Practices and Perceptions of Biosand Filter Users in Treating Drinking Water in a Rural District of Zimbabwe

Abstract

A field survey was conducted in Bindura district of Zimbabwe in January 2012 to evaluate the perceptions and practices of rural households on biosand filters after two years of use. A questionnaire was administered to 33 sampled households during an unannounced visit to solicit information on demography, use of biosand filters and safe water storage. A field kit (Oxfam delAgua) was used to estimate faecal coliforms in 83 water samples drawn from the household source (17), filter-spout (33) and storage vessel (33). Results indicate that biosand filters were structurally intact and operational with a mean treatment efficiency of 95.9±1.4% (n=33) suggesting a high sustained use. Households (n=33) expressed great satisfaction with the use of biosand filters as they got adequate drinking water (90.9%). Households cited improved health (100%), clean water (100%); good taste (100%) and ease of use (90.9%) as perceived benefits of using the biosand filter. The mean faecal coliform level of biosand filter-treated water (3.2±1.4cfu/100ml) was significantly lower than that of source water (37.1±8.9cfu/100ml) (p<0.05). Biosand filters (78.8%) provided safe drinking water (0cfu/100ml) but were recontaminated (26.9%, n=26) during storage. Poor household hygiene, unrecommended storage methods and withdrawal practices were attributed to recontamination of stored treated water.