Abstract
The water quality from open hand-dug wells in Mtopwa village in Blantyre was assessed over a period of four months. The research entailed conduction of experiments using recommended methods to analyse selected water quality parameters. Interviews were also conducted with the Blantyre City Assembly (BCA) personnel on the role of the assembly to eliminate scarcity of potable water and also with the residents on how they are affected by the scarcity of potable water. Results showed that suspended solids and coliforms exceeded the recommended guideline values for drinking water according to World Health Organisation, Malawi Bureau of standards and Ministry of Water development. Turbidity, pH and total dissolved solids (TDSs) were within acceptable limits for all the well water samples tested. The scarcity of potable water and poverty forces the residents to consume water from unprotected hand-dug wells, streams and rivers without any form of treatment.
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