Abstract
In many suburban municipalities of developing countries, the household drinking water comes mainly from groundwater including, wells, streams and springs. These sources are vulnerable because poor hygienic conditions and sanitation prevail causing persistence and recurrent waterborne diseases. In this research, a survey study on water resource use and an epidemiological survey of waterborne diseases were conducted among users of water points and medical institutions in suburban communes of Selembao and Kimbanseke (Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo). In addition, physicochemical (temperature, pH, O2, electrical conductivity, and soluble ions: Na+, K+, PO43−, SO42−, NO3−, NO2−) and bacteriological (FIB: faecal indicator bacteria) analyses of water from 21 wells and springs were performed according to the seasonal variations. FIB included Escherichia coli (E. coli), Enterococcus and Total Coliforms. The survey results indicate that more than 75% of the patients admitted to local medical institutions between 2016 and 2019 are affected by waterborne diseases, including typhoid fever, amoebic dysentery, diarrhoea, gastroenteritis disorders and cholera. Except for NO3− in some sites, the water physicochemical parameter values are within WHO permissible limits for drinking/domestic water quality. On the contrary, the results revealed high FIB levels in water from unmanaged wells and springs during rainy and dry seasons. The microbiological pollution was significantly higher in the rainy season compared to the dry season. Interestingly, no FIB contamination was observed in water samples from managed/developed wells. The results from this study will guide local government decisions on improving water quality to prevent recurrent waterborne diseases.
Highlights
The contaminated water sources used for the human pur‐ pose and poor sanitation are associated with transmission of diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera, hepatitis A, typhoid,1 3 Vol.:(0123456789)Sustainable Water Resources Management (2022) 8:3 dysentery and polio (Montgomery and Elimelech 2007; WHO 2011)
Wells constitute the prefer‐ able and access water sources for more than 80% of persons in studied municipalities. 41% of the population providing household water supply are children under 15 years old, and 59% were over 15 years old. 99% of the children who fetched water from wells did not wash their hands after def‐ ecation or drawing water. 100% of over 15 years old do not wash their hands before drawing water and defecation. 6% of under 15 years had already defecated near a water source, especially during rainy. 80% of children under 15 years of age surveyed say they evaluate the potability of water by its colour and odour. 75% of children under 15 years of age admit having experienced diarrhoea
The results showed that the age group below 15 years is more affected by waterborne diseases
Summary
The contaminated water sources used for the human pur‐ pose and poor sanitation are associated with transmission of diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera, hepatitis A, typhoid,1 3 Vol.:(0123456789)Sustainable Water Resources Management (2022) 8:3 dysentery and polio (Montgomery and Elimelech 2007; WHO 2011). Several causes can justify the pollution of these water resources, including the vulnerability of water points (lack of well water tightness), unsanitary conditions, contamination from septic tanks and latrines, the presence of uncontrolled landfills, wastewater runoff and open def‐ ecation (Banks et al 2002; Longo 2009; Kapembo et al 2016, 2019; Graham and Polizotto 2013; Abioye and Perera 2019; Owamah 2020). For this reason, it is necessary to examine the pollution status of the water used for human consumption
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