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The microbiological contamination of water supplies [Quality Assurance: Sandy Cairncross]

Author(s): Sugden, Steven  |  Cairncross, Sandy

Publisher: WEDC
Place of publication: Loughborough University, UK
Year: 2006

Series: WELL Fact Sheet
Collection(s): WELL

Links:

• http://www.lboro.ac.uk/research/wedc/well/

The contamination of boreholes and shallow wells from on-site latrines is an issue that is generally poorly understood and irrationally assessed by organisations implementing water supply and sanitation programmes. This should not be the case as the health risks are often lower than popularly anticipated. The method of risk assessment outlined in this fact sheet is within the technical capacity of a competent engineer and should be regarded as being the first step in gaining a better understanding of the problem. This fact sheet provides background information on the factors that lead to microbiological contamination, the basic principles of risk assessment, and points those requiring more guidance in the right direction. It does not contain any information about assessing nitrate or chemical contamination from latrines, which can be a problem in some areas.

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