CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1. Background

Potable drinking water is water gotten from surface and ground sources which is treated and safe for human consumption. Potable drinking water can be gotten from pipe borne, underground like streams, springs, and also rainfall. Methods to improve the taste and odor of drinking water were recorded as early as (4000BC).Ancients Sanskrit and Greek writings recommended water treatment methods such as; filtering through charcoal, exposing to sunlight, boiling and straightening. Civilization has always formed around water supply. Visible cloudiness and offensive odor was the driving force behind the earliest water treatment as many sources of water contained particles that has an objectionable taste and appearance. To clarify water, the Egyptian reportedly used the chemical (Alum) as early as (1599BC) to cause suspended particles to settle out of water. During the (1700’s), filtration was established as an effective means of removing particles from water, although the degree of clarification achieved was not measurable at that time. By the early (1890’s), slow sand filtration was beginning to be used regularly in Europe. In (2017), 71% of the global population (5.3 billion people) used a safely managed drinking water service that is; one located on premises, available which needed and free from contamination. Contaminated water can transmit diseases such as: Cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, typhoid and polio. Contaminated drinking water is estimated cause (485.000) diarrhoea deaths each year. By (2025), half of the world’s population will be living in water-stressed areas. In least developed countries like Cameron,(22%) of health care facilities have no water services,(21%) no sanitation and (22%) no waste management services. Water has the power tickets purity, to provide deliverance and it can also evil and enemies as in the stories of the flood in the bible. Water is mentioned a total of 722 times in the bible, more often than faith, hope, prayer and worship. In the bible, it doesn’t take long for water to be mentioned again, and it is almost the last word of the bible.

Water covers more than two third of the earth’s surface, but mostly salty and undrinkable. The available fresh water resources is only 2.7% of the available water on the earth but only 1% of the available fresh water are assessable. Most of the available fresh water resources are inaccessible because they are in the hidden part of the hydrologic cycles (deep aquifers) and in glaciers (frozen in the polar ice) which means, safe drinkable water on earth has a small proportion (3%) in the fresh water resources. South Africa receives about 450mm of annual rainfall and it’s classified as a water-stressed country. The available fresh water resource can sustain only 80 million people. Some African countries like Ethiopia, Congo, and Papua New Guinea have excess fresh water resources, but they are having water shortage because of economic reasons. Ethiopia, the second populous country in Africa, is the water tower of East Africa due to the abundant water (nine major river basics).In Cameroon, the urban areas have only 58%of the population that has assistance to improve sanitation facilities, and the rate in rural really is 42%.Women and girls shoulder the largest burden in collecting water,15% of the urban and 15% of rural population use improved drinking water sources over 30 minutes away. Before water can be considered safe for human consumption, it must have the following characteristics.

• No smell
• No color
• No taste
• Must be kept in a well preserved container

1.2. Problem Statement

.Potable drinking water is good for humans, since if water is not potable, it is dangerous to humans and maybe be useless.

If water is not potable and consumed by humans, this may cause certain diseases like; diarrhea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid, polio and may cause even death. Potable drinking water is very necessary as it is used by the population for drinking, cooking and even washing. In this case, the researcher is willing to know how the population of Bokwaongo can reserve and maintain good drinking water

1.3. Rational

Water is connected to every form of life on earth. As a criteria, an adequate, reliable, clean, assessable, acceptable and safe drinking water supply has to be available for various uses. The (UN) and other declared assessment to safe assessment to safe drinking water as a fundamental human right, and an essential step towards Improving living standards. Safe drinking water is the water that can be delivered to the use and is safe for drinking, food preparation, personal hygiene and washing. The water must meet the required (chemicals, biological and physical) quality standards at the point of supply to the users. Therefore, safe drinking water is a relative term, which depends on the standards and guidelines of a country. The standards set for the different quality parameters are different. The standard of (WHO)is not exactly the same as that of (USA, Canada) and so on. The term “safe “depends on the particular resistance ability of an individual. Water that is safe for drinking in some African countries might not be safe in European countries. Some African countries already developed resistance to some of the water-related diseases. There are certain chemical compounds and elements that are found in water. They are:

Arsenic: This occurs naturally in some geologic formation. It is mostly used in agricultural chemicals in South Africa. In drinking water, it has been linked to lung and urinary bladder cancer.

Chloride: Most waters contain some chloride. The amount found can be caused by leaching of industrial or domestic water. Chloride should not exceed 100mg/l on domestic water to be palatable.

Flouride: It is a natural contaminant of water. It is one of those chemicals given high priority by the (WHO) for their health effects on humans. High flouride in drinking water usually causes dental and skeletal flourosis. Excessive F(>2mg/l) causes a dental disease called Flulrosis (mooting of teeth)while regular consumption in excess may give risk to bone and skeletal Fluorosis.

Zinc: It is found in some natural water, particularly in areas where zinc are deposit have been mined. Though it is not considered detrimental to healthy, but it will importantly a bed taste to drinking water

Iron: Small amount of frequency are present in water because of the large amount of iron in the geologic materials. This will cause reddish color to water.

1.4. Research Question

1: What knowledge do adults (18-50 years) have about potable drinking water in the Bokwaongo community?

2: What are the strategies used by adults (18-50 years) to ensure safe management of drinking water in the Bokwaongo community?

1.5. Objectives

1.5.1. General Objectives.

This study is aimed to assess the knowledge of adults (18-50) in the Bokwaongo community about the safe management of potable drinking water.

1.5.2. Specific Objective.

-To assess the knowledge of adults (18-50 years) in the safe management of potable drinking water in the Bokwaongo community.

-To investigate the strategies used by adults (18-50 years) in the safe management of potable drinking water in the Bokwaongo community.