Drinking Water Quality and Provision in Six Low‐Income, Peri‐Urban Communities of Lusaka, Zambia

Abstract

Lusaka, Zambia, is a rapidly growing city located on a vulnerable karstic dolomite aquifer that provides most of the city's drinking water. Over 65% of residents live in peri‐urban communities with inadequate sanitation leading to widespread groundwater contamination and the spread of waterborne diseases such as cholera. To fill the water service gap, Water Trusts were created: public/private partnerships designed to provide clean water to peri‐urban community residents. Water Trusts extract groundwater via boreholes, treat it with chlorine, and distribute it to residents via public kiosks. We investigated the efficacy of drinking water provision to residents in six of Lusaka's peri‐urban communities with Water Trusts. Water samples were collected from Water Trust boreholes and kiosks, privately owned boreholes, and shallow wells during four sampling efforts. To assess potential risk to human health, water samples were analyzed for Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) and nitrate. Shallow wells were significantly more contaminated with E. coli than Water Trust boreholes, kiosks, and private boreholes (Tukey‐adjusted p values of 9.9 × 10 −6 ). Shallow wells and private boreholes had significantly higher nitrate‐N concentrations (mean of 29.6 mg/L) than the Water Trust boreholes and kiosks (mean of 8.8 mg/L) ( p value = 1.1 × 10 −4 ). In 2016, a questionnaire was distributed to Water Trust managers to assess their ability to meet demands. In the six communities studied, Water Trusts served only about 60% of their residents. Water Trusts provide a much safer alternative to shallow wells with respect to nitrate and E. coli , but they struggle to keep pace with growing demand.

Widespread and increased drilling of wells into fossil aquifers in the USA

“…Fossil groundwater tends to have lower concentrations of surface-borne pollutants than younger groundwater. For example, nitrate—a common surface-borne pollutant that is frequently associated with confined animal feeding operations, excessive fertilization and inadequate sanitation 22 , 23 —is more common in recently recharged (i.e., ‘younger’) groundwater than in older groundwater 14 . Because groundwater age tends to increase with depth, we compared tens-of-thousands of dissolved nitrate measurements in shallow (<50 m) and deep (100–300 m) wells to understand potential water quality ramifications of fossil groundwater use (Supplementary Note 6 ).…”

Bacteriological Quality and Heavy Metal Analysis of Packaged Water Produced in Lusaka, Zambia and Associated Quality Control Measures

“…The underlying geology, soil type, and soil thickness in Lusaka makes the ground water vulnerable to contamination from industrial effluent ( 20 ). No further treatment is conducted by the companies to bring the levels to acceptable levels.…”

Impact of a Group-Based Video and Interactive Group Session Addressing Diarrheal Disease, Helminthic and Schistosomiasis Infections, Hypertension and Diabetes on Short and Long-Term Improvement in Knowledge and Healthy Behaviors in Seroconcordant HIV-Negative Zambian Couples

“…Urban sanitation in Zambia is a challenge due to high population density, unplanned growth, and limited resources for conventional sanitation [26]. In Lusaka and Ndola, pit-latrines combined with leaking sewerage discharge untreated human sewage directly into the aquifers which residents rely on for drinking water [27][28][29][30][31]. Cholera outbreaks occur when potable water is unavailable and basic hygiene is poor.…”