Abstract
Drinking water if not monitored could be a vehicle for diseases of public health concern in Bafut Sub-Division Cameroon. The present study sought to assess the challenges faced by community water supply schemes based on the evaluation of quality and quantity. This study was a cross sectional community survey marked by field survey involving mapping, discharge measurement, potable water samples collection (springs, streams, rain, wells and boreholes) and laboratory analysis. Twelve pipe born water supply schemes and thirty-eight water sources were appraised within two intervals (March-July 2015 and October 2017-March 2018). Chemical analysis was done using an Ion Chromatography and microbial analyses using the presumptive test method and standard plate count. Hospital registers were reviewed on prevalence of water borne diseases. The results showed that major challenges of water supply included; dilapidated pipes, spring inputs and climate variability. Hydro chemical faces were sodium bicarbonate and calcium chloride water types. A total Coliform count of 43 to >1100 per 100ml was recorded for March and July 2015 and 0-236Tcfu in March 2018. Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi were probably responsible for high rate of water borne diseases. There is need to develop standardize integrated water management plan in this area.
Highlights
IntroductionWater is an essential commodity for the existence of life on Earth, but the expanding human population and climate change have caused its demand to exceed supply and quantitative depletion
There was poor governance which was portrayed by, unavailability of performance reports and lack of incentives to workers, low tariffs collection which was aggravated by illegal connections rated at 15% and faults which eventually led to high non-revenue water (Table 1)
The study established two levels of factors challenging potable water supply mainly internal which is within the management of the utility and external which could be natural factors
Summary
Water is an essential commodity for the existence of life on Earth, but the expanding human population and climate change have caused its demand to exceed supply and quantitative depletion. As developmental projects in developing countries, provision and access to safe drinking water has increased over the last decade but approximately one billion people still lack safe drinking water throughout the world. In Cameroon as at 2006, 70% of the population had access to safe drinking water and a supply coverage of 88% in urban areas and 47% in rural areas (Ako et al, 2010). The negative impacts from the variations are mostly on the vulnerable population of women and children who are forced to travel long distances to fetch for water
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