Assessment of deterioration in water quality from source to household storage in semi-urban settings of developing countries

• Published in: Environmental monitoring and assessment 2014-02, Vol.186 (2), p.725-734
• Main Authors: John, Viji, Jain, Priyanka, Rahate, Manish, Labhasetwar, Pawan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Assessments; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; burden of disease; Consumers; Deterioration; Developing Countries; drinking; Drinking water; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Economics; Ecotoxicology; Engineering research; Environment; Environmental engineering; Environmental Management; Environmental Monitoring; Family Characteristics; Feces; Heavy metals; Households; Hygiene; Laboratories; LDCs; Microorganisms; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Public policy; Reservoirs; Risk; Risk analysis; Risk assessment; Sanitation; society; Socioeconomic factors; Socioeconomics; Studies; Surface water; surveys; Urban areas; Water Microbiology; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water pollution; Water Pollution - statistics & numerical data; Water quality; Water supply; Water Supply - analysis; Water Supply - statistics & numerical data
• ISSN: 0167-6369; 1573-2959
• DOI: 10.1007/s10661-013-3412-z

This study has investigated the common risks associated with the water quality changes from the source to the consumer households and the associated disease burden in the piped water supplies. Samples from the source to the household storage from Nagpur City were collected and analysed for heavy metals, nutrient and microbial parameters. Sanitary risks were identified at the households during the socio-economic and sanitary survey. The water quality deterioration was the most at household storage around 30.3 % indicating that measures need to be taken to safeguard the water quality at the consumer level. Then, 31.2 % of the samples collected from public standposts and handpumps were positive for faecal contamination which implies that it is the weaker sections of the society who suffer the consequences of drinking unsafe water the most. On the basis of the laboratory results, risk analysis by surveying the WTPs, point-of-use behaviour at households and sanitary status at different socio-economic strata, the Water Safety Plan for Nagpur City was structured. The aim was to ensure that safe and improved water is reached to the individual household.