Water and Waste Analysis and Assessment according to the WHO Standards in the Main Hospitals of White Nile State

Abstract

Water is one of the most essential components of the human environment. Man needs it for his physiological existence as well as for his clinical activities. So, drinking water should be clean and free from any pathogenic microorganisms and chemical substances, which may be hazardous to health. Drinking water should be suitable for human consumption and for all usual domestic purposes. The study aimed at the assessment ofwater (quality and quantity) and wastewater in the selected hospitals under study (Kosti, Rabak, and Eduiem). An assessment checklist, pre-designed and published by the WHO in 2008, was used to assess the water and wastewater situation. Water samples analysis was done to check the hospitals water quality. The results of the examination of water quality revealed that water is safe and complying with the national and international standards in Eduiem hospital (fecal coliform not detected, residual chlorine 0.71-0.84 mg/l, and turbidity 3.8-4.8 NTU),while water quality in Rabak and Kosti hospitals was found contaminated in term of fecal coli form, low residual chlorine and high turbidity, Water quantity is adequate with an alternative supply when needed in the three hospitals, Water facilities are not matching with the WHO recommendation for the three hospitals. According to the WHO standards wastewater system and excreta disposal facilities were not applied in the three hospitals. Study recommended that full attention should be paid to the hospitals regarding drinking water quality and quantity and the cleaned toilets should be available and accessible for patients, visitors and staffs I