Access conditions and quality of drinking water in the rural community of Kodjokro (Tiapoum, Côte d'Ivoire)

Abstract

In Côte d’Ivoire, the quality of drinking water remains a concern in the rural area. This study aimed to assess the quality of the water for domestic use in the rural community of Kodjokro in the South East of the country. To this end, a health inspection of the sources of water supply and a water quality control at the sources and in the households have been carried out from May 11 to June 18, 2015. The water sources were made of a drilling, the Ehi lagoon, and a backwater. The lagoon and the backwater were contaminated at the source (E. coli and total coliforms) and the water of the drilling conformed to the standards. In the households, the stored water of the drilling was contaminated by E. coli (70%) and total coliforms (97%). Moreover, some breakdowns of the drilling caused an interruption of the water supply for a cumulative duration of 2 to 3 months per year. In such a context, the adoption of policies for the improvement of the conditions of the drinking water collection and storage through community engagement strategies seems indispensable for an effective and lasting access to clean water of rural communities.