Temporal changes in peri-urban drinking water practices and quality

Abstract

This paper simultaneously explores temporal changes in drinking water quality and practices in peri-urban Peru. A mixed methodology approach was used, which included a household survey (n= 96) and analysis of water samples taken at source (n= 33 2006, n= 64 2007) and from households (n= 51 2006, n= 91 2007), during both the dry (2006) and rainy season (2007). Variations in practices were found, the most important being the type of water being used, but these changes were found to be contextual and linked to the termination of municipal piped water to the community, rather than seasonal. Seasonal changes in quality of ground water sources were found, but the change in the quality of the major water sources used for drinking and cooking were again not seasonal. A relationship between drinking water practices and quality was identified, due to household contamination of water, which was linked to perceived quality of source. Although the results from this study do not establish any link between seasonal drinking water quality and practices, evidence supporting the general hypothesis of this work was uncovered.