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     Current Research Journal of Social Sciences

    Abstract
2012(Vol.4, Issue:2)
Article Information:

The Status of Domestic Water at Velezizweni, Swaziland

A.M. Manyatsi and S.S. Tfwala
Corresponding Author:  A.M. Manyatsi 
Submitted: December 16, 2011
Accepted: January 13, 2012
Published: March 20, 2012
Abstract:
The aim of the study was to investigate the sources of domestic water and its status in terms of quality at Velezizweni, a rural area in Swaziland. A questionnaire was developed and administered to 190 homesteads that were randomly selected from a total of 360 homesteads in the study area. The information solicited by the questionnaire included sources of domestic water, perception of community members on degradation of water resources and measures taken to purify drinking water. Water samples were taken from 14 water sources during the month of January 2011, and analysed for total coliform, Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Faecal streptococci (F. streptococci). The sources of domestic water with the proportion of respondents accessing water from each one of them were (piped water, 45%), rivers and streams (31%), unprotected wells (24%), boreholes (15%), roof-water harvesting (8%) and dams (0.5%). Each homestead accessed water from more than one source in most cases. The piped water was diverted from rivers/streams, springs and wells and piped to homesteads or within the vicinity of the homesteads. However the water was not potable as it was not treated. Water from boreholes was suitable for drinking as no E. coli or F. streptococci were detected. However water from the other sources was not suitable for drinking as E. coli and F. streptococci were detected. Total coliform was also present in amounts above the acceptable limit of 10 counts per 100 mL of water. The communities were exposed to waterborne diseases such as cholera and diarrhea, especially because only 6% of the respondents reported that they boiled water before drinking.

Key words:  Communal land, domestic water, pollution, rainwater harvesting, water resources, ,
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Cite this Reference:
A.M. Manyatsi and S.S. Tfwala, . The Status of Domestic Water at Velezizweni, Swaziland. Current Research Journal of Social Sciences, (2): 128-134.
ISSN (Online):  2041-3246
ISSN (Print):   2041-3238
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