This article systematically reviews groundwater chemistry results from 160 studies from Ethiopia and Kenya to evaluate potential health risks. The results indicate that chemical contaminants occur widely in groundwaters used for drinking but not regularly monitored: 78% of studies reported exceedance of contaminants that have direct health consequences, and 81% reported exceedance of aesthetic parameters. This demonstrates that universal and equitable access to safe drinking water will not be achieved without wider implementation of groundwater treatment.
2023
Performances et perspectives des services d’eau potable en milieu rural en Afrique de l’Ouest francophone
Cette étude porte sur l’évolution des politiques d’approvisionnement en eau potable (AEP) en milieu rural en Afrique de l’Ouest francophone et sur les performances de la délégation des services d’eau en milieu rural. Dans de nombreux pays, il existe un fossé entre la théorie et la pratique, avec des modèles alternatifs de fourniture de services d’eau en milieu rural coexistant avec des arrangements informels, alors que les services auraient dû être délégués.
Performance and prospects of rural drinking water services in francophone West Africa
This study looks at the evolution of rural water supply policies in francophone West Africa and the performance of the delegation of rural water services. In many countries there is a gap between theory and practice, with alternative models for rural water services delivery co-existing with informal arrangements, where services should have been delegated.
Story of Change: Fit-for-purpose labs for monitoring and managing rural water supplies
In Nepal, Kenya and Bangladesh, researchers working with practitioners and local governments have established fit-for-purpose (FFP) laboratories to support reliable water quality monitoring and operational management of rural water systems
Results-based funding for safe drinking water services
This working paper presents an approach that advances contracts for results-based funding to incentivise delivery of safe drinking water services
Hydrogeologic Constraints for Drinking Water Security in Southwest Coastal Bangladesh: Implications for Sustainable Development Goal 6.1
This article analyzes drinking water security in southwest coastal Bangladesh, through an in-depth field investigation. It reveals that the exponential growth of groundwater-based technologies, such as tube wells, does not necessarily indicate the actual safe drinking water coverage in coastal areas, due to complex hydrogeology with the high spatial variability of groundwater salinity risks.
Regional groundwater flow system characterization of volcanic aquifers in upper Awash using multiple approaches, central Ethiopia
This study uses electrical conductivity, temperature and isotope analysis to characterise the recharge, flow and discharge of volcanic aquifers in upper Awash Basin, Ethiopia.
Scaling up results-based funding for rural water services
In 2016, a results-based funding model was developed to improve the reliability of rural drinking water supply services in Kenya. The Water Services Maintenance Trust Fund (WSMTF) has tested a professional service delivery model in two counties and attracted new sources of results-based funds to guarantee water services in rural communities.
Spatio-temporal variability and potential health risks assessment of heavy metals in the surface water of Awash basin, Ethiopia
Increasing urbanization and industrialization in the Awash River basin, Ethiopia, is impacting water quality. Physico-chemical and heavy metal spatio-temporal variability and associated risks to human health and ecology were assessed across twenty sampling stations. Contamination indicators suggest variable but significant health risks to people exposed to untreated water in the sampled area, including cancer risk from heavy metals which enter basin waters due to human activities and natural erosion.
Enhancing climate resilience of water, sanitation & hygiene services in healthcare facilities in Kenya
This Story of Change shares findings and implications from a pilot study ran by FundiFix in 12 Health Care Facilities in Kitui, Kenya to test how a professional service delivery model could be applied to HCFs to deliver safe water and soap reliably.
