Abstract
Water quality is one of the main indicators of the quality of service provided to consumers. Quality has an impact on both the public health and aesthetic value of water as a consumable product. Kenya is classified as a water-scarce country with only 647 cubic meters of renewable freshwater per capita. Water distributed in Nairobi is faced with a myriad of challenges leading to a compromise to its quality. This study focused on evaluating quality of drinking water since human health depends on adequate, clean, reliable water. Analyses were carried out at National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) accredited Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) laboratories to determine the chemical, bacteriological and physical characteristics of consumed water in Umoja Innercore Estate in Nairobi. In the study area, 7 HH and 6 BH sites were randomly distributed. pH, turbidity and temperature measurements were analyzed in-situ while bacteria and chemicals were analyzed in laboratories. The study found that 100% of boreholes recorded unsatisfactory water with up to 1100 of Escherichia coli (E. coli) showing high contamination with faecal coliforms and 83% of boreholes recording pH of up to 9.53. Dissolved oxygen was 5.08 mg/L below recommended 12.0 mg/L, salinity of 0.47 mg/L and 0.03 mg/L for boreholes and households respectively. The study reveals the deprived quality of water available to the residents of Umoja Innercore, Nairobi. The study recommends the use of biosand filtration methods for septic tanks, digging of deeper boreholes and lining septic tanks with impermeable materials to prevent contamination of ground water with raw water from septic.
Highlights
Water quality assessment is key since water is the second most essential factor for the survival of human beings next to oxygen [1]
The bacteriological analysis focused on testing the presence of coliforms, the aim of the chemical analysis was to measure its toxicity and whether or not it is safe to use while the physical parameters measured the turbidity, colour, smell and taste
Water reaching the residents of Umoja Innercore and by Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC) is less contaminated as compared to water supplied by various private distributors which is highly contaminated
Summary
Water quality assessment is key since water is the second most essential factor for the survival of human beings next to oxygen [1]. Safe drinking water and proper sanitation have constantly been recognized as indispensable factors to sustain life [2]. Consumption of contaminated water is a major cause of illness in the world and in developing countries like Kenya [3]. According to [3], 2.6 billion people lack access to clean water and water-related diseases lead to 3.4 million deaths mostly in children every year [1]. According to United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) assessment, contaminated water leads to 4000 deaths in children each day. Global disease burden can be reduced approximately by 4% by improving water quality [1]
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