Objective

To assess environmental health conditions at La Chaparrala subbasin, in the Andes Mountains of Colombia, during 2015.

Method

Descriptive cross-sectional study on sanitary and environmental conditions of the dwellings, as well as on immediate environment, and environmental health prejudices. A survey was applied to 117 families settled in the main axis of the creek. The physicochemical quality of the water was analyzed.

Results

Men were predominant as head of household, with an average of four people per house. 69 of the houses were in the urban area, while 48 were rural; the permanence was greater than 20 years for the first, and less than five years for the second. Most of the houses are owned with deeds, and 75 % of them had a connection to the aqueduct and 73 % to the sewer. The houses in the urban area were predominantly made of tile roof and tile floor, while rural houses were made of mud tile and concrete floor. Both types of construction had adobe walls. The water from the creek complied with the physicochemical parameters established in the technical regulation of the sector for drinking water and basic sanitation, and with resolution No. 2115 of 2007. Non-compliance was observed in turbidity and nitrite levels, and occurrences and concurrences on environmental health were found.

Discussion

The socio-demographic characteristics and environmental and health conditions of the dwellings and their surroundings are similar to those reported in Encuesta de Demografía y Salud 2010 (Demographic and Health Survey) and Encuesta Nacional de Salud 2007 (2007 National Health Survey). The creek may continue to be a source for human consumption with conventional treatment and environmental health directed to care and protect the environment, differing from the concept of World Health Organization (WHO).