Qualité physico-chimique et bactériologique des eaux de boisson : perceptions et répercussions Sur la morbidité hydrique à Bunia (République Démocratique du Congo)

Abstract

Access to safe drinking water is a pre-requisite for good health, and a key component of effective health protection policies. The contamination of drinking water is a priority public health issue, due to the risks associated with its quality and the repercussions on the transmission of waterborne diseases. In the context of the Democratic Republic of Congo, water resources are abundant, but access to permanently good quality water varies from 52 % to 54 %. The general objective of this work is to study the water quality and management factors associated with the morbidity of water-borne diseases in Bunia. This general objective is broken down into 4 specific objectives, Several methods were used to carry out this study. A survey was carried out with 135 respondents on water resource management; a cross- sectional survey was carried out with 1229 households on the population's perception of the accessibility and quality of drinking water; physico-chemical and bacteriological analyses of 300 water samples were carried out and the recording of 16769 cases of water-related illnesses was documented in 11700 patients. Data processing was carried out using CSPro 7.3 software. SPSS 21.0 was used for statistical analysis. Graphs and tables were drawn using Microsoft Excel 2016. Physico-chemical and bacteriological standards were assessed with reference to WHO, EU and DR Congo standards. The adequacy of operational management was measured using Likert and other satisfaction scales. The risk of water contamination associated with human activities was assessed using Odds Ratio and Pearson's Chi-square tests, and corrected for statistical significance: P< 0.05. The results show that 35 % of respondents perceived threats from hydraulic structures, 31.8 % of which are linked to sabotage and anarchic construction. The intention not to treat drinking water was declared by 15% of respondents, and 15.2 % of respondents had no knowledge of water treatment methods. The burden of collecting drinking water falls on all family members. However, the burden falls more heavily on female children in households headed by women. The rate of geographical inaccessibility was low (4.1 %) compared with temporal inaccessibility (25 %). The long waiting line for access to drinking water in Bunia exposed girls and women to the risk of gender-based sexual violence. Overall, analyses of physico-chemical and bacteriological parameters, according to the grouping of drinking water by type and condition of source showed variable pollution of water resources in Bunia. However, unimproved springs were10.35 times more likely to be contaminated by organic matter (of faecal origin). The high presence of pathogenic germs in drinking water (Escherichias coli and Salmonella) seems to confirm the evidence of the association between water resource pollution and recurrent water-borne diseases (gastro-enteritis and typhoid fever) in Bunia. Drinking water contamination would be explained by a number of factors, the main ones being the divergent interests of respondents, inadequate management and social and environmental constraints. As a result, drinking water produced in Bunia needs to be treated before consumption. Based on the results obtained, integrated water resource management is proposed to respondents, with a view of improving the quality of drinking water in Bunia. The technical and sanitary management could be based on preventive measures against drinking water-related risks.