Water management practices and quality of drinking water from source to consumption point in rural communities in the department of tiassalé, côte d'ivoire

This study evaluated the post-supply drinking-water quality in eight rural communities in department of Tiassalé, Côte d’Ivoire, using either a protected hand-dug wells or boreholes supply. Water management practices were documented as a basis for further research to improve household drinking-water quality. The methods used were administration of a questionnaire, observation and by assessing the stored drinking water quality and the water quality of supply point. Escherichia coli were used as the indicator of potential health risks. Most of the hand dug wells were Escherichia coli positive (100 %), with a more half having (68%) more than 100 colonies in the 100 ml sample (>100 CFU/100ml). 17% of water samples collected at the pump had Escherichia coli colonies >100 CFU/100ml compared to 58% at the point of consumption. The bacteriological quality of drinking water significantly declines after collection. Observation of household water management shows that there are multiple points during the collection to use sequence where pollution could occur. The commonality of water management practice would be an asset in introducing appropriate intervention measures.