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Can Sanitary Surveys Replace Water Quality Testing? Evidence from Kisii, Kenya

Author

Listed:
  • Aaron Gichaba Misati

    (Department of Environmental Science, Egerton University, Njoro Campus, P.O. Box 536, Egerton 20115, Kenya)

  • George Ogendi

    (Department of Environmental Science, Egerton University, Njoro Campus, P.O. Box 536, Egerton 20115, Kenya)

  • Rachel Peletz

    (The Aquaya Institute, Nairobi 00505, Kenya)

  • Ranjiv Khush

    (The Aquaya Institute, Larkspur, CA 94939, USA)

  • Emily Kumpel

    (The Aquaya Institute, Nairobi 00505, Kenya)

Abstract

Information about the quality of rural drinking water sources can be used to manage their safety and mitigate risks to health. Sanitary surveys, which are observational checklists to assess hazards present at water sources, are simpler to conduct than microbial tests. We assessed whether sanitary survey results were associated with measured indicator bacteria levels in rural drinking water sources in Kisii Central, Kenya. Overall, thermotolerant coliform (TTC) levels were high: all of the samples from the 20 tested dug wells, almost all (95%) of the samples from the 25 tested springs, and 61% of the samples from the 16 tested rainwater harvesting systems were contaminated with TTC. There were no significant associations between TTC levels and overall sanitary survey scores or their individual components. Contamination by TTC was associated with source type (dug wells and springs were more contaminated than rainwater systems). While sanitary surveys cannot be substituted for microbial water quality results in this context, they could be used to identify potential hazards and contribute to a comprehensive risk management approach.

Suggested Citation

  • Aaron Gichaba Misati & George Ogendi & Rachel Peletz & Ranjiv Khush & Emily Kumpel, 2017. "Can Sanitary Surveys Replace Water Quality Testing? Evidence from Kisii, Kenya," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-12, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:2:p:152-:d:89573
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jonny Crocker & Jamie Bartram, 2014. "Comparison and Cost Analysis of Drinking Water Quality Monitoring Requirements versus Practice in Seven Developing Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-14, July.
    2. Rachel Peletz & Emily Kumpel & Mateyo Bonham & Zarah Rahman & Ranjiv Khush, 2016. "To What Extent is Drinking Water Tested in Sub-Saharan Africa? A Comparative Analysis of Regulated Water Quality Monitoring," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-14, March.
    3. Robert Bain & Ryan Cronk & Jim Wright & Hong Yang & Tom Slaymaker & Jamie Bartram, 2014. "Fecal Contamination of Drinking-Water in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(5), pages 1-23, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. George Lutterodt & Jack Van de Vossenberg & Yvonne Hoiting & Alimamy K. Kamara & Sampson Oduro-Kwarteng & Jan Willem A. Foppen, 2018. "Microbial Groundwater Quality Status of Hand-Dug Wells and Boreholes in the Dodowa Area of Ghana," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-12, April.
    2. Joseph Okotto-Okotto & Diogo Trajano Gomes da Silva & Emmah Kwoba & Samuel.M Thumbi & Peggy Wanza & Weiyu Yu & Jim A. Wright, 2020. "Effect of Inter-Observer Variation on the Association between Contamination Hazards and the Microbiological Quality of Water Sources: A Longitudinal Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-15, December.
    3. Katherine Pond & Richard King & Jo Herschan & Rosalind Malcolm & Rory Moses McKeown & Oliver Schmoll, 2020. "Improving Risk Assessments by Sanitary Inspection for Small Drinking-Water Supplies—Qualitative Evidence," Resources, MDPI, vol. 9(6), pages 1-16, June.
    4. D. Daniel & Arnt Diener & Jack van de Vossenberg & Madan Bhatta & Sara J. Marks, 2020. "Assessing Drinking Water Quality at the Point of Collection and within Household Storage Containers in the Hilly Rural Areas of Mid and Far-Western Nepal," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-14, March.
    5. D. Daniel & Josphine Gaicugi & Richard King & Sara J. Marks & Giuliana Ferrero, 2020. "Combining Sanitary Inspection and Water Quality Data in Western Uganda: Lessons Learned from a Field Trial of Original and Revised Sanitary Inspection Forms," Resources, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-16, December.
    6. Richard King & Kenan Okurut & Jo Herschan & Dan J. Lapworth & Rosalind Malcolm & Rory Moses McKeown & Katherine Pond, 2020. "Does Training Improve Sanitary Inspection Answer Agreement between Inspectors? Quantitative Evidence from the Mukono District, Uganda," Resources, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-17, October.
    7. Dorian Tosi Robinson & Ariane Schertenleib & Bal Mukunda Kunwar & Rubika Shrestha & Madan Bhatta & Sara J. Marks, 2018. "Assessing the Impact of a Risk-Based Intervention on Piped Water Quality in Rural Communities: The Case of Mid-Western Nepal," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-23, July.

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