Assessment of Public Drinking Water Quality and Hygienic Conditions in Selected Communities in Tonkolili District, Sierra Leone

Abstract

This study investigated the public drinking water quality parameters from different sources, streams, springs, wells, and reservoirs and the hygienic conditions of people living in six communities in Yoni Chiefdom, Tonkolili District. The study involved both laboratory analysis and a survey on the perceptions of respondents on the hygienic conditions of drinking water. A total of 75 questionnaires were administered to respondents that fetch water for household consumption. The results revealed that different levels of turbidity, pH, temperature, oxygen demand (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), magnesium, nitrate, and chloride from streams, springs, wells, and reservoir water obtained based on well-established procedures were within the world health organization (WHO) standard for drinking water. The findings also revealed that four communities (Mamancha, Dogbokarama, Mile 91, and Malenpeh) recorded the highest mean turbidity values of 7.34 NTU, DO of 6.5 mg/l, NO3- of 11.00 mg/l and NO3- of 12.00 mg/l respectively, which exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) standard level for drinking water. Most (89.3%) of the respondents opined that they had easy access to drinking water throughout the year, and most of the respondents affirmed that the drinking water was odourless (81.3%) and tasteless (72.0%). However, the drinking water turns cloudy or milky during the dry season, as opined by 53.3% of the respondents. The majority (66.7%) of the respondents experience water-borne diseases in their communities, such as skin disease, typhoid, and cholera. Most (86.7%) of the drinking water sources are not treated and are 20 m away from the toilet and dustbin, as opined by 65.3% of the respondents. Findings indicate that the short distance and poor sanitary precautions are the probable causes of the contamination of the drinking water in these communities. The government should create an enabling policy environment regarding quality drinking water and hygienic conditions for adaptation as well as to implement routine monitoring to improve the health and sanitary conditions of the people.