As contamination of domestic water is central to our project, we plan to test samples of domestic water for faecal indicator bacteria (i.e. microbiological ‘markers’ of contamination from faeces) and for a pathogen, Cryptosporidium, that may be found in livestock and may cause diarrhoea in humans. Since water is often contaminated during storage in the home, we plan to test water from both sources such as wells and storage vessels too.
These test results will enable us to look at the linkages between domestic water quality and the potential contamination hazards we observe directly, through cattle tracking, and through participatory hazard mapping. In the longer term, better understanding how such hazards affect water quality can help inform how communities may manage the safety of water supplies in rural areas.
