Hi all!
Continuing my focus on Water, health and urbanisation in Africa, I came across an interesting study called Drawers of Water I (DOW I). This study is seen as the landmark study on domestic water use and environmental health in East Africa. Originally published in 1972, a sequel known as the Drawers of Water II (DOW II) was carried out in 1997, aimed at comparing the findings in the original sites 25 years earlier. Below are some findings of the study, which may dispel some previously held ideas of water and health facilities in the region!
Quantity vs Quality - "Increasing the quantity of water used per capita is more important for a household’s health and well being than improving its quality" (Thompson et al., 1997 : 8)
Distance vs Access - "The addition of a closer but still distant water source, such as a centrally located standpipe or well, would not necessarily increase household water use...if water must be carried, the quantity brought home varies little for sources between 30 metres and 1000 metres from the household" (Thompson et al., 1997 : 8)
Rural vs Urban - "Rural water supply provision needs a more flexible response... greater support for community-based and individual initiatives. In urban water supply attention (must be) be given to single-tap levels of service and the provision of more standpipes for low-income communities" (Thompson et al., 1997 : 8)
Reference List:
Continuing my focus on Water, health and urbanisation in Africa, I came across an interesting study called Drawers of Water I (DOW I). This study is seen as the landmark study on domestic water use and environmental health in East Africa. Originally published in 1972, a sequel known as the Drawers of Water II (DOW II) was carried out in 1997, aimed at comparing the findings in the original sites 25 years earlier. Below are some findings of the study, which may dispel some previously held ideas of water and health facilities in the region!
Quantity vs Quality - "Increasing the quantity of water used per capita is more important for a household’s health and well being than improving its quality" (Thompson et al., 1997 : 8)
Distance vs Access - "The addition of a closer but still distant water source, such as a centrally located standpipe or well, would not necessarily increase household water use...if water must be carried, the quantity brought home varies little for sources between 30 metres and 1000 metres from the household" (Thompson et al., 1997 : 8)
Rural vs Urban - "Rural water supply provision needs a more flexible response... greater support for community-based and individual initiatives. In urban water supply attention (must be) be given to single-tap levels of service and the provision of more standpipes for low-income communities" (Thompson et al., 1997 : 8)
Reference List:
Thompson, J., I.T. Porras, J.K. Tumwine,
M.R. Mujwahuzi, M. Katui-Katua, N. Johnstone and L. Wood (1997) 'Drawers of
Water II', 8
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