Determinants of drinking water quality in rural Nicaragua

Abstract

SUMMARYOne hundred and fifty-three water samples from rural Nicaragua were examined for the presence of faecal coliforms during both wet and dry periods. A linear model was fitted by analysis of covariance with the logarithm of the faecal coliform count as the dependant variable. As expected, traditional water sources were grossly contaminated at all times whereas piped water sources were much cleaner. Hand-dug protected wells had significantly higher levels of faecal contamination than unprotected riverside wells and springs during the dry season. The possible reasons for this unexpected finding are discussed. A close association between rainfall and faecal contamination was demonstrated but the effect of rainfall depended on the type of water source. An association between water quality and the size of the community served by the source was also detected. The finding that stored water was usually more contaminated than fresh water samples is consistent with the results from other studies. Since it is unusual for water quality to be inversely correlated wth accessibility, this study site would be suitable for investigating the relative importance of water-borne versus waterwashed transmission mechanisms in childhood diarrhoea.

Bacteriological quality of potable water sources supplying Morogoro municipality and its outskirts: a case study in Tanzania.

“…Site I downstream of this river was found to be more contaminated than site II upstream probably due to human and animal faecal contamination. The contamination of natural water sources by faecally derived organisms has been reported elsewhere [6,19,20]. Pipeborne treated water from comparatively older Mambogo distribution system had higher microbial counts than water from a dam on the relatively new Mafiga distribution system.…”

Investigating the Predictors of Domestic Water Consumption in Urban Households with Children Under-Five Years: A Panel Study in the Atwima Nwabiagya District, Ghana

“…Correlation and stepwise multiple regressions were used to examine the relationships between per capita water consumption and eleven potential predictors. The predictors were chosen based on the review of the results of studies conducted by Sandiford et al, (1990); Thompson et al,(2001); Gazzinelli et al, (1998) and House-Peters and Chang, (2011). Collinearity diagnostics suggested that multicollinearity amongst the variables was not a concern.…”

“…All other variables were reentered to assess their contributions to the success of the model, and the variables that did not contribute significantly to the model were removed. The stepwise method ensured that only a small possible set of determinants was included in the model, and therefore it also gave the minimum number of variables needed to determine water use (Sandiford et al 1990;Gazzinelli et al 1998). Table 1 indicates the variables and the relationship with per capita water consumption.…”

“…Table 1 indicates the variables and the relationship with per capita water consumption. Thompson et al,(2001); Sandiford et al, (1990); Gazzinelli et al, 1998 andChang, (2011).…”

“…Nevertheless, few reports are published on the association between water consumption and environmentally related diseases (Aiga et al, 1999). Though it is known that the quantity of water used for domestic purposes and personal hygiene has implications for controlling environmentally related diseases such as diarrhoea (Esrey & Habicht, 1986;Esrey et al, 1985;Victora et al, 1988;Sandiford et al, 1990), there is much to learn regarding water use within the households that have the most vulnerable members: children under five years. The United Nations World Water Assessment Programme (UN WWAP) (2009:97) noted that "our knowledge of water use is poor" and the limited knowledge of water use patterns inhibits the ability to manage water resources appropriately.…”