Factors associated with the quality of groundwater in Lukaya Town Council, Kalungu District

Abstract

Introduction: Globally, groundwater sources have increasingly become contaminated by physical, chemical and microbiological contaminants leading to deterioration of groundwater quality. This has led to increased morbidity and mortality. Despite efforts to improve quality and governance of groundwater sources in Lukaya Town Council, there is limited documentation therefore safety of the sources cannot be monitored. Objective: To assess the factors associated with the quality of groundwater sources in Lukaya Town Council so as to inform policy and design of interventions. Methodology: A cross-sectional study employing both quantitative and qualitative methods. Secondary data was reviewed from AfriWatSan database. Forty-five groundwater sources were sampled, inspected for sanitary risks using WHO (1997) sanitary risk survey tools and water quality sampling and done using WHO and APHA standard procedures respectively. Additional qualitative data was collected from seven key informants to understand the institutional factors associated with microbiological quality of groundwater in Lukaya Town Council. Univariate and bivariate analysis of quantitative data was done. Results: Majority, 95.6%(43/45) and 97.6% (44/45) of the groundwater sources had a pH lower than the WHO standard for drinking water during wet and dry seasons respectively. The seasonal difference in contamination of groundwater sources with E.coli was statistically significant (p=0.000). Latrine being within 10m/30m of the groundwater source; (p=0.001), (p=0.001), latrine being uphill of the groundwater source (p=0.002), (p=0.001) cracked or damaged apron (p=0.001), (p=0.032) were significantly associated with microbiological quality of groundwater sources in wet and dry seasons respectively. Institutional factors associated with microbiological quality of water included; policies and regulations that govern groundwater sources, operations and maintenance and finance for groundwater sources. Conclusion: Most groundwater sources in Lukaya Town Council are contaminated hence predisposing residents to diarrhoeal diseases. Governance of the groundwater sources is also poor and therefore the need for strengthening law enforcement to prevent contamination of the sources