Home-made water contamination in Jimma town

Even though improved water sources have important effect on the reduction of the morbidity and mortality of waterborne diseases, providing safe water alone will not guarantee the water to be drunk will be safe as well (Pinfold, 1991). It is usual for the deterioration of water quality between the collection site and its use because of poor waterhandling (Asnake, 1992). Some times, the fecal coliform (FC) are dramatically higher in stored water than in source water (Feachem,1980). This indicates that the handling practices of drinking water in homes pose potential danger in the transmission of waterborne diseases. In Jimma town, the recently established water treatment plant provides treated water to the residence of the town. The raw water passes through a number of treatment procedures that give the finished water best quality with no indicator bacteria. But, the question that may be raised is “Would this degree of quality be maintained in homes?” The present study is an attempt to determine the water handling practices of households in Jimma town. The degree of contamination that may be caused by these practices is also assessed.