Rapid assessment of drinking-water quality in the - WHO/UNICEF ...

Table 3.2
Bacterial counts for Jordanian utility piped water supplies a
Count category
(cfu/100 ml)
Thermotolerant coliforms
Faecal streptococci
a
(%)
Cumulative
frequency (%)
(%)
Cumulative
frequency (%)
100 0 100.0 0 100.0
Total number of
samples assayed
1639 148
cfu = colony forming unit. The percentages in the table refer to the proportions of the total water supplies assayed that fall into the
corresponding count category.
3.2 Chemical parameters
Jordanian piped water supplies were tested for three chemical parameters: arsenic, fluoride and nitrate.
All of the samples analysed met WHO and national standards for arsenic and fluoride (Tables 3.3,
3.4). In contrast, water supplies in the Amman and Alzarqa governorates were contaminated with
nitrate (Table 3.5). The Amman and Alzarqa governorates are both urban areas, and it is considered
likely that the contamination originates from the sewer systems, which has old pipes, and from
frequent interruptions to the water supplies.
Table 3.3
Broad area
Compliance of Jordanian utility piped water supplies with
WHO guideline values and national standards for arsenic a
Arsenic
a
n
Compliance with WHO
GV of 0.01 mg/l (%)
Amman 611 100.0 100.0
Albalqa 146 100.0 100.0
Alzarqa 244 100.0 100.0
Madaba 25 100.0 100.0
Irbed 270 100.0 100.0
Almafraq 73 100.0 100.0
Jarash 73 100.0 100.0
Ajloun 49 100.0 100.0
Alkarak 73 100.0 100.0
Altafiela 25 100.0 100.0
Ma’an 25 100.0 100.0
Aqaba 25 100.0 100.0
National 1 639 100.0 100.0
n = total number of samples assessed. WHO GV = WHO guideline value.
Compliance with national
standard of 0.01 mg/l (%)
17