Failure of rural schemes in South Africa to provide potable water

摘要

The impact of water borne disease in South Africa is significant. An estimated 43 000 deaths per annum, including 20percent of deaths in the one of five age group, are directly attributable to diarrhoeal diseases. Drinking water quality provision in many rural areas is substandard. This paper describes the results of samplig drinking water supplies in rural communities in the Western and Eastern Cape, South Africa. The majority of samples collected failed microbial drinking water quality standards. Overall, schemes dependent on groundwater provided a worse quality water at point of use than surface water dependant schemes. This is thought to be the result of pump breakdown, deterioration of the storage and reticulation system, and insufficient monitoring and management of the schemes. Importantly, it is shown that the implementation of well considered, community accepted drinking-water quality management procedures can effectively change an unacceptable water quality to one which satisfies drinking-water specifications.