The Relationship between Bacteriological Quality of Dug-Wells & Pit Latrine Siting in an Unplanned Peri-Urban Settlement: A Case Study of Langas – Eldoret Municipality, Western Kenya

Abstract

This study was carried out in Langas, an unplanned peri-urban settlement in Eldoret municipality in western Kenya. The objective of the study was to determine the bacteriological quality of dug-wells visa -vis pit lat rine siting. Water samples were collected fro m each dug-well and the distance between each dug-well to the nearest pit latrine was measured. The MPN technique was used to determine nu mber o f faecal colifo rms. The mean d istance between dug-wells and pit latrines was 19.664m. 34% of samples had total coliform counts ranging fro m 0-99TC/100ml and 14% had over 1100TC/ 100ml. 82% of dug-wells had faecal colifo rms ranging fro m 0-99FC/100ml wh ile only 2% had 1100FC/ 100ml. A significant but weak indirect (negative) association between pit latrine distance and level of faecal contamination was detected using the chi square test. That is, as distance between pit latrine and dug-well increases, the Faecal Coliform count decreases. This could be interpreted as decreasing distance increases the chances/risk for dug-well contamination to occur. Using the Linear Regression model, the minimu m d istance for dug-well contamination not to occur through latrine seepage was found to be not less than 38m.