A Framework for Managing Water Quality from Hand-dug Well: A Case of Mutukula Town Council, Uganda
Abstract
This research proposed the adoption of a framework as a supporting tool to enhance the management of the quality of water from hand-dug wells in Mutukula Town Council, Uganda. Although water from hand-dug wells is often considered prone to contamination, no such study has been carried out for Mutukula Town Council. Adopting both qualitative and quantitative approaches including the use of surveys, experimentation and tools such as the sanitary inspection package developed by the World Health Organization, the research clearly indicated that not only was the quality of water from the 5 wells considered poor but that the wells also lacked pertinent components such as secure covers, drainage provisions, headwalls among others. Moreover, the absence of regulatory tools/guidelines, and cultural and socioeconomic practices amongst community members further contributed to risks associated with using water from these wells. This research proposes a framework that can be adopted by respective local authorities to enhance management and monitoring of water quality and it incorporates key components of training and capacity building, collective supervision and encouraging regular engagements with the various stakeholders
Downloads
References
Abanyie, S. K., Boateng, A., & Ampofo, S. (2016). Investigating the portability of water from dug wells: A case study of the Bolgatanga Township, Ghana. African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 10(10), 307-315.
Arwenyo, B., Wasswa, J., Nyeko, M., & Kasozi, G. N. (2017). The impact of septic systems density and nearness to spring water points, on water quality. African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 11(1), 11-18.
Dietler, D., Babu, M., Cissé, G., Halage, A. A., Malambala, E., & Fuhrimann, S. (2019). Daily variation of heavy metal contamination and its potential sources along the major urban wastewater channel in Kampala, Uganda. Environmental monitoring and assessment, 191, 1-13.
Kumar, R. (2018). Research methodology: A step-by-step guide for beginners. Research methodology, 1-528.
Kyotera District (2019). District Development Plan 2019/2020-2024/2025.
Lapworth, D. J., Nkhuwa, D. C. W., Okotto-Okotto, J., Pedley, S., Stuart, M. E., Tijani, M. N., & Wright, J. J. H. J. (2017). Urban groundwater quality in sub-Saharan Africa: Current status and implications for water security and public health. Hydrogeology Journal, 25(4), 1093
Li, C., Li, S. L., Yue, F. J., Liu, J., Zhong, J., Yan, Z. F., & Xu, S. (2019). Identification of sources and transformations of nitrate in the Xijiang River using nitrate isotopes and Bayesian model. Science of the Total Environment, 646, 801-810.
Makoko, E. W., & Wozei, E. (2021). Assessment of physical conditions and proposed best management practices of domestic storage tanks supplied by a water utility in a rapidly growing city. International Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences, 15(7), 10-22.
Merid, M. W., Alem, A. Z., Chilot, D., Belay, D. G., Kibret, A. A., Asratie, M. H., & Aragaw, F. M. (2023). Impact of access to improved water and sanitation on diarrhea reduction among rural under-five children in low and middle-income countries: a propensity score-matched analysis. Tropical Medicine and Health, 51(1), 36.
Mutukula Town Council Health Department Report (2019). Status of health and hygiene in Mutukula Town Council.
Previsich, N., Narayanan, A., & Fleury, M. D. (2011). One Health, Climate Change and Water Related Issues: A Canadian Public Health Perspective. Global Bioethics, 24(1-4), 55-58.
Qiao, J., Zhu, Y., Jia, X., Niu, X., & Liu, J. (2020). Distributions of arsenic and other heavy metals, and health risk assessments for groundwater in the Guanzhong Plain region of China. Environmental Research, 181, 108957.
Romme, A. G. L., & Dimov, D. (2021). Mixing oil with water: Framing and theorizing in management research informed by design science. Designs, 5(1), 13.
Romme, A. G. L., & Meijer, A. (2020). Applying design science in public policy and administration research. Policy & Politics, 48(1), 149-165.
United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) (2016 September). Quick Guide to Drinking Water Sample Collection. https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-11/documents/drinking_water_sample_collection.pdf (Accessed 12 March 2024).
Vaishnavi, V., Suresh, M., & Dutta, P. (2019). A study on the influence of factors associated with organizational readiness for change in healthcare organizations using TISM. Bench marking: An International Journal, 26(4), 1290-1313.
World Health Organization (WHO) (2022 March 21). Guidelines for drinking-water quality: fourth edition incorporating the first and second addenda. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240045064 (Accessed 10 January 2024).
World Health Organization (WHO) (2024 March 7). Diarrheal disease https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/diarrhoeal-disease (Accessed 2 April 2024).
Copyright (c) 2025 Yosam Tumwebaze, Miria Frances Agunyo, PhD, Eleanor Wozei, PhD, Sarah Kizza Nkambwe, PhD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
