When Are Mobile Phones Useful for Water Quality Data Collection? An Analysis of Data Flows and ICT Applications among Regulated Monitoring Institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Water quality monitoring is important for identifying public health risks and ensuring water safety. However, even when water sources are tested, many institutions struggle to access data for immediate action or long-term decision-making. We analyzed water testing structures among 26 regulated water suppliers and public health surveillance agencies across six African countries and identified four water quality data management typologies. Within each typology, we then analyzed the potential for information and communication technology (ICT) tools to facilitate water quality information flows. A consistent feature of all four typologies was that testing activities occurred in laboratories or offices, not at water sources; therefore, mobile phone-based data management may be most beneficial for institutions that collect data from multiple remote laboratories. We implemented a mobile phone application to facilitate water quality data collection within the national public health agency in Senegal, Service National de l’Hygiène. Our results indicate that using the phones to transmit more than just water quality data will likely improve the effectiveness and sustainability of this type of intervention. We conclude that an assessment of program structure, particularly its data flows, provides a sound starting point for understanding the extent to which ICTs might strengthen water quality monitoring efforts.

Primary Teachers’ Perceptions on ICT Integration for Enhancing Teaching and Learning through the Implementation of One Laptop Per Child Program in Primary Schools of Rwanda

“…Similar to other existing new researches such those of Tarus (2015), Kayisire &Wei (2016), Igbo & Imo (2017), Delport (2016), Egbe et al (2016), Helm (2015); Kumpel et al, (2015), Mbatha (2016), G. Muhametjanova & Çagiltay (2012), Ouoba et al (2016), Porter & Graham (2016) and Sekoaila et al (2016); the findings regarding teachers' perceptions to the necessities required to integrate ICT into teaching and learning processes in primary schools of Rwanda felt into three categories of requirements. These include: (1) Technological tools, (2) infrastructures such electricity and building and (3) skills necessary to use effectively ICT tools.…”

“…Similarly to the findings of the studies such those of Tarus (2015), Kayisire &Wei (2016), Igbo & Imo (2017), Delport (2016), Egbe et al (2016), Helm (2015), Kumpel et al, (2015), Mbatha (2016), Ouoba et al (2016), Porter & Graham (2016) and Sekoaila et al (2016), the majors requirements to integrate ICT into teaching and learning were identified as the following : The need of technological tools, adequate infrastructures and skills required to integrate ICT into teaching and learning processes. Teachers showed their intentions of needing Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) similar as quoted in (Mishra & Koehler, 2006;Schmidt et al, 2008;Koeher et al, 2014).…”

Assessing Drinking Water Quality at the Point of Collection and within Household Storage Containers in the Hilly Rural Areas of Mid and Far-Western Nepal

“…Briefly, the strategy involved a network of decentralized semi-permanent field laboratories with teams of sample collectors and laboratory technicians [10,16]. Six local enumerators were hired to conduct the interviews and structured observations at households and collect the water samples.…”

Improved Response to Water Shortage: A Discrete Choice Experiment Study in Langata Sub County, Nairobi City-Kenya

“…The acquired trust is expected to make such a consumer to abandon the home-based water quality improvement measures thereby relieving him or her the agony of having to spend so much every day [36] [37]. Subsequently, the out of pocket expenses money saved through such a move may be invested in other family needs, which will, among other benefits, further improve the overall wellbeing of individual households [38] [39] [40]. Buoyed by this reasoning, the study developed a mobile phone application prototype for tracking the informal water quality.…”