were defined as dependent variables, and year of registration was defined as the independent variable. The annual percentage change and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were calculated to estimate trends, considering the coefficients b minimum and b maximum, using the following equations:

All statistical analyses were performed using Stata software, version 15.1 (StataCorp - College Station, Texas, USA), adopting a significance level of 5% (p ≤ 0,05).

Ethical aspects

Because the data in this study were obtained from secondary databases in the public domain, without the possibility of individual identification, this study was exempt from approval by the Committee of Ethics in Research with Human Beings/National Committee for Ethics in Research (CEP/CONEP), in accordance with Resolution No. 510/2016 of the National Health Council.

Results

Characteristics of water samples recorded in Sisagua

From 2016 to 2020, 185,528 samples of water for human consumption from the 11 microregions of the state of Amazonas were analysed; no records were found for Japurá (2) and Boca do Acre (11) (Table 1). Most samples were from urban areas (93.20%), with only 2.74% from rural areas and 1.25% from traditional communities. Regarding the form of supply, the WSS - public system - accounted for 66.65% of the samples, the CAS accounted for 31.02%, and the IAS accounted for 2.33%.

The trend analysis showed an increase in the number of WSS records, with an annual percentage variation (APV) of 2.57%, and a decrease in the number of CAS records, with an APV of 2.58%) in the same period. There were also fluctuations in the number of IAS records, for both urban and rural areas, and a decrease in the number of sample collection records for traditional communities (Table 1).

Quality of water samples recorded in Sisagua based on chemical, physical and microbiological parameters

Table 2 shows the classifications of the chemical and physical parameters of the water samples collected in the Amazon, stratified by area and form of supply. There was a high percentage of samples classified as unsuitable for free residual chlorine, especially in rural areas (83.22%) and in traditional communities (74.11%). The samples collected via the WSS and CAS showed adequacy percentages of 52.16% and 52.26%, respectively. For the WSS samples, 72.41% were adequate for fluoride concentration, unlike those obtained from the CAS, 99.83% of which were inadequate for the same parameter. For the evaluation by location, 65.04% of the samples from urban areas had adequate fluoride levels. There were no records for fluoride in samples from rural areas and traditional communities (Table 2).

Regarding the physical parameters of water potability, the IAS samples had higher percentages of suitability for apparent colour (98.59%), with lower percentages for WSS (996.73%) and CAS (94.62%) samples. In the analysis by location, 97.10% of the samples collected in urban areas had adequate apparent colour; in rural areas and in traditional communities, 82.01% and 89.13% of the sample had adequate apparent colour, respectively (Table 2)

For the turbidity analyses, 95.47% of the WSS samples had adequate values. In the evaluation of the same parameter for CAS and IAS samples, 95.18% and 94.62%, respectively, had adequate values. Most samples from urban areas (96.34%) had adequate turbidity (Table 2). Most WSS samples (62.15%) and samples from urban areas (59.92%) were not within the pH range recommended by Brazilian legislation (Table 2).

In the quantification of the microbiological parameters of the water samples collected in the Amazon (Table 3), there was a greater presence of total coliforms in samples from the CAS (31.59%) and IAS (32.74%) than in samples from the WSS (16.77%). When the samples were analysed by distribution area, the presence of total coliforms was higher in rural areas (20.86%) and in traditional communities (55.97%). For E. coli, the presence was higher in IAS samples (11.79%) and in samples from traditional communities (21.52%).

Discussion

Quality aspects of water distributed for human consumption in the state of Amazonas

Of the 185,528 samples of water for human consumption analysed between 2016 and 2020, in two of the 13 microregions of the state of Amazonas, there was underreporting of information through Sisagua. The location with underreporting included the municipalities of Japurá and Maraã, with approximately 20,979 inhabitants and a population density of 0.3 inhab/km², and the municipalities of Boca do Acre and Pauini, with a population of 53,734 inhabitants and a population density of 0.8 inhab/km²¹⁵15 Brasil Cidades. Amazonas [Internet]. 2023. [acessado 2023 out 13]. Disponível em: https://www.cidade-brasil.com.br/estado-amazonas.html
https://www.cidade-brasil.com.br/estado-... . This finding is a cause for concern, as the recording of information is of particular relevance for guiding actions and decision-making inherent to public management and for ensuring safe access to sufficient water, in physical-chemical and economic terms, for individual, household and economic use¹⁶16 Usman Y, Reuben A, Olaide AS. Analysis of spatial inequality in access to public water supply in Minna. Int J Innov Res Adv Studies 2022; 9(8):72-82..

In the North region, only 57.5% of the population is covered by the public WSS, in contrast, in other regions of the country, approximately 90% of the population is served¹⁷17 Araujo LF, Camargo FP, Torres Netto A, Vernin NS, Andrade RC. Ana´lise da cobertura de abastecimento e da qualidade da a´gua distribui´da em diferentes regio~es do Brasil no ano de 2019. Cien Saude Colet 2022; 27(7):2935-2947.. As reflected in the results of this study, failures in the water supply and basic sanitation service in the state of Amazonas reveal historical disparities between Brazilian geographic regions, creating challenges in the guarantee of universalization of sanitation services.

Most of the samples analysed were from urban areas, and most samples were from the WSS, followed by the CAS. It is the responsibility of the water supply service providers to report sample information, with the data passed on to the health sector or entered directly into Sisagua. The reporting of IAS data is the responsibility of Vigiagua professionals in municipalities, suggesting the incipient nature of the programme’s actions in the state of Amazonas.

A previous study identified a low proportion of records for municipalities in the interior of Amazonas in Sisagua, compared with the proportion of records for the geographical microregion of Manaus, noting technical-operational obstacles, problems related to management, a low number of sample collections, and insufficient data analysis and use of instruments for georeferencing information⁴4 Santana ABC, Lopes AF, Mendes AP, Yamaguchi KKL. Análise de dados do Sistema de Informação de Vigilância da Qualidade da Água para Consumo Humano (Sisagua) no estado do Amazonas, 2016-2020. Vigil Sanit Debate 2021; 9(4):25-34.. Deficiencies in the information records directly affect the construction of indicators for monitoring the SDGs and the goals of the National Basic Sanitation Plan (PLANSAB)¹⁸18 Brasil. Ministério das Cidades (MC). Plano Nacional de Saneamento Ba´sico (PLANSAB). Brasi´lia: MC; 2013..

In the Middle Solimões region of the state of Amazonas, the implementation of water supply systems to serve riverside communities has contributed to reducing the spread of waterborne diseases and to promoting improvements in household chores and personal hygiene¹⁹19 Pacífico ACN, Nascimento ACS, Corrêa DSS, Penteado IM, Pedro JPB, Gomes MCRL, Gomes UAF. Tecnologia para acesso à água na várzea amazônica: impactos positivos na vida de comunidades ribeirinhas do Médio Solimões, Amazonas, Brasil. Cad Saude Publica 2021; 37(3):e00084520..

In the interior of the State of Amazonas, localities such as the municipality of Benjamin Constant depend on the Amazonas Sanitation Company (Cosama) for the collection, treatment and distribution of water for human consumption. However, the network of old pipelines, the advance of disorderly urban development and the growth of communities have posed challenges for providing an adequate water supply²⁰20 Hermenegildo ER, Souza JAS, Parente RS, Silva IRS, Brito JA, Ribeiro PFS. Análise do processo de captação, tratamento e distribuição de água na companhia de saneamento da cidade de Benjamin Constant - AM. Itegam-Jetia 2019; 5(19):177-183.. In a population-based study conducted in the interior of the state of Amazonas that analysed the situation of food insecurity (FI), adversities related to access to water were identified, warning of a scenario of water insecurity, with possible influences on triggering extremely severe levels of FI in the study population²¹21 Da Mata MM, Neves JA, Medeiros MAT. Hunger and its associated factors in the western Brazilian Amazon: a population-based study. J Health Popul Nutr 2022; 41(1):36..

Apparent colour and turbidity are parameters that measure the reflection of dispersed colloid particles and the degree of interference in the passage of light, respectively. These are indicative of the presence of suspended particles, for example, released from domestic or industrial sewage, which can be reduced via sedimentation. Low turbidity facilitates the disinfection process by reducing the shield effect, which favours pathogenic microorganisms. The increase in turbidity may be caused by poor water quality from the source, through poor treatment and by the formation of sediments and biofilms in the distribution systems²²22 Brasil. Presidência da República. Lei nº 11.346, de 15 de setembro de 2006. Cria o Sistema Nacional de Segurança Alimentar e Nutricional (SISAN) com vistas em assegurar o direito humano à alimentação adequada e dá outras providências. Diário Oficial da União 2006; 15 set.^,2323 Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS). Guías para la calidad del agua de consumo humano. Guía. Genebra: OMS; 2011..

Referencing official legislation²⁴24 Brasil. Ministe´rio da Sau´de (MS). Portaria de Consolidac¸a~o nº 5, de 28 de setembro de 2017. Consolidac¸a~o das normas sobre as ac¸o~es e os servic¸os de sau´de do Sistema U´nico de Sau´de. Dia´rio Oficial Unia~o 2017; 29 set., it is possible to verify noncompliance with regulations that stipulate water quality parameters. Changes in pH can be of natural origin or due to human action, involving the dumping of domestic and industrial sewage. However, water acidification can occur in water courses in the Amazon plain, with values between 4 and 6²²22 Brasil. Presidência da República. Lei nº 11.346, de 15 de setembro de 2006. Cria o Sistema Nacional de Segurança Alimentar e Nutricional (SISAN) com vistas em assegurar o direito humano à alimentação adequada e dá outras providências. Diário Oficial da União 2006; 15 set.. The findings of this study corroborate those found in residences located in Brazilian urban slums, i.e., noncompliance with the standards of potable water quality, increasing the risks to the health of populations and constituting a need for public policies¹¹11 Hannah D, Lynch I, Mao F, Miller J, Young SL, Krause S. Water and sanitation for all in a pandemic. Nature Sustain 2020; 3(10):773-775..

The guarantee of microbial safety of the water supply for human consumption depends on the application of barriers, with the implementation and correct operation of a series of steps for the treatment and management of the distribution system. Disinfection serves as a crucial barrier against numerous pathogens, especially bacteria, for which chemical sanitizing agents based on chlorine are used; these agents generate toxic byproducts, such as trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids²³23 Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS). Guías para la calidad del agua de consumo humano. Guía. Genebra: OMS; 2011.. The rules on quality control of water for human consumption may differ in nature and form between countries and regions, and therefore, there is no single method of analysis and evaluation that has been universally adopted²³23 Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS). Guías para la calidad del agua de consumo humano. Guía. Genebra: OMS; 2011..

In Brazil, water quality surveillance for human consumption was only consolidated after the creation of the National Environmental Health Surveillance System (Silva), based on Decree No. 3450, of May 9, 2000, through Sisagua. The provision of data on chemical, physical and microbiological parameters theoretically facilitates public management regarding collective and alternative water supply systems, allowing interventions when water nonconformities are detected¹³13 Freitas MB, Freitas CM. A vigilância da qualidade da água para consumo humano: desafios e perspectivas para o Sistema Único de Saúde. Cien Saude Colet 2005; 10(4):993-1004..

The paradox of water (in)security in the state of Amazonas

The Amazon is one of the largest freshwater hydrographic basins in Brazil; paradoxically, this does not imply safe access to water for the population²⁶26 Jesus FO, Bentes VS, Segura-Mun~oz SI, Meschede MSC. Efica´cia das medidas domiciliares de desinfecc¸a~o da a´gua para consumo humano: enfoque para o contexto de Santare´m, Para´, Brasil. Cad Saude Publica 2023; 39(2):e00205322.. The State of Amazonas, as well as the other states in the region, is challenged by a set of problems related to the availability of quality water for human consumption; these problems are the result of, among other factors, deforestation, fires, disorderly agricultural activities and mining, which all produce tailings and residues that make these water in the region unhealthy²⁷27 Cardozo M, Diniz MB, Szlafsztein CF. Amazon Basin water resources ecosystem services on the approach of Global Public Goods. AYT-WAL 2022; 21:103-119.. In this scenario, populations located in water territories, e.g., traditional communities, are especially affected²⁸28 Martins FM, Schweickardt KH, Schweickardt JC, Ferla AA, Moreira MA, Medeiros JS. Produc¸a~o de existe^ncias em ato na Amazo^nia: "territo´rio li´quido" que se mostra a` pesquisa como travessia de fronteiras. Interface (Botucatu) 2022; 26:e210361.. This finding represents a major challenge that needs to be addressed.

Water insecurity occurs when any person or population group has insufficient physical, social or economic access to safe and sufficient amounts of water for consumption or use on crops, either due to barriers to access to water or due to real unavailability of this natural resource²⁹29 Koren O, Benjamin E, Bagozzi Thomas SB. Food and water insecurity as causes of social unrest: Evidence from geolocated Twitter data. J Peace Res 2021; 58(1):67-82.. Water insecurity chronically coexists with food insecurity as the result of environmental stress associated with climate change and human action governed by private interests and population dynamics²⁹29 Koren O, Benjamin E, Bagozzi Thomas SB. Food and water insecurity as causes of social unrest: Evidence from geolocated Twitter data. J Peace Res 2021; 58(1):67-82.. Models developed in cross-sectional studies indicate that as the availability and quality of water for domestic consumption decrease, food insecurity increases³⁰30 Brewis A, Choudhary N, Wutich A. Household water insecurity may influence common mental disorders directly and indirectly through multiple pathways: evidence from Haiti. Soc Sci Med 2019; 238:112520.. In addition, the syndemic nexus between water insecurity and food insecurity can cause harmful outcomes to human health, such as malnutrition, psycho-emotional stress and an increased risk of infectious and chronic diseases³¹31 Workman CL, Brewis A, Wutich A, Young S, Stoler J, Kearns J. Understanding biopsychosocial health outcomes of syndemic water and food insecurity: applications for global health. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2021; 104(1):8.^,3232 Boateng GO, Workman CL, Miller JD, Onono M, Neilands TB, Young SL. The syndemic effects of food insecurity, water insecurity, and HIV on depressive symptomatology among Kenyan women. Soc Sci Med 2022; 295:113043..

Given the existence of millions of people susceptible to water insecurity and food insecurity, the deleterious effects of these preventable phenomena on global public health are considerable. In low- and middle-income countries of the global South, the syndemic repercussions between access to water and food insecurity are recurrent, representing a complex burden on the health infrastructure³³33 Brewis A, Workman C, Wutich A, Jepson W, Young S; Household Water Insecurity Experiences - Research Coordination Network (HWISE-RCN), 2020. Household water insecurity is strongly associated with food insecurity: evidence from 27 sites in low- and middle-income countries. Am J Hum Biol 2020; 32(1):e23309..

In a study conducted in Kenya, water insecurity and food insecurity, in association with diseases such as HIV, were shown to cause depressive disorders⁹9 Miller JD, Workman CL, Panchang SV, Sneegas G, Adams EA, Young SL, Thompson AL. Water security and nutrition: current knowledge and research opportunities. Adv Nutr 2021; 12(6):2525-2539.^,3232 Boateng GO, Workman CL, Miller JD, Onono M, Neilands TB, Young SL. The syndemic effects of food insecurity, water insecurity, and HIV on depressive symptomatology among Kenyan women. Soc Sci Med 2022; 295:113043.. Syndemic approaches suggest that food and water issues should be addressed in a combined manner. Koyratty et al.³⁴34 Koyratty N, Jones AD, Schuster R, Kordas K, Li C-S, Mbuya MN, Boateng GO, Ntozini R, Chasekwa B, Humphrey JH, Smith LE, On Behalf Of The Shine Trial Team. Food insecurity and water insecurity in rural Zimbabwe: development of multidimensional household measures. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021; 18(11):6020. indicate that both dimensions have very discrete indicators and can be evaluated separately. Importantly, water insecurity seems to be a driver of food insecurity, indicating the need for an approach based on combined interventions³³33 Brewis A, Workman C, Wutich A, Jepson W, Young S; Household Water Insecurity Experiences - Research Coordination Network (HWISE-RCN), 2020. Household water insecurity is strongly associated with food insecurity: evidence from 27 sites in low- and middle-income countries. Am J Hum Biol 2020; 32(1):e23309..

Links between water and food insecurity and the 2030 Agenda

We argue herein that very similar links between food and water insecurity occur in the Amazon region and that transversal dimensions are also present and can be portrayed by interdisciplinary frameworks, such as the SDGs of the 2030 Agenda. Brewis et al.³³33 Brewis A, Workman C, Wutich A, Jepson W, Young S; Household Water Insecurity Experiences - Research Coordination Network (HWISE-RCN), 2020. Household water insecurity is strongly associated with food insecurity: evidence from 27 sites in low- and middle-income countries. Am J Hum Biol 2020; 32(1):e23309. propose a model with contextual syndemic links for low- and middle-income countries, supported by fundamental blocks for water security, namely, socioeconomic and environmental aspects and calls for action, considering interdisciplinary dimensions for the design of public policies, such as the governance and integrated management of water resources.

The complexity of water insecurity can be decoded through interdisciplinary indicator systems, such as those present in the 2030 Agenda¹1 World Health Organization (WHO). Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. New York: WHO; 2015.. The indicator system consists of 17 SDGs and 169 specific targets. Figure 2 summarizes the dimensions of water security and their synergistic connections, tracing links between the two themes and the 169 goals of the 2030 Agenda. In addition, systemic connections between water insecurity and food insecurity are suggested, as well as possible approaches to mitigate this problem.

The macro aspects of the issue, covered by the 2030 agenda, affect access to drinking water (goal 6.1). These dimensions can be categorized into socioeconomic and environmental aspects. From a socioeconomic perspective, we highlight I) efficiency and equity in the use of water resources among different economic sectors (goal 6.4), II) the inclusion of tax incentives in the government agenda (goal 6.a) and III) contextualized and integrated approaches to different population contexts (e.g., rural and urban) (goal 11.1). In the environmental field, we highlight the relationship between availability and access to water and the impacts caused by climate change (goal 13.1), extreme events (goal 11.5), and the sustainable use of surface and underground water resources (goals 6.4 and 15.1).

The macro dimensions connect equitable and universal access to drinking water (goal 6.1) with the main food and nutrition agenda: access to food and means of food production (goal 2.1) and the fight against all forms of malnutrition (goal 2.2). The main systemic connections identified by this study, considering the lens of analysis of the 2030 Agenda, are related to the microbiological parameters of the samples (goals 3.3 and 3.9) and their disproportionate impact in different population contexts (urban, rural, and traditional communities) (goal 11.1), as well as the challenges of water resource management, in line with the preservation of ecosystem services (goal 15.1) provided, in this case, by the tropical forest.

The alignment of the results also indicates ways to reduce the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, whereby the SDG goals can act as a guiding model for decision-making in public policies. The main relationships identified within the scope of the 2030 Agenda are described by the following SDG 6 goals, which aim to ensure “the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all”:

Goal 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to affordable drinking water for all;

Goal 6.5: By 2030, implement integrated water resource management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate; and

Goal 6b: Support and strengthen the participation of communities in improving water and sanitation management.

Scope and limitations of the study

In terms of scope, this is the first study to analyse the implications of water insecurity considering the form of supply, location of distribution and water quality in the state of Amazonas using information available in national public databases, a notable strength of the study. Although there was a limited amount of information recorded in Sisagua in the investigated period, it was possible to identify weaknesses in the supply and quality of water available for human consumption at the state level.

There were limitations regarding the recording of information in the Sisagua database, potentially related to the sampling method adopted. Faria et al.³⁵35 Faria CP, Almendra R, Dias GS, Santana P, Sousa MC, Freitas MB. Evaluation of the drinking water quality surveillance system in the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro. J Water Health 2021; 19(2):306-321. found inconsistencies regarding the minimum number of samples collected and the representativeness of sampling points in the distribution system when analysing data from Sisagua for the metropolitan region of the state of Rio de Janeiro.

Studies based on the analysis of secondary data are subject to selection biases related to quality, number of records and ability to extract information. However, these limitations did not weaken the analyses used to evaluate the potability of water samples reported in the Sisagua³⁶36 Santana ABC, Lopes AF, Mendes AP, Yamaguchi KKL. Um olhar para a vigilância da qualidade da água e para as pesquisas realizadas no interior do Amazonas: resposta para a carta "Interpretação da distribuição de valores de concentração de fluoreto requer cuidado". Vigil Sanit Debate 2022; 10(3):135-137.. In addition, the study of regional indicators favoured the deepening of the discussion on this topic, thus potentially helping in decision-making by public health surveillance services as well as in developing future investigations.

Final remarks

In a broader sense, the water distributed for human consumption in the state of Amazonas presents serious chemical, physical and microbiological problems that compromise quality and potability, especially in locations far from urban areas or subject to alternative supply forms other than a public system. In addition, there are obstacles in supply, storage and surveillance, resulting in a scenario of water insecurity, which can negatively affect the serious situation of food insecurity already experienced by this population.

There are disparities regarding territorial coverage and the number of records for water quality surveillance in the state of Amazonas. In addition, the analysis of data obtained from Sisagua shows notable differences in water quality based on type of supply service and location of distribution.

The results presented and discussed in this study can serve as the basis of actions that promote the surveillance and control of water for human consumption, especially for improvements in the number of records and greater territorial coverage in the Amazon. Notably, there is a need for the implementation of programs and the expansion of actions for the water supply by public systems by the municipalities of Amazonas, with a view to reducing regional water insecurity and improving the monitoring of water quality.

Additionally, we suggest the development of new studies using other investigation methods, such as the international scale “Household Water Insecurity Experiences (HWISE)”, which is capable of identifying and quantifying household water insecurity.

Acknowledgements

To Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas (FAPEAM), for granting the doctoral scholarship.

References

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