Browsing by Author "Claasen, Tiffany"

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    Assessment of selected borehole water quality and efficiency of homemade water filter purification devices in Mariental rural, Hardap region
    (University of Namibia, 2019) Claasen, Tiffany
    Approximately 6.6% of Hardap Region has unsafe drinking water according to WHO (2018) guidelines. Consuming this water can cause serious illness. Three filters, namely the bucket filter, sand filter, and charcoal filters were constructed and tested for physico-chemical and bacteriological removal efficiencies. More than 500 000 people in developing countries use filters to treat drinking water. Regardless of this positive implementation, there is limited knowledge to improve its design and operation. This study reports that the filters were efficient in removing carbonate hardness, total coliforms, and E. coli. When statistically tested, the filters showed more or less the same removal capacity, only differing from the carbonate hardness and total coliforms content. The serial dilution tests that were conducted showed that the filters were effective at removal of total coliforms and E. coli at an average of 84.2% and 96.2% for the bucket filter, 91.9% and 99.6% for the sand filter and 74.9% and 98.1% for the charcoal filter respectively. However, complete removal of total coliforms and E. coli was not achieved. It was also reported that there was no relationship between the flow rates and the removal efficiencies. The charcoal filter had the highest removal efficiency of carbonate hardness but did not meet the daily flow rate requirement, therefore it would not be recommended. The sand filter had the highest total coliform and E. coli removal efficiency and it met the daily flow rate requirements, so it would be recommended, but alternative disinfection should be followed. This study recommends that filters be adjusted with smaller holes on the diffuser plates, increased filtrate depth and using granular activated charcoal. Filters should also be used with a disinfection process like boiling or chlorination.
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    Monitoring groundwater quality in a Namibian rural settlement
    (2018) Lewis, Earl W.; Claasen, Tiffany
    Drinking water in rural areas is often contaminated due to poor sanitation practices, which cause problems such as diarrhea, polio and cholera. Rural water quality is a critical issue in Namibia because a great deal of the population lives in rural settlements. The aim of this study was to assess the levels of nitrate and some microbial parameters in borehole waters in 8 rural settlements in Hardap, Namibia. The tests were conducted in 2016 and the results compared to tests on the same boreholes in 2011. Parameters were determined using standard procedures. Water infrastructure and sanitation practices were also examined. Water parameters were compared to NamWater safe water drinking guidelines. The results revealed that sanitation practices need to be improved to avoid health risks. High levels of nitrate and coliform bacteria were identified as the most threatening contaminants that were determined.Water quality has deteriorated in these settlements since 2011, when only two of the boreholes yielded water unfit for drinking. In 2016 the number of unfit boreholes had increased to four. Systematic monitoring of groundwater quality, workshops on public health and sanitation practices, and improved sanitation facilities are recommended.
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    Nitrate and bacteriological assessment of groundwater in Omaheke region, Namibia
    (University of Namibia, 2017) Claasen, Tiffany; Lewis, Earl W.
    In Namibia, a large percentage of the population uses water from sources such as rivers, wells and boreholes. The quality and safety of such water sources is generally considered poor, and therefore is a potential health hazard. Groundwater in boreholes does not go through a treatment process and therefore the cleanliness of water is a major concern. The main objectives of the study were to analyze groundwater for nitrate and bacteriological content, i.e. total coliforms, faecal coliforms, Enterococci and E.coli, as well as evaluate sanitation practices. The study area included 8 farms on the C20 road to Aranos, Omaheke region. The nitrate and bacteriological results were compared with the guidelines for safe drinking water used by NamWater and World Health Organization (WHO). The results showed that Groot Ums was the only farm having water unfit for human consumption (Grade D), Cristiana 1 had water that had a moderate risk factor (Grade C) to human health, while the rest of the 6 farms had very safe drinking water (Grade A and B). Based on the findings, short and long-term recommendations on sanitation practices were made to help farmers with the current water situation.