Abstract
In rural areas of Colombia, many communities regularly consume untreated water via rural aqueducts with little concern for water quality. Additionally, monitoring of water quality by local authorities is almost nonexistent. To evaluate drinking water quality in rural communities from the Sabana Centro province in Cundinamarca, Colombia, four representative locations (El Olivo, El Manzano, Alto del Aguila, and Río Frío Oriental) were selected for water analyses at three sampling points (tap, filtered water, and boiled water) in 58 households. The physical, chemical, and microbiological parameters of the water samples were used to calculate the IRCA (Water Quality Risk Index) and compared with the values established by Colombian regulations and WHO guidelines. Our findings indicate the IRCA ranged from 1.2 to 95.2, distributed as follows: 3% of samples had no risk, 19% medium risk, 43% high risk, and 34% were unsanitary. Significant differences in water quality were found between communities (p = 0.003) and sampling points (p < 0.001). A strong negative correlation (r = -0.729) between residual chlorine and fecal coliforms indicated effective bacterial reduction with chlorine treatment. Boiled water samples had the highest average IRCA value (81.3), while filtered water samples had the lowest (32.4). It is concluded that residents in the four communities face water-related health risks, as indicated by the IRCA. Filtration proved more effective in improving water quality than boiling or tap water usage. Implementing proper water management and storage practices, complemented by community training, is essential to enhance water safety and public health.