Households Drinking Water Sources and Treatment Methods Options in a Regional Irrigation Scheme

Abstract

Access to safe and clean drinking water is a major challenge to the people living around Ahero Irrigation Scheme (AIS). Water sources in the area are constantly and increasingly polluted by agrochemical like pesticides from rice farming. 2, 4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) is an herbicide extensively used in AIS. The neurotoxic, immunosuppressive, cytotoxic and hepatoxic effects of (2,4-D) have been well documented. Residues of (2,4-D) have been documented in ponds, rivers, lakes and irrigation canals. Therefore this study surveyed agrochemicals used in AIS, the drinking water source for the residents and finally water treatment option for the obtained water in the year 2013. The study established that (52.8%) of the farmers used hand-weeding and 20.8% of them use (2,4-D) for the weeds control. Results indicated that the most preferred water source was lined improved well (47.2%) followed by irrigation canal (22.2%), the least preferred was rain water with (2.8%). The most used method of water treatment was chlorination (45.8%). Spearman’s coefficient of correlation ( ) revealed that there was positive correlation between the two variables ( =0.145, 72, p=0.224>0.05). As  is positive, it implies that the type of treatment given to water depend on its source of the water. Despite the use of chlorinate with almost half of the residents, some of them (22.2%) do not treat their water at all, which may pose a risk of getting water related diseases. Furthermore, despite a proportional number of residents obtaining their water from irrigation canal, all of them do not have appropriate method/s for treating water contaminated with organic pollutants such as herbicides. There is a need to promote water appropriate drinking water treatment method/s in the study area to prevent water related diseases at the family level. Doi: 10.28991/HEF-2020-01-01-02 Full Text: PDF