Survey on practices of water-handling and level of contamination between the source and use in the home in Jimma town; South-West Ethiopia

ABSTRACT

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Jimma town to identify the water-handling practices and to determine the level of contamination of stored water. Households that used treated water from Jimma town water treatment plant were randomly selected; and interviewed. Water samples from the households' storage containers and water distribution taps were collected and tested for the indicator bacteria employing the most probable number (MPN) method. The per capita water consumption ranged from 5 to 30 litres. A high proportion (86 percent) of households rinse or wash the container before collection. About 94 percent of the households store water in a covered container. When drawing water from a storage container 70 percent scoop; 48 percent using handles cups; which may increase the possibility of contamination. No fecal coliform was observed in the water samples from the tap. Of 20 samples collected from storage containers 8 (40 percent) exhibited fecal coliform (FC). The mean bacteria count was 3.1 FC/100 ml. The use of cover for storage container; washing the container before refilling and shorter storage time by the majority of the households are commendable practices. On the other hand; obtaining water from the storage container by scooping and the use of handless cups for dipping are not advisable as the chance of contamination may increase. The presence of fecal coliforms in 40 percent of the water samples indicates that there is contamination of water at home