Assessment of Water and Sanitation Services in the Department of Biankouma (Mountainous Rural Area) in Western Côte d'Ivoire

Aims: Access to adequate water and sanitation services for all is a major issue in developing countries, particularly in rural mountainous areas. The aim of this study was to examine water access and sanitation conditions in the department of Biankouma, Côte d'Ivoire. Place and Duration of Study: The research was conducted from April to June 2023 in several villages in the Biankouma department. Methodology: Data collection consisted of a household survey and field observations in villages in the Sub-prefectures of Blapleu, Kpata and Gbangbegouiné, all in the department of Biankouma. In order to obtain representative results, a quota of 10% of the households surveyed was applied in each village concerned. Thus, 449 households were surveyed out of a total of 4,489 households in the target villages. Results: The results showed that the majority of households had between 5 and 10 people (56.12%), with 32.1% using other types of water in addition to tap water, such as well, borehole and marigot water. All households visited had latrines: pit latrines with a slab (39.9%), mechanical flush latrines (39.2%), manual flush latrines (4.5%) and traditional latrines (6.4%). In most households, toilet water was discharged into septic tanks (53.9%) and laundry water was discharged into the street (69.9%), as was dishwater (51.7%). Cases of malaria were reported in 62% of households in the department, compared with 38% for diarrhea. Conclusion: Following the success of the policy to end open defecation in the department of Biankouma, the government and donors should focus future interventions on building boreholes and raising awareness of wastewater and excreta management to keep the nests of environmental diseases away from villages.