On Thursday, July 28, a team from Aquaya Institute and the University of Ghana presented findings from water quality sampling carried out on the water from homes, communities, schools, and healthcare institutions in the District.
The activity is a part of the organization’s five-year capacity-building and evidence-generation programmes and is financed by the Hilton Foundation under the name “the Hilton Africa Water Quality Testing Fellowship.”
It used E. coli, turbidity, pH, electrical conductivity, temperature, and free chlorine residual (FCR) as criteria to assess 475 water samples from 242 homes, 181 community water stations (eight different types), 14 schools, and 8 healthcare facilities. 85 of the water samples came from upgraded water point kinds, while 15 came from ones that weren’t allowed.
70 percent of the samples for turbidity and conductivity were within permissible bounds, however, only 64 percent had high pH levels. pH has no health effects, excessive conductivity simply affects the flavour of water, and turbidity lowers the effectiveness of chlorine.
One-third of samples from schools and healthcare facilities and a significant fraction of samples from household and community water points all contained detectable E. coli. Additionally, significant percentages were found in water point samples taken from surface water, shielded and uncovered dug wells, uncovered slings, rains, and unprotected slings.
Out of 192 piped water systems with automated boreholes, 73 percent use water treatment. According to the research, filtration was used to treat the remaining 55% of treated piped water systems and chlorination was used for the remainder.
When compared to samples with no detectable free chlorine residual (FCR), samples with positive FCR have a 4 times higher likelihood of having undetectable E. coli. E. coli was identified in 88 percent of samples of water that had not been properly preserved, but only in 60 percent of samples of water that had.
“Comparing the data for samples with positive free a chlorine residual and those without, the chlorination is working and it’s something we definitely need to project,” said Aquaya Programs Officer Afua Gyaama Kissi Ampomah when presenting the findings.
Officers are to “urge residents to keep water safely,” she continued, noting that “samples that are not safely stored are more likely to have detectable E. coli.”
In order to avoid resistance, Dr. Juliet Ewool Quansah of the University of Ghana, Legon, emphasised the importance of providing feedback to the populace before the next point of sampling is carried out.
After consulting with management, district planning officer Bismack Asante Kyere responded by pledging dedication to that.
To improve the training of experts in water quality, the project is collaborating with the University of Ghana to create a fellowship programme for water testing. The University of Ghana will start the district’s second point of follow-up sampling in October 2022.