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Topic

Methods to Optimize Resource Use in Drinking Water Quality Monitoring

Department of Civil Engineering

Date & location

• Thursday, August 21, 2025
• 3:00 P.M.
• Virtual Defence

Examining Committee

Supervisory Committee

• Dr. Caetano Dorea, Department of Civil Engineering, ßÉßɱ¬ÁÏ (Co-Supervisor)
• Dr. Christie Chatterley, Department of Civil Engineering, UVic (Member)

External Examiner

• Dr. Sara Beck, Department of Civil Engineering, University of British Columbia

Chair of Oral Examination

• Dr. Levi Smith, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, UVic

Abstract

Drinking water quality monitoring (DWQM) is essential to achieving universal access to safely managed drinking water services (SMDWS). However, barriers such as insufficient funding and challenges in procuring material have contributed to persistent data gaps, with nearly half the global population lacking adequate water quality data. To bridge these gaps, low-resource methods and field kits have been developed. While many of these tools claim to align with international standards, they often lack formal validation, and their limitations remain poorly understood. This study evaluated three alternative methods for DWQM to assess their comparability to existing methods and their suitability within low- and medium- resource contexts.

Chapter 2 evaluated the use of a yoghurt maker as a low-cost alternative incubator for DWQM. The results demonstrated that the yoghurt maker provided adequate incubation conditions provided that temperature was monitored throughout the incubation period.

Chapter 3 assessed the Spritz method, a 70% isopropyl alcohol-based spray for decontaminating single-use filtration funnels. Laboratory validation found that the Spritz method achieved complete funnel decontamination under laboratory conditions while field testing demonstrated a comparable proportion of positive blanks compared to a practical baseline.

Chapter 4 examined the efficacy of formaldehyde-based decontamination in portable laboratories. Under both challenge and practical conditions, the method was found to reduce but not completely inactivate residual contamination. The findings emphasised the necessity of routine quality control and independent validation of both new and existing DWQM methods.

Together, these studies underscore the importance of validating alternative DWQM methods to ensure the reliability and accuracy of results. Improving the understanding of the strengths and limitations of these methods will support more informed, data-driven decisions and ultimately strengthen efforts to achieve universal access to SMDWS.