Browsing by Author "WAMUNYIMA, Lilian"

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    Exploring factors influencing the usage of water from shallow hand dug wells as opposed to tap water in Chazanga Compound, Lusaka
    (University of Lusaka, 2025) WAMUNYIMA, Lilian
    A shallow well is a hole which has been dug, bored, driven or drilled into the ground for the purpose of extracting water. According to World health organisation (2020), about 1.1 billion people worldwide lack access to improved water supply and water sources. A report by (Hunter, 2018) indicated that, about 20% of the world's population lacked access to safe drinking water. Therefore, this study sought to explore factors influencing the usage of water from shallow hand dug wells as opposed to tap water in Chazanga compound, Lusaka. Methods: The researcher employed a quantitative approach. The sample size was 39 using a convenience sampling. Structured questionnaires were used and the data was analysed using SPSS version 16 as well as excel. 5(13%) of the residents had river as their source of water, 30(77%) of the residents had shallow hand dug well as their source of water. 2(5%) of the residents the distance was 10m, 2 (5%) of the residents the distance was 100m and 30(79%) of the residents the distance was 1km. 4(10%) of the residents had high income level, 5(13%) of the residents had medium income level and 30(77) of the residents had low income level and 30(77%) of the residents liked tap water and 9(23%) didn’t like tap water. The community had no knowledge about the negative impacts of using water from shallow dug wells on human health and general public health. Shallow hand dug wells are an affordable source of water for washing clothes, flushing toilets/latrines and irrigation among informal settlements in Chazanga. It is also clear that most residents are aware of the health risks from microbial contamination of such water and use it for purposes other than drinking and cooking. The Lusaka city council should conduct regular maintenance of these facilities to ensure their longevity and sustainability. The municipality must implement strategies that incorporate water for productive use in the water distribution plan, as this will foster community development. Handwashing and personal hygiene are important considerations for curtailing the spread of diseases in the municipality. The Lusaka Department of Water Affairs should educate rural communities about the construction, use and maintenance of public pit latrines in line with the environmental health regulations of the country.