Management and Surveillance of Village Tap Water Quality In Remote and Rural Areas

Abstract

          This study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design with the objective of examining management practices and surveillance of village water supply quality in remote and hard-to-reach areas. Data were collected from 65 village water system caretakers using structured questionnaires and analyzed with descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation.

          The findings indicated that the majority of respondents were male (83.08%), aged 40–59 years (66.15%), and had completed primary education (30.77%). Most were operational staff (90.77%), with 32.20% directly responsible for water system management. Village committees were the primary management body (53.85%), with systems generally serving no more than five villages (86.15%), covering over 200 households (60.00%), and supplying fewer than 1,000 users. Infrastructure assessment showed that groundwater was the predominant water source (61.54%). Pumping and pipeline systems were in good condition (92.31% and 90.77%, respectively), and elevated storage tanks were widely used (84.62%). However, water quality control systems were insufficient: 92.31% lacked pH meters, and only 10.77% had free residual chlorine test kits. While most personnel were sufficient (84.62%), technical expertise was lacking (58.46%), and more than half had only 1–3 years of experience (56.92%). For raw water surveillance, 70.77% of systems had monitoring activities, and 56.92% had staff development plans, though these were not comprehensive. A critical issue was the high prevalence of coliform contamination (89.23%), reflecting inadequate residual chlorine and shortcomings in disinfection and quality monitoring. In conclusion, village water supply systems in remote areas face limitations in personnel, equipment, and quality control. Strengthening workforce capacity, enhancing treatment systems, and expanding surveillance are necessary to ensure the safety and sustainability of community drinking water.