Assessment and perception of water quality on the health of Grünau and Bethanie residents, Namibia.
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Date
2021-06
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Publisher
Namibia University of Science and Technology
Abstract
Water quality is an important aspect of water provision services to ensure the water does not possess any possible threat to its consumers. Water quality perception surveys are ideal tools when exploring the feelings, opinions and attitudes people have towards their water. This includes the human-water interactions involved as well as behaviour and consumption practices they have with their water. The purpose of this study was to investigate the perception of consumers towards their water and determine the water quality and its effect on human health – a case of Grünau and Bethanie residents. This was an observational study, where questionnaires were administered, and water quality tests were carried out to determine the physical, chemical and biological contaminants of public water supply in Grünau and Bethanie settlements. The study sample consists of 384 participants selected using the convenience sampling method. Data from the questionnaire were recorded and analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21 as well as the descriptive analysis. Ethical clearance was sought from The Namibia University of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Health and Social Services as well as the respective village councils. Confidentiality and anonymity of the respondents were maintained during the study. The study revealed that consumer perception of the quality of public water supply in the study area is based mainly on organoleptic features, such as taste, colour and turbidity. In addition, the study found that 64.6% of the participants in the study area were strongly dissatisfied or somewhat dissatisfied with the taste of their water while 52.1% were strongly dissatisfied or somewhat dissatisfied with the colour. The smell of the water did not seem to affect the respondents as only 2.3% of the participants were strongly dissatisfied or somewhat dissatisfied with the smell of the water. The study further revealed that 59.9% of the participants perceived their water to be highly unsafe or somewhat unsafe. The water quality laboratory analysis revealed that the water contains several minerals such as magnesium, calcium, and fluoride in large quantities, which correlate to the “unpleasant” taste of the water as described by the community. The study recommends a more thorough treatment process by NamWater to remove excess minerals (magnesium and calcium) that are responsible for the hardness and lime taste of the water.
Description
Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for the Award of a degree in Master of Health Sciences
In the Department of Health Sciences Faculty of Health and Applied Sciences At Namibia University of Science and Technology.
Keywords
Water quality, Micro-biological water quality, Grünau - Namibia, Bethanie - Namibia
Citation
Nambundunga, B. N. (2021). Assessment and perception of water quality on the health of Grünau and Bethanie residents, Namibia. (Unpublished master's thesis). Namibia University of Science and Technology, Windhoek.