Thumbnail Image
Publication

Evaluation of Drinking Water Quality and Bacterial Antibiotic Sensitivity in Wells and Standpipes at Household Water Points in Freetown, Sierra Leone

Kamara, Dauda
; 
Bah, Doris
; 
Sesay, Momodu
; 
Maruta, Anna
; 
Sesay, Bockarie Pompey
; 
Fofanah, Bobson D.
; 
Kamara, Ibrahim F.
; 
Kanu, Joseph S.
; 
Lakoh, Sulaiman
; 
Molleh, Bailah
... show 4 more
Advisors
Editors
Other Contributors
Affiliation
Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Sierra Leone; World Health Organization Country Office, Sierra Leone; Sierra Leone National Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, Sierra Leone; University of Sierra Leone Teaching Hospitals Complex; University of Sierra Leone; Sustainable Health Systems Sierra Leone; Global Health Connections; International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, New Delhi; University of Liverpool; University of Chester
EPub Date
Publication Date
2022-05-29
Submitted Date
Collections
Health and Social Care
Show all metadata
Files
Thumbnail Image
Article - VoR
Adobe PDF, 3.69 MB
Other Titles
Abstract
Water quality surveillance can help to reduce waterborne diseases. Despite better access to safe drinking water in Sierra Leone, about a third of the population (3 million people) drink water from unimproved sources. In this cross-sectional study, we collected water samples from 15 standpipes and 5 wells and measured the physicochemical and bacteriological water quality, and the antimicrobial sensitivity of <i>Escherichia coli</i> (<i>E. coli</i>) in two communities in Freetown, Sierra Leone in the dry and wet seasons in 2021. All water sources were contaminated with <i>E. coli</i>, and all five wells and 25% of standpipes had at least an intermediate risk level of <i>E. coli</i>. There was no antimicrobial resistance detected in the <i>E. coli</i> tested. The nitrate level exceeded the WHO's recommended standard (&gt;10 parts per million) in 60% of the wells and in less than 20% of the standpipes. The proportion of samples from standpipes with high levels of total dissolved solids (&gt;10 Nephelometric Turbidity Units) was much higher in the rainy season (73% vs. 7%). The level of water contamination is concerning. We suggest options to reduce <i>E. coli</i> contamination. Further research is required to identify where contamination of the water in standpipes is occurring.
Citation
Kamara, D., Bah, D., Sesay, M., Maruta, A., Sesay, B. P., Fofanah, B. D., Kamara, I. F., Kanu, J. S., Lakoh, S., Molleh, B., Guth, J., Sagili, K. D., Tavernor, S., Wilkinson, E. (2022). Evaluation of drinking water quality and bacterial antibiotic sensitivity in wells and standpipes at household water points in Freetown, Sierra Leone. International journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(11), 6650. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19116650
Publisher
MDPI
Journal
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Research Unit
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10034/627008
DOI
10.3390/ijerph19116650
PubMed ID
PubMed Central ID
Type
Article
Language
Description
Series/Report no.
ISSN
1661-7827
EISSN
1660-4601
ISBN
ISMN
Gov't Doc
Test Link
Sponsors
Additional Links
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/11/6650