Wora Hemi Laef 2008 - Wan Smolbag Theatre

Information SectionQuantity Versus QualityWhen we talk about water supplies, the primary reason for installing a supply system is toimprove the health and well being of the users. There are other benefits as well such asreducing the time taken each day to collect water because water will now be nearby thehomes of the users.When talking about health and water, the quality of water is important. If you drink dirtywater, you could get an upset stomach or even diarrhoea. However, drinking water is onlya small part of daily water use. Most water is used for cleaning, washing and bathing. Thequantity of water available will potentially have a greater beneficial effect on the health ofthe users than quality. Both quantity and quality are important.Check the meaning of quality and quantity in a dictionary.Sicknesses We Get From Bad WaterThe 3 main diseases related to water are: gastrointestinal diseases, skin diseases and eyeinfections.Gastrointestinal diseases (i.e. stomach upsets, diarrhoea etc) can be caused directly bydrinking contaminated water. However, the disease will often enter the body through food.Hands that are not washed before handling food, cooking pots not properly cleaned and adirty cooking environment can allow germs to come in contact with the food and thus enterthe body. For proper personal, domestic and food hygiene, you will need adequateamounts of water.Almost all skin diseases and eye infections are directly related to personal and domestichygiene. To be hygienic you need sufficient amounts of water.Thus, although a water supply can benefit the health of the users, the benefits will only bemaximised if the users change their habits as well. This means:• regular bathing• washing hands regularly (after toilet use, after working in the garden, etc, anddirectly before handling food)• regular cleaning of clothes, home and yards• properly built toilets at a safe distance from the water source (30m from any wellor river)• animals should be kept out of the immediate home compoundA water supply project should thus go together with a sanitation program to maximise theimprovement of the health of the users.34 Wora Hemi Laef - A Work Book