Contamination Potentials of Household Water Handling and Storage Practices in Kirundo Subcounty, Kisoro District, Uganda.

Alexander Agensi,Julius Tibyangye,Andrew Tamale,Ezera Agwu,Christine Amongi

doi:10.1155/2019/7932193

Abstract

Introduction Waterborne diseases constitute a major public health burden in developing and underdeveloped countries. Consumption of contaminated water causes health risk to the public, and the situation is alarming in rural areas. The objective of this study was to assess the contamination potentials of different house water handling and storage practices in the Kirundo subcounty, Kisoro District, Uganda. Material and Methods A cross-sectional and descriptive study in which 344 water samples were collected randomly and analysed for bacteriological contamination, total coliforms (TCs) and Escherichia coli per 100 ml, using the Most Probable Number (MPN) technique and reported in terms of CFU/100 ml. Results The 43.2% samples from unprotected water sources had total coliforms and 34.1% had Escherichia coli. In analysed household drinking water, 25% had total coliforms and 8.7% had Escherichia coli. Most drinking water sources were found to have coliform counts above the recommended national and international guidelines. There was a statistically significant difference among water sources with respect to total coliforms and Escherichia coli (p < 0.05). Conclusion The overall results indicated that there is a strong linkage between microbiological water quality and water source sanitation; hence, the protected water source was safer than unprotected water sources. For the unprotected water sources, protection strategies as well as monitoring are recommended for this community.

Highlights

Waterborne diseases constitute a major public health burden in developing and underdeveloped countries
700 million people lack access to safe drinking water and half of these are in sub-Saharan Africa, where WHO estimates that 1.8 billion people drink water contaminated with Escherichia coli, which is an indicator of faecal contamination [3]
A total of 344 water samples were collected from protected water source (Bikingi Gravity Water), unprotected water sources, and household drinking water for bacteriological analysis of total coliforms and Escherichia coli as an indicator of faecal contamination

Summary

Introduction

Access to clean and safe water, good sanitation, and hygiene practices are necessary for a healthy population [1]. Drinking water quality in the distribution network is paramount [13], and several studies have reported on microbial safety of water sources [1, 3, 4] Such studies stimulate programmes aimed at safe water supply to communities, improving public health and reducing waterborne disease burden. There is insufficient information on the TC and E. coli amounts in the common drinking water sources in Kirundo subcounty, Kisoro District, Uganda It is based on this premise information gap about water contamination despite interventions that this study sought to assess the contamination potentials of household water handling and storage practices in Kirundo subcounty, Kisoro District, Uganda

Materials and Methods

Results

Method of water treatment