Resumen

MADRAZO C, José L  y  IRIARTE R, María M. Condición del agua para beber y preparar alimentos de la población Warao de la Barra de Makareo, Municipio Tucupita, estado Delta Amacuro, Venezuela. INHRR [online]. 2005, vol.36, n.1, pp.13-20. ISSN 0798-0477.

This research assess microbiological conditions of Orinoco River ´s water used for drinking and preparing foods. It also evaluates handling and storage of water by the warao indigenous people of Barra de Makareo, Delta Amacuro State, Venezuela. In this community, local Health Center staff promotes chlorine addition and boiling water workshops; however, gastrointestinal diseases constantly are reported. Illness daily records belonging to Rural Ambulatory were revised from January 1999 through August 2003. However, not all the indigenous go to the doctor since they prefer local witch doctor (chamanes). In spite of this understatement, 839 diarrhoea cases were found among 50 families. Eight stations were specific selected due to the analytical material´s availability for application of surveys about water conditions and its storage and handling inside home. Three stations corresponded with a high diarrhoea record, other three with a low record and two more for being places of reference within the community, the school Jomakaba Yabanoko and Makareo Station´s FLASA. Water samples were collected in two different dates during. October, 2003. Petrifilm^TM 3M^TM plates were used for total coliforms and Escherichia coli counts and heterotrophic plate count bacteria. pH, temperature and salinity were determined with commercial kits. It was found that in four stations people drinks water previously decanted and stored at home, in three indigenous houses water was drunk straight from the river and in one station drinks bottled water. In six stations, the container used to drink was left on the floor between use. Only in two stations chlorine is used to purify the water. In five stations from the first period, coliforms were found as well as in six stations of the second period. E. coli was detected in half of the samples in both periods. Heterotrophic organisms plate count in six stations exceeded 2,0 x 10³ cfu/ml. Low pH values were found (4-6, with average of 5,20). Temperature oscillated between 28 ºC and 31 ˚C and salinity was 0 ˚/oo in all the samples. Even though, it is not possible to make generalizations toward the whole population, it is concluded that the drinking water of the observed communities has impurities and it could represent a serious risk for the population.

Palabras clave : Water analysis; potable water; Indians South America warao; coliforms bacteria; Petrifilm^TM  3M^TM.