Risk of bacteriolgical quality deterioration of potable water in the state initated public housing schemes

The occupants in public housing schemes in the City of Colombo receive treated potable water from the National Water Supplying Authority. The water is subjected to online contamination via several sources posing recipients at risk from waterborne diseases. The vulnerability of related health hazards are.high in urban communities living in housing schemes with high population densities, under poor sanitary conditions and depend on single water source. The research focused on determining the violations of WHO guidelines for potable water for bacteriological quality and associated risks in six housing schemes built mainly for underserved, low and middle income communities in Colombo. The study reveals violations of 30.85%, 16.31% and 2.48% free chlorine residual, total coliforms and fecal coliforms respectively at household end with high sanitation risk demanding strong in-scheme condominium property management with special environmental health and sanitation system via strong community mobilization and community–authority management partnership.