Water distribution systems and diarrheal disease transmission: a case study in Kagelle district
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Date
2011
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The University of Peradeniya
Abstract
Deteriorating water quality of domestic water sources poses a significant public health threat, particularly in the public water supplies of Sri Lanka. Interventions to decrease the disease burden associated with these water systems range from monitoring the water quality in regular basis and upgrading water distribution networks. To provide insight into this purpose, we conducted a randomized intervention study to provide microbial quality of water sources in five (05) Divisional Secretariats in Kegalle district, where drinking water quality is suboptimal.
We collected one hundred and thirteen (113) samples during the period for six months from August 2009, from protected and unprotected water sources in both urban and rural areas in Kegalle district. Of which, 34 samples from dug wells, 62 from tap , water and 17 from spring water sources. Bacterial quality of 61.8% of dug wells, 48.1% of tap water and 94,1% of spring water samples were exceeded the Sri Lankan standard guideline value for drinking water with respect to Escherichia coli. T he presence of indicator organisms (Escherichia coli or thermotolerant coliform bacteria) in water indicates recent contamination of the water source with fecal matter and hence possible presence of intestinal pathogens. It is evident that most of the sourcesof domestic water in Kegalle district are contaminated with fecal matter and do not - meet the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for drinking water quality. This poses a health hazard to the residents of the slum as they are at risk of water- borne diseases. The results of this study also suggest that tap water may be safer, than water sources from dug wells or springs.
Although high levels of E. coli contamination were found in water bodies of Bulathkohupitiya divisional secretariat, few numbers of both dysentery and viral hepatitis patients are reported in the last five years. It is anticipated that patients admit to the nearest hospitals from the rural village of Bulathkohupitiya is to Karawanella or Avissawella, which is not accounted in this study.
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Keywords
Environmental Science , Water quality , Disease transmission