title: Seasonal variation of fecal contamination in drinking water sources in developing countries: a systematic review.
abstract: Accounting for fecal contamination of drinking water sources is an important step in improving monitoring of global access to safe drinking water. Fecal contamination varies with time while its monitoring is often infrequent. We sought to understand seasonal trends in fecal contamination to guide best practices to capture seasonal variation and ascertain the extent to which the results of a single sample may overestimate compliance with health guidelines. The findings from 22 studies from developing countries written in English and identified through a systematic review were analyzed. Fecal contamination in improved drinking water sources was shown to follow a statistically significant seasonal trend of greater contamination during the wet season (p<0.001). This trend was consistent across fecal indicator bacteria, five source types, twelve Köppen-Geiger climate zones, and across both rural and urban areas. Guidance on seasonally representative water quality monitoring by the World Health Organization and national water quality agencies could lead to improved assessments of access to safe drinking water.
authors: The Water Institute, University of NC, Chapel Hill, United States.
authors: Caroline
authors: C
authors: Kostyla
authors: The Water Institute, University of NC, Chapel Hill, United States; UNICEF, Division of Data, Research and Policy, 3 UN Plaza, NY, United States.
authors: Rob
authors: R
authors: Bain
authors: The Water Institute, University of NC, Chapel Hill, United States.
authors: Ryan
authors: R
authors: Cronk
authors: The Water Institute, University of NC, Chapel Hill, United States. Electronic address: jbartram@unc.edu.
authors: Jamie
authors: J
authors: Bartram
mesh_terms: D003906:Developing Countries; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000382:microbiology*; D005243:Feces; D012621:Seasons; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D060753:Water Quality
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water
keywords: Drinking water quality; Escherichia coli; Fecal indicator bacteria; Post-2015 sustainable development goals; Seasonality; Thermotolerant coliform