Assessment of the Quality of Drinking Water Supply, and the Status of Sanitation and Hygiene in Mudulla Town, Tembaro Woreda, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Limited access associated with poor water supply, hygiene and sanitation is widening the poverty gap, gender inequality and prevalence of water born diseases. This research work is aimed to examine the quality of existing water supply, sanitation and hygiene status of Mudula Town. To achieve this objective, the household survey and Water samples were collected from three water sources (spring), storage and taps. With the exception of Kalahiwot spring for Turbidity (7.75NTU), all others were within the standards. For bacteriological analysis, Gofore spring is within the standard. But samples tested from Bada and Kalahiwot did not meet the WHO and EPA bacteriological standards for drinking water. The correlation result of physical parameters shows that for all sources turbidity, TDS and EC has strong positive correlation with each other. With the exception of Gofere spring source, fecal coliform (E.coli) is negatively correlated with Temperature and positivity correlated with Total coliform for both spring water sources. The current average per capital water converge in the area is 68% and its consumption is strongly correlated with house hold income amount. Similarly for sanitation, from total respondents 5% use pit latrine without house, 10% pit latrine with house and remain 85% use pit latrine with wall and roof. Regarding to solid waste, 55% dispose solid waste on garden and 45% have sanitary pit. From total respondents, up to 55% do not use water after defecating. The rest also have a gap on using soap continuously. Therefore, to overcome the problems regular chlorination of water, sanitation and hygiene practicing awareness may be required.

Keywords: Water Supply, Coverage, Water Quality, Sanitation and Hygiene practices