Field-testing solutions for drinking water quality monitoring in low- and middle-income regions and case studies from Latin American, African and Asian countries

November 8, 2023

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Field-testing solutions for drinking water quality monitoring in low- and middle-income regions and case studies from Latin American, African and Asian countries

Publicated to:Journal Of Environmental Chemical Engineering. 11 (6): 111180- - 2023-12-01 11(6), DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2023.111180

Authors: Pichel, N; de Souza, F Hymno; Sabogal-Paz, L P; Shah, P K; Adhikari, N; Pandey, S; Shrestha, B M; Gaihre, S; Pineda-Marulanda, D A; Hincapie, M; Luwe, K; Kumwenda, S; Aguilar-Conde, J C; Cortes, M A L R M; Hamilton, J W J; Byrne, J A; Fernandez-Ibanez, P

Affiliations

Cántaro Azul, Calle Franz Bloom 4, Barrio de Cuxtitali, Chiapas, San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Mexico - Author

Cantaro Azul, Calle Franz Bloom 4, San Cristobal De Las Casa, Chiapas, Mexico - Author

Centro de Ciencia y Tecnología de Antioquia, Carrera 46 No. 56-11, Medellin, Colombia - Author

Ctr Ciencia & Tecnol Antioquia, Carrera 46 56-11, Medellin, Colombia - Author

Faculty of Engineering, University of Medellin, Ctra. 87, 30-65, Medellin, 050026, Colombia - Author

Institute of Applied Health Sciences (IAHS), School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom - Author

Kantipur Dent Coll Teaching Hosp & Res Ctr, Kathmandu, Nepal - Author

Kantipur Dental College Teaching Hospital & Research Centre, Nepal - Author

Malawi Univ Business & Appl Sci MUBAS, Dept Publ & Environm Hlth Sci, Private Bag 303, Chichiri, Blantyre, Malawi - Author

Med Micro Res Lab Pvt Ltd, Kathmandu, Nepal - Author

Med-Micro Research Laboratory Pvt. Ltd, Nepal - Author

Nanotechnology and Integrated Bioengineering Centre, School of Engineering, Ulster University, York St, Northern Ireland, Belfast, BT15 1AP, United Kingdom - Author

Nanotechnology and Integrated Bioengineering Centre, School of Engineering, Ulster University, York St, Northern Ireland, Belfast, BT15 1AP, United Kingdom, School of Experimental Sciences and Technology, Rey Juan Carlos University, c/Tulipán s/n, Móstole - Author

Rey Juan Carlos Univ, Dept Expt Sci & Engn, C Tulipan S-N, Mostoles 28933, Spain - Author

São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, Department of Hydraulics and Sanitation, Avenida Trabalhador São-carlense 400, São Paulo, São Carlos, 13566-590, Brazil - Author

The Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS), Department of Public and Environmental Health Sciences, Private Bag 303, Chichiri, Blantyre 3, Malawi - Author

Ulster Univ, Nanotechnol & Integrated Bioengn Ctr, Sch Engn, York St, Belfast BT15 1AP, North Ireland - Author

Univ Aberdeen, Inst Appl Hlth Sci IAHS, Sch Med Med Sci & Nutr, Aberdeen, Scotland - Author

Univ Medellin, Fac Engn, Carrera 87 30-65, Medellin 050026, Colombia - Author

Univ Sao Paulo, Sao Carlos Sch Engn, Dept Hydraul & Sanitat, Ave Trabalhador Sao Carlense 400, BR-13566590 Sao Carlos, SP, Brazil - Author

Abstract

This work highlights the need for a global approach to drinking water monitoring that involves facing several critical issues. Field tests that perform to very high standards of indicator microorganisms’ detection and confidence and, at the same time, being available in rural and isolated locations of low-income settings are urgently needed. Commercially available field-testing solutions for Escherichia coli determination based on hydrogen sulfide and defined substrate methods were critically reviewed, considering their capabilities and limitations, compliance against the UNICEF Target Product Profile (TPP), technology performance, availability, and cost. None of the available tests meets the standards set by the UNICEF TPP, the biggest limitation being the requirement of a power source. They need at least 18–24 h of incubation, hence they have not significantly decreased the amount of the time needed to complete an assay; and their applicability is generally limited by the sample volume. Additionally, there is still need for more accurate and standardised validation studies that open new opportunities for low-cost testing solutions in the field. On the other hand, traditional methods are the only ones legally authorised by national regulations in the case study locations, with a range of resources and technologies limitations. Despite the use of field kits is beginning to gain acceptance, its implementation in the field strongly relies on their availability and cost locally. Most field kits price exceed the maximum of 6 USD set by UNICEF, and they even cost significantly more when acquire from local distributors in developing countries. © 2023 The Authors

Keywords

3m(tm) petrifilm(tm)bacteriological qualitycompartment bag testculture methodsdrinking water testingescherichia-colifecal-coliformsmembrane filtrationsafe watersimple screening-testtotal coliformswaterborne diseasesCase-studiesColiformsCostsDeveloping countriesDrinking water testingDrinking-water qualitiesEscherichia coliField testingLow incomesPotable waterProbable number methodSafe waterSulfur compoundsWater qualityWater quality monitoringWater testingWater-borne diseaseWaterborne diseases

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Journal Of Environmental Chemical Engineering due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2023, it was in position 18/170, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Engineering, Chemical. Notably, the journal is positioned above the 90th percentile.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from World Citations provided by WoS (ESI, Clarivate), it yields a value for the citation normalization relative to the expected citation rate of: 1.15. This indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: ESI Nov 14, 2024)

This information is reinforced by other indicators of the same type, which, although dynamic over time and dependent on the set of average global citations at the time of their calculation, consistently position the work at some point among the top 50% most cited in its field:

Weighted Average of Normalized Impact by the Scopus agency: 1.16 (source consulted: FECYT Feb 2024)
Field Citation Ratio (FCR) from Dimensions: 2.35 (source consulted: Dimensions Oct 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-10-17, the following number of citations:

WoS: 10
Scopus: 8

Impact and social visibility

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: Brazil; Colombia; Malawi; Mexico; Nepal; United Kingdom.

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (Pichel Mira, Natalia) .

the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been Pichel Mira, Natalia.

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Field-testing solutions for drinking water quality monitoring in low- and middle-income regions and case studies from Latin American, African and Asian countries

Affiliations

Abstract

Keywords

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

Impact and social visibility

Leadership analysis of institutional authors