Quantity and Quality of Water in the Salfit District and the Role of the Salfit Primary Health Care Center in Monitoring and Supervising Drinking Water

Abstract

Aims: To determine and give an overview about the bacteriological, physicochemical, quality, and quantity of public drinking water sources in Salfit District, and also to demonstrate the role of Salfit Primary Health Care Center (SPHCC) in monitoring and saving drinking water resources from pollution. Study Design: Water samples were collected from the main sources (springs, Mekorot) and water networks in Salfit District. Additionally, Salfit Primary Health Care Center and Palestinian Water Authority reports were used in this study. Methodology: During the year of 2013, 346 samples were taken randomly and tested (336 underwent microbial testing and ten samples underwent physiochemical testing). The sample was selected by dividing the Salfit District to four clusters, which are geographically similar. Then, the percentages of polluted water samples with microbial infections were calculated and the physiochemical parameters were assessed according to PSI and WHO standards. The quantity of water available for domestic use was assessed as well the role of the SPHCC in saving water from pollution and infection, different parameters were used. Results: The percentages of infected drinking water samples in Salfit District were 9.2% with more prevalence in the water networks (8.9 %) and the most infection were with Total Coliform (9.2%). The results show that the physiochemical parameters met the standards of PSI and WHO, Also, the results show that the quantity of water available for domestic use in Salfit District was 2.8 million m3/year, which doesn’t meet the demand for water, which is 3.7 million m3/year. The average daily allocation of water in Salfit is 86 liters/capita/day. This average is much below that recommended by the WHO, which is 100 liters/capita/day and finally from the results tables we see that the SPHCC is making great efforts in saving water from pollution and infection. Conclusion: This study shows that in spite of the small quantity of water available for the community of Salfit District, the quality of the main sources of water meets the standards of PSI and WHO, and is safe for use. The SPHCC has made great efforts to monitor and maintain water quality and quantity to avoid possible associated health risks.