| Summary: | The aim of this study was to investigate the microbiological quality of drinking water at the
source (taps at eThekwini laboratories, standpipes and mobile community tankers) and
corresponding point-of-use (storage containers and ground tanks) supplied to peri-urban areas
in Durban by eThekwini Municipality. It also aimed to identify factors associated with
deterioration in water quality such as storage of water, household demographics, hygiene and
sanitation practices. In order to determine the microbial quality of drinking water, the pour
plate method (for enumeration of heterotrophic organisms) and the membrane filtration
technique (for total coliforms and E. coli enumeration) were used. Conductivity, turbidity, pH
and total and residual chlorine levels of drinking water were measured. Microbial and
physico-chemical data was collated and statistically analysed with epidemiological data from
an associated study to determine the link between microbial quality of drinking water,
household demographics, health outcomes, socio-economic status, hygiene and sanitation
practices. Findings showed that all point-of-use water was unsafe for human consumption as
a result of either poor source water quality, in the case of standpipes, and microbial
contamination at the point-of-use, in the case of ground tanks and community tankers. The
latter could be attributed to unsanitary environments, poor hygiene practices or poor wateruse
behaviour. Households which included children aged 0-5 years and in which open-top
containers were used for water storage had the highest rates of diarrhoea and vomiting. Water
from ground tanks had the best microbial quality but people in households using this water
presented with the highest rate of diarrhoea. Therefore provision of microbially safe drinking
water will not reduce the rate of health outcomes if addressed in isolation. In order to reduce
water-associated illness, provision of safe and adequate amounts of water, hygiene and
sanitation education and education on water-use behaviour should be provided as a package.
The provision of improved water delivery systems does not ensure that drinking water is safe
for human consumption. Measures, such as point-of-use water treatment should be
considered to ensure that drinking water provided at the source and point-of-use is
microbially safe for human consumption. === Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2009.
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