Drinking water quality analysis and risk of water contamination from source to point of use a case study of Atse Tewodros sub-city Bahir Dar (Ethiopia)

Due to limited access to safe and adequate water services, there are serious public health issues in poor nations like Ethiopia. The study’s goal is to analyze the Atse Tewodos Sub City’s urban drinking water quality and water pollution risk from source to point of use.  A total 48 water samples were gathered over the summer (Jun 25 to July 23/2024) for the physicochemical and bacteriological water quality examination and survey questionnaires of source boreholes, reservoirs, household taps and household storage containers. Water samples were tested at field for temperature, turbidity, PH, TDS, EC and residual free chlorine. Whereas phosphate, total hardness, fluoride, sulfate, and fecal coliform were tested in the lab. The results of the physicochemical parameters showed that the values of total hardness, phosphate, sulfate, and fluoride were within the drinking water quality standard. Whereas from the total samples 8.3% and 81.2% pH and free residual chlorine, were not conformed to the standard. Bacteriological test confirmed that, E. coli was found in over 83.3% of the water sample points. The sanitary condition of the water source and water handling practice of customers at the household level were poor. Therefore, regular drinking water evaluation and sanitary inspection, proper management, encouraging good water handling practice are requiring to ensure that water is appropriate for human drinking purpose.