Groundwater Quality - Health Safety

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A significant number of boreholes in Harare, Zimbabwe have been contaminated mostly by E. Coli according to tests carried out by the City council recently. Besides, cholera and typhoid cases have been reported and health officials have attributed this to poor water quality.

Is there any adaptation and mitigation tools that can be adapted to resolve this problem? Most domestic users do not have any kind of water treatment system. 

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Hi Tendai, we have similar ...

Hi Tendai, we have similar challenges in some parts of Kenya. I assume when you say boreholes you mean hand dug shallow wells . In Kenya we have situations where chlorine is dosed directly into the well. The chlorine is either in tablet or liquid form, packaged for household use.

A household can also put chlorine tablets in the storage container which they use for drinking as a form of household water treatment.

However, for this to be effective, proper training at community level on use of the chlorine is absolutely necessary.

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You do not define borehole, so I am like Rose, thinking you may actually refer to hand-dug wells, which can be contaminated by runoff or nearby septic tanks or animals. I immediate solution would be chlorine (sodium hypochlorite tablets) or ceramic filters in the house. I the longer term, a well-protection scheme is needed to line wells and isolate them from coliform sources by fencing. This is a VERY serious public health concern, which should be brought to the attention to public health authorities in your vicinity. Infected people need to be kept hydrated until they recover. It needs a comprehensive approach to address your problem, and your government must be involved.   David Boggs, PE (water engineer)

 

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