Water quality of improved water sources and associated factors in Kibuku District, Eastern Uganda

Globally, billions of people still lack access to safe water, including basic drinking water services, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. We analyzed water quality for improved water sources and associated factors in Kibuku district, Eastern Uganda. The mixed-methods study employed included; water quality analysis, a questionnaire survey, and key informant interviews conducted in the months of April–June 2020. A total of 249 improved water sources were sampled for analysis of bacteriological quality, pH, and electrical conductivity. This was followed by a sanitary and people’s attitudes survey at all the water sources visited. Among the water sources, 62.3% deep boreholes, 63.5% public tap stands, 14.3% rain-water harvesting tanks, and 28.6% protected springs had zero thermotolerant coliforms with 63.8% having acceptable pH levels (6.5–8.5) and 35.3% having acidic levels (less than 6.4). Furthermore, 96.3% deep boreholes, 99.1% public tap stands, all (100%) rain-water harvesting tanks, and 50% protected springs had their turbidity levels in the acceptable range (less than 5NTUs). Additionally, only 22.1% of improved water sources had electrical conductivity in the acceptable range (less than 300 microSiemens). Among the 249 participants, majority (91.2%) had low knowledge levels about various methods that can be used in improving the quality of water. Generally, water sources had poor quality of water which was attributed to agricultural activities, dirty water collection containers, and poor attitude to water chlorination. The Ministry of Health, Ministry of Water and Environment, and other agencies need to design sustainable and feasible models for water treatment for low resourced setting.