Improving the communication with stakeholders: the infrastructure degradation index and the infrastructure histogram

[EN] Water infrastructures are rapidly ageing without being properly replaced. Communicating the state of the network and the sector¿s needs to stakeholders is key for guaranteeing the sustainability of water and sewage systems. The infrastructure value index (IVI) is becoming a standard in the water industry as a communication tool; however, as a single value metric, it can mask key information. The complementary use of the infrastructure degradation index (IDI) and the infrastructure histogram (Hi) can provide a better understanding of the network's state while maintaining the simplicity of the analysis needed for public dissemination. The IVI is focused on the value of the infrastructure, the IDI on its median remaining life. The HI provides a detailed but simple picture of the network's remaining life, providing a clear idea of the magnitude of the investments needed in the future for maintaining the infrastructureEstruch-Juan, ME.; Cabrera Rochera, E.; Gomez Selles, E.; Del Teso-March, R. (2020). Improving the communication with stakeholders: the infrastructure degradation index and the infrastructure histogram. Water Science & Technology: Water Supply. 20(7):2762-2767. https://doi.org/10.2166/ws.2020.170S2762276720

Histopathological Evaluation of the Polyps with and without the Presence Cholesteatoma

Objective: To determine if there were any differences between the histopathological structures of the polyps with or without cholesteatoma Materials and Methods: In our study, 41 patients underwent operation with complaints of chronic otitis media with polyp. The patients were divided into those who had cholesteatoma and those who did not, so that discriminatory features were identified. Chronic otitis media with polyp was associated with cholesteatoma in 21 patients. Cholesteatoma was not found in 20 patients with chronic otitis media with polyp. Specimens removed from the both of patients groups were evaluated and compared between the groups in according to histopathologic features. Results: We observed that specimens of polyps with cholesteatoma were comprised of keratinized masses, keratinized tissue layers, and abundant immature granulation tissue, whereas, specimens of the polyps without cholesteatoma consisted of copious glandular stroma bordered by smooth epithelium (p<0,05). Conclusion: Our study showed that histopathologic features of the polyps suggest the presence or absence of cholesteatoma

Sosialisasi Pencegahan Kebakaran di Selili Kelurahan Manggar RT 42 Kecamatan Balikpapan Timur

Fire disasters are one of the disasters that often occur in the wider community, be it office environments, residences, or other places of activity. One of them is in densely populated environments, the occurrence of fire disasters themselves has many factors, but in general these fire disasters occur in caused by human factors, which are none other than negligence, such as using electrical loads that exceed the power capacity and forgetting to turn off tools that are sources of heat, such as stoves and irons. One effort to reduce the occurrence of this fire disaster is by providing Fire Prevention Socialization to the surrounding community. The aim of this service itself is to provide insight into how to prevent and deal with fire disasters, which is carried out using lecture methods and direct simulation methods by the material givers. By carrying out this socialization, it is hoped that the surrounding community will be able to apply the methods taught during the simulation. if a fire disaster occurs in the surrounding area.Bencana kebakaran merupakan salah satu bencana yang sering terjadi di lingkungan masyarakat luas, baik itu lingkungan perkantoran, tempat tinggal, maupun tempat aktivitas lainnya. Salah satunya di lingkungan yang padat penduduk, terjadinya bencana kebakaran sendiri memiliki banyak faktor, namun pada umumnya bencana kebakaran ini disebabkan oleh faktor manusia, yang tidak lain adalah faktor kelalaian, seperti menggunakan beban listrik yang melewati kapasitas daya dan lupa mematikan alat yang merupakan sumber panas, seperti kompor dan setrika. Salah satu upaya untuk mengurangi terjadinya bencana kebakaran ini adalah dengan memberikan Sosialisasi Pencegahan Kebakaran ke masyarakat sekitar. Tujuan pengabdian ini sendiri adalah memberikan wawasan tentang cara pencegahan dan penanggulangan bencana kebakaran yang dilakukan dengan metode ceramah dan metode simulasi langsung oleh pemberi materi, dimana dengan terlaksananya sosialisai ini, diharapakan masyarakat sekitar mampu menerapkan metode yang diajarkan selama simulasi jika terjadinya bencana kebakaran di lingkungan sekitar

Water safety plans by utilities: a review of research on implementation

Water supply is essential to public health, quality of life, environmental protection, economic activity, and sustainable development. In this context, it is imperative to assure the continuous improvement of all processes and practices conducive to guarantee water quality and safety. Water Safety Plans (WSPs) by water utilities are an important public policy tool to accomplish these goals. This manuscript reviews the international evidence of the adoption and implementation of water safety planning and reports the current situation in Portugal, as part of the necessary adjustment of the national legal framework to the publication of the Directive (EU) 2015/1787, October 6th, on water quality for human consumption. The aim is to draw lessons from several successful WSP experiments around the world and extract lessons from these cases when drafting new legislation in Portugal and elsewhere. Findings suggest there are four critical dimensions and key elements of success in developing and implementing WSPs: leadership commitment, technical knowledge, governance, and interagency collaboration.This research is partially supported by the “Programa Operacional da Região Norte”, NORTE2020, in the context of project NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000037 (SmartEGOV) and by the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia) [Grant No. PEst-OE/CJP/UI0758/2014]

Data quality requirements for water bills

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to uncover the customers’ concerns with the information disclosed in water services invoices and to analyse them with reference to the data quality dimensions usually proposed in the literature. In the context of services of general interest invoices are particularly relevant as a vehicle to convey information to all consumers. Design/methodology/approach Based on the principles of quality planning, the research uses a qualitative approach to identify the data quality requirements of water invoices. Customer voices were collected by means of focus groups and their meanings analysed using an affinity diagram. Findings Findings show that plain language efforts and strategies to enhance trust on the service provided need to be further reinforced. Consumers’ requirements together with the regulator recommendations also confirm the data quality dimensions identified in the literature. Practical implications This research highlights that avoiding technical language and making visible the consequences of different consumption levels on the amounts to be paid is essential when designing water invoices. Moreover, it emphasises that there is still room for improvement in the way the economic regulator performs its role in ensuring the provision of sound information. Originality/value This research addresses a literature gap by conducting a study on data quality requirements outside the context of information systems for organisations. The study is original because it looks at water invoices as a “product” that can be designed to meet the needs of their users