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Realising the maximum health benefits from water quality improvements in the home: a case from Zaka district, Zimbabwe

Realising the maximum health benefits from water quality improvements in the home: a case from Zaka district, Zimbabwe
Realising the maximum health benefits from water quality improvements in the home: a case from Zaka district, Zimbabwe
The provision of good quality household drinking water is often regarded as an important means of improving health. There are however indications that the microbiological quality of water deteriorates between source and point of use in the home. The notion that providing clean water sources could be the solution to the rural water supply problem might therefore not be correct.

This paper presents the findings from a survey that sought to investigate the quality of water in the home post-collection and any factors that were contributing to the quality. The 24 households that participated in the study were selected randomly from two villages. Water samples were collected from the households and from the drinking water sources. These were tested for total coliforms and Escherichia coli.

Greater contamination was detected in the water drawn from unprotected wells than in that drawn from protected ones. For protected sources, there was an increase in the numbers of pathogens in the stored water relative to the source water. In a few instances there was a decrease in indicator bacteria numbers following water collection. This could have been due to a natural die off of the pathogens. There however did not seem to be a significant correlation between the microbiological quality of water in the home and the length of time the water has been stored.

These findings indicate that there is some deterioration in the microbiological quality of water post-collection and it appears the phenomenon may be attributable to water handling and hygiene behaviours in the home. Water was collected frequently and rarely treated after collection. Only one household out of the 24 reported treating their water after collecting it. Home water treatment or safe storage may be an appropriate intervention in this community to reduce diarrhoeal disease.
E. coli, water quality, contamination
1474-7065
1295-1299
Moyo, S.
d7421ade-4663-42fd-ac26-8462899b661a
Wright, J.A.
074e0ca5-3868-4682-8c49-5c8526dc38a6
Ndamba, J.
a940e03a-5d0a-45b1-8041-b2305f6f3173
Gundry, S.W.
238b7e36-88a2-4b7c-898f-aa605b9f67bb
Moyo, S.
d7421ade-4663-42fd-ac26-8462899b661a
Wright, J.A.
074e0ca5-3868-4682-8c49-5c8526dc38a6
Ndamba, J.
a940e03a-5d0a-45b1-8041-b2305f6f3173
Gundry, S.W.
238b7e36-88a2-4b7c-898f-aa605b9f67bb

Moyo, S., Wright, J.A., Ndamba, J. and Gundry, S.W. (2004) Realising the maximum health benefits from water quality improvements in the home: a case from Zaka district, Zimbabwe. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A, B and C, 29 (15-18), 1295-1299. (doi:10.1016/j.pce.2004.09.012).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The provision of good quality household drinking water is often regarded as an important means of improving health. There are however indications that the microbiological quality of water deteriorates between source and point of use in the home. The notion that providing clean water sources could be the solution to the rural water supply problem might therefore not be correct.

This paper presents the findings from a survey that sought to investigate the quality of water in the home post-collection and any factors that were contributing to the quality. The 24 households that participated in the study were selected randomly from two villages. Water samples were collected from the households and from the drinking water sources. These were tested for total coliforms and Escherichia coli.

Greater contamination was detected in the water drawn from unprotected wells than in that drawn from protected ones. For protected sources, there was an increase in the numbers of pathogens in the stored water relative to the source water. In a few instances there was a decrease in indicator bacteria numbers following water collection. This could have been due to a natural die off of the pathogens. There however did not seem to be a significant correlation between the microbiological quality of water in the home and the length of time the water has been stored.

These findings indicate that there is some deterioration in the microbiological quality of water post-collection and it appears the phenomenon may be attributable to water handling and hygiene behaviours in the home. Water was collected frequently and rarely treated after collection. Only one household out of the 24 reported treating their water after collecting it. Home water treatment or safe storage may be an appropriate intervention in this community to reduce diarrhoeal disease.

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More information

Published date: 2004
Keywords: E. coli, water quality, contamination
Organisations: Environmental Processes & Change

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 15547
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/15547
ISSN: 1474-7065
PURE UUID: 13de5032-473f-4fbd-8440-78a879429c39

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 27 Apr 2005
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 05:41

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Contributors

Author: S. Moyo
Author: J.A. Wright
Author: J. Ndamba
Author: S.W. Gundry

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