Water quality, sanitation and hygiene in Kirinya Parish,Wakiso District

Abstract

Slums are affiliated with poor water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) conditions. However, there is a shortage of information on the status quo in the slums of Kirinya Parish. This study, therefore, analyzed the water quality and sanitation practices of the households in this area to determine the risk of exposure to water-borne disease. The objectives of the study were to; 1) Characterize the commonly used water sources, 2) Assess the quality of the water sources, and 3) Assess user perception and household WASH practices. The study used a longitudinal survey to analyze water quality from October 2020 to September 2021. Twenty-seven (27) water sources (boreholes, protected springs, and unprotected springs) were sampled following the standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. A spot check was done on tap water sources to ascertain their water quality. Additionally, a questionnaire survey was used among 380 households to assess user perception and WASH practices. The study findings revealed that protected springs (47%) and piped water (24%) were the mainly used water sources. The median E. coli numbers recorded were; 142 CFU/100 mL in unprotected springs, 106 CFU/100 mL in protected springs, and 3 CFU/100 mL in boreholes. The median Fecal enterococci numbers were; 81 CFU/100 mL in unprotected springs, 69 CFU/100 mL in protected springs, and 10 CFU /100 mL in boreholes. The pH range was 4.7-7.9 for protected springs, 5.2-7.7 for unprotected springs and 5-8.1 for boreholes. The concentration of total dissolved solids (TDS) was 256 mg/L for boreholes, 212 mg/L for unprotected springs, and 186 mg/L for protected springs. User perception showed that only 41% of the respondents perceived the water to be clean while the rest perceived it as unclean due to the unpleasant odor (25%), taste (17%), and color (17%). Households regularly washed hands (75%), cleaned the compound (70%), used the toilet (66%), purified water for drinking (66%), properly managed waste (58%), and used utensils drying racks (43%). In conclusion, the water sources in the area are contaminated, waste management is poor and the toilet facilities are of poor quality. Thus, there should be increased coverage of piped water to improve access to safe water, better-quality sanitary facilities, and improved waste management practices in the area to avoid contamination of water sources and contracting of water-borne diseases.