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

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.

The quality of drinking and domestic water from the surface water sources (lakes, rivers, irrigation canals and ponds) and springs in cholera prone communities of Uganda: an analysis of vital physicochemical parameters

“…Several epidemiological studies in Uganda have attributed cholera outbreaks to use of contaminated surface water [20,21,24,63]. Furthermore, studies conducted on the surface water focus on pathogen identification [63,64] leaving out the water physicochemical parameters which are equally important in the provision of safe drinking water [53] and are necessary for survival of all living organisms (both animals and plants) [44].…”

Monitoring of drinking water from the karst springs of the Ljuberadja-Niš water supply system (Serbia)

“…The discovery of these bacteria suggests a recent fecal contamination and an epidemiological hazard from a potential finding of pathogenic microorganisms. Most drinking water sources were found to have coliform counts above the recommended national and international guidelines [2]. Research in Jakarta shows that bouts of diarrhea, reported in one-third of households were closely related to water contaminated with more than 100 fecal coliform bacteria in 100 mL of water samples [40].…”

Detection Of Fecal Coliforms In Water Used In Formal And Informal Food Outlets In Kasungu District, Malawi

“…The risks associated with consumption of contaminated water is because of failure in securing optimal hygiene management practices at both formal and informal settings. Water quality encompasses physical, chemical and biological properties that are supposed to be in line with the required specifications (Agensi et al, 2019).…”

“…Their presence is suggestive of other infective pathogens of fecal origin such as E. coli (Bandekar et al, 2006;Nwachukwu and Otokunefor, 2006). Besides traditional methods of detecting coliform bacteria, water quality factors have also been used as significant predictors of fecal coliform bacteria (Seo et al, 2019;Hayashi, 2004). In many middle and low-income countries, cases of microbial contamination of water are linked to unwholesome practices, lack of water treatment at the point of use and unhygienic management of water sources (Agensi et al, 2019).…”