Mohamed, M., Abd El Aty, M., El Sahn, A. (1999). Assessment of Drinking Water Quality In A Rural Area [Beheira Governorate]. Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 29(2), 287-302. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.1999.416882
Manal A. Mohamed; Magda M. Abd El Aty; Amel A. El Sahn. "Assessment of Drinking Water Quality In A Rural Area [Beheira Governorate]". Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 29, 2, 1999, 287-302. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.1999.416882
Mohamed, M., Abd El Aty, M., El Sahn, A. (1999). 'Assessment of Drinking Water Quality In A Rural Area [Beheira Governorate]', Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 29(2), pp. 287-302. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.1999.416882
Mohamed, M., Abd El Aty, M., El Sahn, A. Assessment of Drinking Water Quality In A Rural Area [Beheira Governorate]. Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 1999; 29(2): 287-302. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.1999.416882
Assessment of Drinking Water Quality In A Rural Area [Beheira Governorate]
1Environmental Health Department, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Egypt
2Tropical Health Department, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Egypt
Abstract
The traditional containers used for storage of drinking water all over rural areas in Egypt are zir and plastic containers. So, the objective of this study was to determine the quality of both stored and tap drinking water and find the statistical associations between the different parameters. The selected village was El-Hajj Ali Village, Kafr El-Dawar, Beheira Governorate, Egypt. The results revealed that physico-chemical parameters of the different types of drinking water were within the Egyptian standards for drinking water. Residual chlorine was. high at stand pipe and low at house tap water and vanished in stored water especially in Zir container. This was due to storage of water more than one day, its large volume and wide mouth that lead to dipping of contaminated hands, its presence in unsanitary places inside the house and the frequent users. The biological results showed that the pollution indicator organisms and total algal counts were higher in zir than in plastic containers with no statistically significant difference. In tap water, total coliforms were higher than the permissible limits but fecal indicators and blue green algae were not detected. Residual chlorine and suspended solids were significantly correlated with standard plate count and streptococcus fecalies. Parasitological results showed that 30% of zir sample and 20% of plastic containers were parasite positive. Entamoebea coli counts were significantly higher in stored water compared to tap water. So, it was, recommended that improvement of the environmental sanitation conditions of the houses and the village is a must.