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

3.4 Overall compliance
The RADWQ survey results were consistent with those of the Jordanian national surveillance system,
and confirmed that drinking-water quality was generally high in the distribution network. Overall
compliance with WHO guideline values and national standards was 97.8% (including chemicals
relevant to health), but this increased to 99.9% if the Jordanian maximum permitted limits were used
as references (Table 3.9).
Table 3.9
Broad area
Overall compliance of Jordanian utility piped water supplies
with WHO guideline values and national standards a
Overall compliance
n
Compliance with
WHO GVs (%)
Compliance with
allowed national
standards (%)
Compliance with
maximum national
standards (%)
Amman 611 94.4 94.4 100.0
Albalqa 146 100.0 100.0 100.0
Alzarqa 244 99.6 99.6 100.0
Madaba 25 100.0 100.0 100.0
Irbed 270 100.0 100.0 100.0
Almafraq 73 98.6 98.6 98.6
Jarash 73 100.0 100.0 100.0
Ajloun 49 93.9 93.9 100.0
Alkarak 73 100.0 100.0 100.0
Altafiela 25 100.0 100.0 100.0
Ma’an 25 100.0 100.0 100.0
Aqaba 25 100.0 100.0 100.0
National 1 639 97.8 97.8 99.9
a
Compliance was calculated for thermotolerant coliforms, arsenic, fluoride and nitrate. n = total number of samples assessed. WHO
GVs = WHO guideline values.
3.5 Sanitary risk factors
The sanitary risk inspections (Tables 3.10–3.12) showed that the most common risk factors for the
water supplies included:
Sewer lines close to the water distribution network. This is frequently unavoidable, especially in
urban settings.
A failure to maintain household storage tanks. Water storage tanks are common in all waterscarce
countries, including Jordan, where intermittent water supplies have increased the need for
storage. Poor maintenance of the tanks increases the risk that water will become contaminated,
which in turn would jeopardize the health of individuals using the household water supply.
Old pipes in the water distribution network. Many pipes in the network are rusted and leak, and
need to be replaced to reduce losses and breakdowns in the supply system, as well as to prevent
iron contamination of the piped water (Table 3.7).
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