Abstract
Waterborne diseases continue to challenge communities in low-income countries like Ethiopia. Clinical information in Wegeda town showed that the prevalence of waterborne diseases was 58%. This study aimed to evaluate bacteriological and physicochemical drinking water quality in Wegeda town. This study will add valuable scientific data for future intervention. Water samples from protected and unprotected springs, hand-dug well, taps, and households' containers were collected from November 2018 to June 2019 for bacteriological and physicochemical analyses. Besides, information about the potential risk factors was collected using a structured questionnaire. A total of 120 water samples were collected and analyzed for total and fecal coliform counts using the multiple tube fermentation method (MPN). The presence of Escherichia coli was also checked from fecal coliform positive samples collected from households' containers. Selected physicochemical parameters were also determined using the standard methods. In all cases, the median values of total and fecal coliform counts ranged from 5 to 27 and 2 to 13 MPN/100 ml, respectively. Accordingly, all of the drinking water samples did not comply with the standards. Coliforms were significantly higher in the households' containers than in the sources (p < 0.05) and also significantly varied by water sources. The highest and lowest coliform counts were recorded in unprotected spring and taps, respectively. Besides, 18.33% of water samples collected from households' containers were tested positive for E. coli. Regarding physicochemical parameters, most values were within the acceptable limit values recommended by the WHO. However, water samples from unprotected spring and hand-dug well did not satisfy the turbidity limit value set by the WHO. Drinking water systems in Wegeda town were likely contaminated with pathogenic bacteria likely due to poor protection and sanitation practices. Providing the community with potable water, toilets, domestic and animal waste disposal systems, and intensive health education and sanitation practices for the community are highly recommended.
Highlights
Drinking water pollution has been a global challenge and poses a serious threat to human health
94.16% (113/120) of the drinking water samples were tested positive for total coliforms (TC), which means that they did not comply with the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines [17]
Variation in the median counts of TC among the different water samples was significant (p < 0.05). e highest (27 Most Probable Number technique (MPN)/100 ml) and the lowest (5 MPN/ml) median TC counts were recorded in the water samples taken from households’ containers that used unprotected spring and water samples taken from the tap, respectively
Summary
Drinking water pollution has been a global challenge and poses a serious threat to human health. Drinking water can be polluted at the source, distribution line, and/or at the household level, and such polluted water can be vehicles for several pathogens [1, 2]. An estimated 785 million people use unimproved water sources; some 144 million people rely on surface water for drinking, and more than 2 billion people use drinking water contaminated with feces [1]. In low- and middle-income countries, a significant proportion of health care facilities lack improved water sources, improved sanitation, and lack water and soap for handwashing [3]. Despite the considerable expansion of the water supply systems on account of reaching this goal, Ethiopia is still among the countries with the lowest basic water services and high
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