HCDE professor explores safe drinking water solutions for public institutions – Dailyuw

Evaluating and Addressing Gaps in Safe Drinking Water Access in Public Institutions

Introduction

Katya Cherukumilli, an assistant professor in the UW Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering (HCDE), delivered a lecture at Johnson Hall on Nov. 14. As part of the ongoing HCDE Research Speaker Series, Cherukumilli presented her findings on drinking water infrastructure and safety on campus in Washington state schools. Her work focuses on understanding how drinking water infrastructure influences perceptions and behaviors around water safety, particularly on university campuses. The lecture emphasized the need to tackle public health challenges, including water quality and access.

Research Findings

Cherukumilli highlighted a recent project at UW that analyzed water infrastructure across 50 buildings. The project used surveys and expert interviews to examine how users interact with water sources. A critical finding from this study was the variability in users’ trust in tap water quality compared to bottled water, with many students and staff favoring bottled water for perceived quality and safety reasons. To address these concerns, Cherukumilli developed new design solutions to improve user confidence in campus water. One suggestion was to place QR codes on water fixtures that link to real-time data on the water’s quality and filter status.

Cherukumilli also presented findings on lead contamination in Washington state’s primary schools. Despite available funding from the state and federal government for water remediation, bureaucratic hurdles and limited resources for school districts have resulted in underutilized funds. One major barrier is the labor-intensive nature of grant applications, discouraging smaller districts with fewer administrative resources. Another barrier is the lack of streamlined communication between state agencies responsible for water safety. Cherukumilli’s lab is developing an online tool that could simplify grant applications by collecting existing data from the Washington Department of Health’s lead testing dashboard, potentially increasing school participation in water safety programs.

Importance of Sustainable Development Goals

Cherukumilli’s lecture emphasized that while public water systems are generally regulated, disparities remain in how safety information is dispersed and how well infrastructure is maintained across institutions. Access to safe drinking water is a shared responsibility, and urgent and collaborative action is needed to ensure safe drinking water in public institutions across Washington. This aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, which aims to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

Conclusion

Through her research, Cherukumilli advocates for an integrated approach to water safety, including policy reform and user-centered design. Simplified processes and clear communication are essential to address gaps in safety. It is crucial to prioritize the SDGs and work towards achieving Goal 6 to ensure access to safe drinking water for everyone.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The article discusses the issues of safe drinking water access, water quality, and infrastructure maintenance in public institutions. These issues are directly connected to SDG 6, which aims to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. The article also highlights the need for policy reform and user-centered design, which aligns with SDG 11’s goal of making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Additionally, the mention of bureaucratic hurdles and the need for collaboration indicate the relevance of SDG 17, which focuses on partnerships for the goals.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
• SDG 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping, and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials.
• SDG 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe, and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums.
• SDG 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.

Based on the article, the specific targets that can be identified are related to ensuring universal access to safe drinking water (SDG 6.1), improving water quality (SDG 6.3), ensuring access to basic services (SDG 11.1), and promoting partnerships for the goals (SDG 17.17).

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Percentage of public institutions with safe and affordable drinking water access
• Level of trust in tap water quality compared to bottled water
• Number of schools with lead contamination
• Percentage of allocated funds for water remediation that go unused
• Number of school districts participating in water safety programs

The article mentions several indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. These indicators include the percentage of public institutions with safe and affordable drinking water access, the level of trust in tap water quality compared to bottled water, the number of schools with lead contamination, the percentage of allocated funds for water remediation that go unused, and the number of school districts participating in water safety programs.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: dailyuw.com