A Community-based Bacteriological Study of Quality of Drinking-water and Its Feedback to a Rural Community in Western Maharashtra, India

• Published in: Journal of health, population and nutrition Vol. 26; no. 2; pp. 139 - 150
• Main Authors: Tambe, Prachi V, Daswani, Poonam G, Mistry, Nerges F, Ghadge, Appasaheb A, Antia, Noshir H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bangladesh ICDDR,B: Centre for Health and Population Research 01.06.2008; BioMed Central Ltd; BioMed Central; International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh
• Subjects: Bacteria; Bacteriology; Communities; Community health services; Community participation; Diarrhea; Diarrhea - epidemiology; Diarrhea - microbiology; Diarrhoea; Drinking water; Educational Status; Evaluation; Feedback; Health aspects; Humans; Hygiene; India; Interventions; Longitudinal Studies; Maharashtra; Medicine, Preventive; Methods; Original Papers; Potable water; Prevention; Preventive health services; Risk Factors; Rural areas; Rural communities; Rural Population; Sanitation; Seasons; Services; Socioeconomic Factors; Tap water; Testing; Villages; Water; Water Microbiology; Water pollution; Water quality; Water samples; Water supplies; Water supply; Water Supply - analysis; Water Supply - standards; Water tanks; Water treatment; India; Maharashtra India; India, Maharashtra
• ISSN: 1606-0997; 2072-1315

A longitudinal study of the bacteriological quality of rural water supplies was undertaken for a movement towards self-help against diseases, such as diarrhoea, and improved water management through increased community participation. Three hundred and thirteen water samples from different sources, such as well, tank, community standpost, handpumps, percolation lakes, and streams, and from households were collected from six villages in Maharashtra, India, over a one-year period. Overall, 49.8% of the 313 samples were polluted, whereas 45.9% of the samples from piped water supply were polluted. The quality of groundwater was generally good compared to open wells. Irregular and/or inadequate treatment of water, lack of drainage systems, and domestic washing near the wells led to deterioration in the quality of water. No major diarrhoeal epidemics were recorded during the study, although a few sporadic cases were noted during the rainy season. As a result of a continuous feedback of bacteriological findings to the community, perceptions of the people changed with time. An increased awareness was observed through active participation of the people cutting across age-groups and different socioeconomic strata of the society in village activities.