Mackintosh, GColvin, C2007-02-062007-06-072007-02-062007-06-072003-05Mackintosh, G, Colvin, C. 2003. Failure of rural schemes in South Africa to provide potable water. Environmental Geology, vol 44(1), pp 101-1050943-0105http://hdl.handle.net/10204/1547http://hdl.handle.net/10204/1547The impact of water-borne disease in South Africa is significant. An estimated 43,000 deaths per annum, including 20% of deaths in the 1-5 years age group, are directly attributable to diarrhoeal diseases. Drinking water quality provision in many rural areas is substandard. This paper describes the results of sampling drinking water supplies in rural communities in the Western and Eastern Cape, South Africa. The majority of samples collected failed microbial drinking water quality standards. Overall, schemes dependent on groundwater provided worse quality water at point of use than surface-water-dependant schemes. This is thought to be the result of pump breakdown, deterioration of the storage and reticulation system, and insufficient monitoring and management of the schemes. Importantly, it is shown that the implementation of well-considered, community accepted drinking-water quality management procedures can effectively change an unacceptable water quality to one that satisfies drinking-water specifications.160597 bytesapplication/pdfenCopyright: 2003 Springer-VerlagRural water provision failuresPotable waterSouth AfricaEnvironmental sciencesRural drinking water qualityArticleMackintosh, G., & Colvin, C. (2003). Failure of rural schemes in South Africa to provide potable water. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/1547Mackintosh, G, and C Colvin "Failure of rural schemes in South Africa to provide potable water." (2003) http://hdl.handle.net/10204/1547Mackintosh G, Colvin C. Failure of rural schemes in South Africa to provide potable water. 2003; http://hdl.handle.net/10204/1547.TY - Article AU - Mackintosh, G AU - Colvin, C AB - The impact of water-borne disease in South Africa is significant. An estimated 43,000 deaths per annum, including 20% of deaths in the 1-5 years age group, are directly attributable to diarrhoeal diseases. Drinking water quality provision in many rural areas is substandard. This paper describes the results of sampling drinking water supplies in rural communities in the Western and Eastern Cape, South Africa. The majority of samples collected failed microbial drinking water quality standards. Overall, schemes dependent on groundwater provided worse quality water at point of use than surface-water-dependant schemes. This is thought to be the result of pump breakdown, deterioration of the storage and reticulation system, and insufficient monitoring and management of the schemes. Importantly, it is shown that the implementation of well-considered, community accepted drinking-water quality management procedures can effectively change an unacceptable water quality to one that satisfies drinking-water specifications. DA - 2003-05 DB - ResearchSpace DP - CSIR KW - Rural water provision failures KW - Potable water KW - South Africa KW - Environmental sciences KW - Rural drinking water quality LK - https://researchspace.csir.co.za PY - 2003 SM - 0943-0105 T1 - Failure of rural schemes in South Africa to provide potable water TI - Failure of rural schemes in South Africa to provide potable water UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10204/1547 ER -