Evaluation of drinking water quality and service delivery in educational and healthcare institutions in rural Amhara, Ethiopia

Inadequate access to water service and contaminated drinking water in institutions can pose a critical challenge for public health and education services. This study assesses the water supply service levels and drinking water quality in the healthcare facilities (HCFs) and schools of selected rural areas of the Amhara Region, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional survey was conducted involving 150 schools and 60 HCFs to assess their drinking water service delivery. Additionally, water samples were collected for fecal coliform analysis, and physicochemical parameters were measured on-site. Only 50% of schools and 23.3% of HCFs had access to basic water supply services, falling short of SDG 6.1 target. The pH level in 45% and 37.2% of the water samples from HCFs and schools didn’t comply with WHO standards, respectively. Turbidity exceeded acceptable limits of 5NTU in 45% and 50% of water samples from HCFs and schools, respectively. Fecal coliform was detected in 76.9% of samples in HCFs and 78.2% of schools, exposing communities to a considerable health risk. The study revealed that fecal coliform level was significantly varied among the water points (p < 0.01), with piped water showing better quality and unprotected springs having the poorest quality. The study highlights critical gaps in water services delivery at the institutions, hindering the effort made to achieve SDGs. To ensure access to safe water in schools and HCFs, expanding piped and borehole water sources, implementing robust water quality monitoring, and introducing appropriate water treatment are recommended.