• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2000

Objectives : This study was carried out to investigate the sources of infection and modes of transmission of an outbreak of shigellosis that occurred among pupils of 'M' primary school and residents near the school in Kyongju from Sept. 24 to Oct. 24, 1998. Methods : The subjects who completed a questionnaire and a rectal swab for microbiologic examinations were 1,534 persons (781 males, 753 females), including 469 pupils of 'M' primary school (268 males, 201 females). Bacteriological examinations of underground water and simple piped water were done. Results : The attack rate of diarrhea was 28.7% in the subjects from Sept.24 to Oct. 24, 1958. There was no difference in attack rate of diarrhea by gender, but it was significantly higher in the pupils of 'M' primary school than others (p<0.01). The attack rate of diarrhea by resident areas was no different to the pupils of 'M' primary school, but was significantly higher in the residents of Mohwa 2 Ri except pupils that 'M' primary school is located in (p<0.01). The distribution of date of onset revealed the exposure date to be Sept, 22 and 23 in consideration of incubation periods and common source outbreak followed propagative spread in the epidemic curve. The major characteristics of diarrhea were watery (89.1%) in nature, $1\sim3$ days (72.5%) in duration, $2\sim3$ times (63.9%) in frequency. The clinical symptoms among the diarrheal cases included abdominal pain (74.1%), fever (56.4%), headache (55.9%), chill (40.4%) and tenesmus (31.4%). Conclusions : The source of infection was estimated to be contaminated underground water and simple piped water caused by leakage from the cess pool. It is highly necessary that the management of drinking water and cess fools should be done thoroughly.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.57-66
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• 1991

This study was carried out for 5 years between 1984 and 1986 and 1989 and 1990. This interviewers visited 292 households to evaluate the perception of the residents using .the. Simple Piped Water Supply (SPWS), and examined the pollution source surrounding 42 SPWS facilities and water quality by the chemical and microbiological method. The purpose of this study was to find out problems linked with SPWS and to investigate more efficient way of improvement in rural water supply. The results of the study are surmnarized as follows: 1) Approximately 55% of the sampled population have been served by simple piped water supply. 2) The drinking water was mostly taken from the springs in 16 sites and valley water in 26 sites. 3) Considering the type of distribution of the SPWS, there are 28 natural gravity systems and 14 pumping systems. 4) Out of the 180 SPWS in Chun Sung Area, 74% of the SPWS facilities were used more than ten years. In addition, 40% of residents expressed the need for repairs of old facilities. 5) 48% of the SPWS facilities are neighbored with pollution source. 6) 50% of the maintenance crews were not committed totheir job but instead, the facilities were operated by some residents or community leaders who were personally concerned about quality of the facilities. 7) About 85% of the residents answered that SPWS was convenient and helpful. 8) About 57% of the residents complaind that the amount of daily water supply is not adequate. 9) About 74% of the residents felt that the water quality is high for dringking water and therefore, 52% of the facilities were not properly chlorinated. But in contrast, the biochemical tests indicated that only 28% of the SPWS met the dringking water quality standards. 10) Maintenance cost per a household ranges form 500 to 2, 000Won (1 $ = 700 Won) a month. Most of the cost was to cover the power electric charge. For the effective maintenance and arrangement of the facilities, gorvermental financial support for the maintenance is strongly recommended.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 1988

It is very important to supply safe drinking water for rural area not only a prevention of entric diseases but also a promotion of health life. It is estimated that 6,981,000 rural inhabitants were covered by the simple piped water supply system at the end of 1987 in Korea. The programme for improvement of water supply system in rural villages was initiated by the government since 1967. But most of these systems have been operated carelessly by the hands of villagers who have no proper knowledge and experience. Since most of water sources were located nearby farmland, there might be a possibility that the sources could be contaminated by pesticides and fertilizers. For this reason, it is recommended to take underground water as a water source rather than surface water such as a pond or streamwater in rural areas. However, the system is supplied from the surface water, its water quality can be improved by using of simple sand filter and simple chlorinator inexpensively. On the basis of an on-site study, conducted during 1986-87, in San-Buk Village, Keum-Sa-Myon, Yeju-Gun, Kyong-Gi-Do, the new simple piped water supply system was designed by the Institute for Environmental Research, Yonsei University, and constructed by the villagers themselves in September 1987. This simple system which is protected by metal fences consists of three main parts, pump house, vertical sand filter and water tank. The pumped water from underground flows into the upper part of the sand filter, through the sand, and out the water tank which is connected to the bottom of vertical filter. And the simple plastic-bottle chlorinator was installed in the water tank for chlorination. The water quality was remarkably improved after completion of construction. The total bacterial count was not detected from the tap water in households distributed by this simple piped water supply system. The construction cost of this system which was connected 34 households in San-Buk Village, was 4,851,000 won (approximately 6,020 U.S. dollars : 1$=805.8 won) in 1987,77% of expenses was supported by the Community Development Foundation in Korea. This case study for simple piped water supply projects will be applicable to other programme for improvement of water supply system in rural areas of Korea, and other developing countries.