Relationship between water handling practices and bacteriological quality in water-scarce area: coupling laboratory experiment with questionnaire and observation

In areas where there is frequent water discontinuity and scarcity, the relationship between water handling practices and bacteriological quality has received little attention. Furthermore, previous studies mainly employed survey methods for data collection, including personal observation, self-completed questionnaire, and interview indicating that laboratory analysis of bacteriological quality is less frequently used. This study, therefore, aimed to assess bacteriological quality of drinking water in relation with household handling practices in Harari region (Ethiopia) using laboratory experiment, semi-structured questionnaire, and observation. Water samples were collected from taps and storage containers, and analyzed for total and faecal coliforms. Samples collected from the storage containers showed significantly higher total and faecal coliform units compared to these from the taps. Faecal coliform counts from all the storage containers were above the low-risk limit of 10 cfu/100 mL. Regression analysis showed that hand and container washing before water collection (p = 0.002 and p = 0.001, respectively), covering of storage containers (p < 0.001), water withdrawal mechanism (p < 0.001), information about water handling practice (p = 0.003), and household water treatment (p = 0.001) significantly influence the quality of stored water. This study suggested the importance of household water handling practices as important channels of drinking water contamination. Hence, improved water handling practices from collection to the points-of-use, including household water treatment, need to be promoted and practiced particularly in water-scarce areas.