Abstract
Access to safe drinking water is the key to promoting good health. At Karwar, the primary source of drinking water is well, but heavy rain, and deficiencies in underground drainage systems result in well water contamination. However, water handling practices followed at the point of consumption act as a better predictor of water contamination. To assess and compare the bacteriological quality of household water at the source and point of consumption. A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at Karwar. Households owning private wells were selected by Simple Random Sampling. Semi-structured questionnaires were used to interview the households regarding socioeconomic status (SES), chlorination of well, purification method, and water handling practices. Presumptive coliform count and the differential coliform count were determined. Data thus obtained were analyzed using a Microsoft Excel. c2-test was used to see the association between variables. The present study included 30 households. All the samples taken from the well revealed contamination with E. coli. 80% of samples from the point of consumption revealed coliforms, among which 47% were confirmed with E. coli. RO/RO+UV were found to be relatively better performing than the filtration and boiling methods. Contamination of water at the point of consumption had a significant association with both purification and water retrieval methods. The samples taken from the point of consumption reflect better quality of water sampling than source water. The present study revealed post-collection contamination as major reason for compromising water quality despite improved water cleaning and purification techniques.
Highlights
Sustainable Development Goals-6 targets to provide universal access to safe and drinking water to all by 2030 and to improve the sustainability of water resources.[1]
All the samples taken from the well revealed contamination with E. coli. 80% of samples from the point of consumption revealed coliforms, among which 47% were confirmed with E. coli
Contamination of water at the point of consumption had a significant association with both purification and water retrieval methods
Summary
Sustainable Development Goals-6 targets to provide universal access to safe and drinking water to all by 2030 and to improve the sustainability of water resources.[1] Clean water plays a vital role in determining the health, food securities, and livelihoods of families. 785 million people lack even a basic drinkingwater service.[2] Transmission of many diseases like diarrhea, dysentery, hepatitis-A, polio, typhoid, and cholera are attributed to contaminated water and unsafe sanitation. Diarrhea is the most common disease linked with contaminated water. 829,000 annual deaths are estimated from diarrhea due to unsafe drinking water and improper sanitation.[1] In India, 6.75 million diarrhea disability-adjusted life year (DALYs) was estimated, of which 140,000 deaths were reported in 2016.3
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