Water-borne illness, primarily caused by fecal contamination of drinking water, is a major health burden in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. Currently drinking water is treated at the reservoir level and supplied on alternate days, necessitating storage in households for up to 48 hrs. We hypothesized that fecal contamination occurs principally during storage due to poor water handling. In this study we tested for coliform bacteria in water samples collected at distribution points as household storage containers were filled, and then tested containers in the same households 24–36 hours after collection. We also conducted an observational survey to make an assessment of water handling and hygiene. Ninety-two percent (47/51) of samples tested at supply points were adequately chlorinated and bacterial contamination was found in two samples with no residual chlorine. Samples collected from household storage containers showed an increase in contamination in 18/50 houses (36%). Households with contaminated stored samples did not show significant differences in demographics, water handling, hygiene practices, or sanitation. Nevertheless, the dramatic increase in contamination after collection indicates that until an uninterrupted water supply is possible, the point at which the biggest health impact can be made is at the household level.
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Research Article|
October 01 2008
Is fecal contamination of drinking water after collection associated with household water handling and hygiene practices? A study of urban slum households in Hyderabad, India
Jayasheel Eshcol;
1Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, 1216 MERF, Iowa City, IA 52317, USA
Tel.: +1 319 321 4963; E-mail: [email protected]
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Prasanta Mahapatra;
Prasanta Mahapatra
2Institute of Health Systems, HACA Bhavan, Andhra Pradesh 500004, India
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Sarita Keshapagu
Sarita Keshapagu
2Institute of Health Systems, HACA Bhavan, Andhra Pradesh 500004, India
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J Water Health (2009) 7 (1): 145–154.
Article history
Received:
July 08 2007
Accepted:
March 06 2008
Citation
Jayasheel Eshcol, Prasanta Mahapatra, Sarita Keshapagu; Is fecal contamination of drinking water after collection associated with household water handling and hygiene practices? A study of urban slum households in Hyderabad, India. J Water Health 1 March 2009; 7 (1): 145–154. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wh.2009.094
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