THE UNIVERSITY OF ZAMBIA

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
DEPT. OF CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL
ENGINEERING

PROJECT TITLE:
INVESTIGATION OF THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH
CONTAMINATION OF DRINKING WATER AS A
RESULT OF ON-SITE SANITATION (CHALALA
COMPOUND)
Presenter: MUNTHALI
ALICE C.

Project supervisor: Mr. ANDREW PHIRI A.

ORDER OF PRESENTATION

PROJECT BACKGROUND
RATIONALE
OBJECTIVES
SCOPE
LITERATURE REVIEW
METHODOLOGY
PROGRESS OF WORK
DATA ANALYSIS
WORK DONE
WORK TO BE DONE
THE END
2

WORK SCHEDULE

PROJECT BACKGROUND
Hygienic disposal of human wastes that does not

endanger health should be the underlying

objective of all sanitation programs (Franceys,
Pickford et al. 1992).
Recent years research, reported by the United

Nations, found that one half of the world

population does not have access to clean water
and acceptable ways of dealing with human waste
without polluting or spreading diseases (Anan,
2000)
An estimated 80% of all cases of illness are

directly connected with poor sanitation .

I

PROJECT BACKGROUND CONTD

The research by the GReSP project indicated that there is a

frequent microbiological and nutrient pollution of

groundwater (Museteka & Bumle 2009, Nick etal.
2010).

The report also states that, the choice of sanitation

systems to be applied must consider the karstic nature

of the underground with the containment of excreta
being the most important criterion. In the highly
vulnerable setting of Lusaka, sanitation cannot remain
in the responsibility of the individual household.

Therefore assessing and maintaining water quality and

exploring ways to improve water supply and sanitation

are therefore key priorities within any national
environmental framework.
5

RATIONALE
Different

diseases.

types

of

pathogens

transmit

infectious

These should be understood in order to understand

the health consequences of different types and levels

of contamination.

Pathogens are grouped into three principal types of

organisms: bacteria, viruses and protozoa and these

contaminants
are
termed
as
biological
contaminates.
.
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RATIONALE CONTD
Bacterial pathogens cause some of the best

known and feared infectious diseases, such as

cholera, typhoid and dysentery which still cause
massive outbreaks (or epidemics) of diarrhoeal
diseases.
There

are also chemical contaminants of

principal importance that are derived from onsite sanitation like nitrates and chlorides. Each
person excretes in the region of 4kg of nitrogen
per year and under aerobic conditions it can be
expected that a significant percentage of
organic nitrogen will be oxidized to form nitrate.
I

RATIONALE CONTD
As with all micro-organisms, theoretically a single

bacterium is sufficient to cause infection within humans

(WHO UNNICEF, 2000), however, in general, higher
doses of bacteria are required to initiate symptoms than
for other types of pathogens such as viruses.
Bacteria tend to be very susceptible to the natural

processes which reduce their numbers (attenuation).

Therefore, reducing bacterial pathogen loads through

simple protection measures is relatively easy and

should be a major target of the planners of water and
sanitation programs.
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MAIN OBJECTIVE
The project investigates the risks

associated with contamination of

drinking water as a result of onsite
sanitation
(chalala
compound).

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SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
Investigate the effects of on-site sanitation systems

on surface and groundwater quality in the selected

project area (chalala) through estimation of
bacteriological and chemical parameters.
Identify the factors which control the movement and

fate of biological contaminates.

Suggest corrective and remedial measures to avoid

or prevent contamination of water resources when

results show contamination of the water sources.
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SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES CONTD

Develop

guidelines for prevention and

mitigation of ground and surface water
contamination in and around project areas

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SCOPE OF THE PROJECT

The main focus of this project will be the

unsafe disposal of excreta into the ground.

The project will be confined to the

selected study area (Chalala compound)

The risks associated with ground water

pollution owing to on-site sanitation as a

result of contamination of drinking water
and how these contaminants are
transported through the ground
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METHODOLOGY
Literature review
Previous research reports will be reviewed in order

to have the basic understanding of the project.

A review of available reports/information of the
existing on-site sanitation projects in the selected
area will be done.
Data collection
Collection of data from different sources such as the
water utility company in this case LWSc, the water
regulation board, NWASCO, Water Affaires ,the local
government, MOH and many others which will be
outlined later.
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METHODOLOGY CONTD
Field Data Collection
Collection of secondary data on the geology,
hydrogeology, soil and health in the study
area.
Selection of sampling points in the study area

considering the logistic aspects in the region.

Identification of the control site in same

region.

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METHODOLOGY CONTD
Collection of information on water quality in the

study area after implementation of on-site

sanitation system.
Identification of other possible sources of

pollution affecting the quality of drinking water

in the area

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LITERATURE REVIEW
Below, fig 1.0, is a vulnerability map (Nick et

al. 2012) constituting zones of extreme

vulnerability (red, priority area 1) and high
vulnerability (orange, priority area 2).
The areas outlined in red represent places
which need to be serviced with highest
priority; they include Kanyama, the industrial
area, John laign and kamwala south as densily
populated areas.

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LITERATURE REVIEW CONTD

FIG 1. Vulnarabity Map

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LITERATURE REVIEW CONTD

The

area bordered in orange including

settlements like John Howard, Libala and
Chilenje stands for second priority but should
closely follow priority 1 areas on the
intervention schedule. And chalala is close to
libala and chilenje with a high population
growth rate so can also be included among
these.

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PROGRESS OF WORK
Sampling points where identified in Chalala

compound and samples were taken from 10 different

wells plus a control taken at the water works.
Two tests were done, biological and chemical tests.

Biological test consisted of total and faecal coliform

(F.C) tests and the chemical consisted of P.H,
nitrates, nitrites and ammonia.
The results of the tests done and the graphical

representation are shown in the figures below

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PROGRESS OF WORK CONTD

November
60

50

40

count

Total Coliform
Faecal Coliform

30

20

10

10

11

Borehole Number
FIG 2. Biological Test Results

20

PROGRESS OF WORK CONTD

November
35

30

25

20

Nitrates (mg/L)
Nitrites (mg/L)

mg/l
15

10

0
1

10

Well Number
Fig 3. Chemical Test Results

21

PROGRESS OF WORK CONTD

December
60

50

40

mg/L

Total Coliforms
Total Coliforms

30

20

10

0
1

10

11

Well Number
Fig 4. Biological Test
I Results

22

PROGRESS OF WORK CONTD

December
30

25

20

mg/L

Nitrates
Nitrites

15

10

0
1

10

11

Well Number
Fig 5. Chemical Test Results

23

PROGRESS OF WORK CONTD

January
60

51
50

47

40

31

Count

Total Coliforms
Faecal Coliforms

30
25

23

20

10

10

4
0
1

03

04

06

10

011

Well Number
Fig 6. Biological TestI Results

24

PROGRESS OF WORK CONTD

January
35

30

25

20

Nitrates
Nitrites

mg/l
15

10

0
1

10

11

Well Number
I
FIG 7. CHEMICAL TEST
RESULTS

25

PROGRESS OF WORK CONTD

February

60

50

40

Total
Colior
ms

30

mg/L
20

10

0
1

10

11

Well Number
FIG 8. Biological Test Results

26

PROGRESS OF WORK CONTD

February
30

25

20

mg/l

Nitrates
Nitrites

15

10

0
1

10

11

Well Number
Fig 9. Chemical Test Results

27

DATA ANALYSIS

The stipulated WHO standards for T.C and F.C is

zero and for nitrates and nitrites is 10mg/L and

0.1mg/L respectively.
As can be seen from the results obtained, most

samples have shown the presence of T.C and F.C

and the nitrate levels are also above the
recommended standard in all the samples taken.
Results from this study indicate that drinking water from some

domestic boreholes in areas where there is a large population

using septic tanks (on-site sanitation) in close proximity may be
affected by seepage from the systems.
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DATA ANALYSIS CONTD

It was also observed that houses where

chickens where reared had higher amounts of

total and faecal coliforms and nitrates also
showed to be way beyond the WHO standards.
Some houses had both a pit latrine and a septic

tank and this attributed to the samples from

them having results which were far beyond the
acceptable limits.

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DATA ANALYSIS CONTD

Fig.10 Houses With Pit Latrines

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DATA ANALYSIS CONTD

HEALTH RISKS
There are two main health risks commonly
associated with water quality degradation
from on-site sanitation and these are the
faecal-oral disease transmission, and nitrate
poisoning.
To help with investigations on the health risks,

data was collected and anlyzed on the

diarrhoeal cases reported at Chilenje clinic.
Below is the figure showing diarrhoeal cases

reported over a period of two years.

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CE590-MANJATA KAPOSHI

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DATA ANALYSIS CONTD

Diarroeal Cases in the Year 2013
80
70
60
50

Dysenter
y

40

Diarrhoeal cases

Diarrhoe
a

30
20

Typhoid

10

Cholera

Months
Fig 11. Diarrhoeal Cases

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DATA ANALYSIS CONTD

25

Diarrhoeal Cases Reorted in the year 2014

20

15

Diarrhoeal
Cases
10

Dysentery
Diarrhoea
Typhoid
Cholera

Months
Fig 12. Diarrhoeal Cases

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DATA ANALYSIS CONTD

It can be observed that in certain months

the diarrhoeal cases seem to be more

prevalent than in others for example in
2013,month of March, April and May,
diarrhoeal cases where more as compared
to the other months.

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WORK DONE

literature review was done and is still on-going

Objective of the project was established

Scope of the project was also established
Collection and analysis of data was done and is

still on-going

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WORK TO BE DONE
Collection and analysis of more data on the

diarrhoeal cases reported at chilenje clinic for

atleast 8 years
Identifying and recommending remedial

measures
Suggest corrective and remedial measures to

avoid or prevent contamination of water .

Develop guidelines for prevention and

mitigation of ground and surface water

contamination in and around project areas.36

THANK YOU

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