Bacteriological quality of drinking water in administrative wards around Kisii Town, Kisii County, Kenya

Abstract

Provision of quality drinking water is an important part of improving public health and is the rationale behind protecting drinking water sources and promoting healthy practices at and around sources. The study used the presumptive occurrence of faecal contamination in water samples to assess the bacteriological quality of drinking water in Kisii town and administrative wards bordering it. The objectives were to geospatially map drinking water sources, assess the bacteriological quality of drinking water, compare the risk of water from different sources and establish the contribution of hygiene practices toward water contamination around the water sources within Administrative Wards around Kisii Town. Trained community health volunteers were used to collect water samples from 64 springs, 19 open wells, 11 rainwater tanks, and 8 tap water sources. Tests were conducted using the Portable Microbiology Laboratory. The indicator bacterium Escherichia coli were detected in 76% of the water samples. Tap and rainwater were safer to drink while water from unprotected springs was highly contaminated. The highest risk cases were from central ward. This was attributed to the high level of sewage contamination and indiscriminate dumping of waste. Hygiene conditions and practices that seemed to potentially contribute to increased total coliform and Escherichia coli counts included non-protection of water sources from livestock faeces, laundry practices, and water sources being downstream of pit latrines in some cases. The findings suggested source water protection and good hygiene practices could improve the quality of drinking water where disinfection is not available. The findings also suggest important lines of inquiry and provide support and input for environmental and public health programmes, particularly those related to water and sanitation.