Assessment of drinking water quality in storage containers in rural Rwanda: a case of Butaro sector

ABSTRACT Safe drinking water is crucial for human health. However, global challenges such as limited access to WASH (Water Sanitation, and Hygiene) services, water scarcity, and inequities in clean water distribution contribute to poor hygiene and the spread of waterborne diseases, such as diarrhea, dysentery, and cholera. These challenges are particularly prevalent in rural areas of developing countries. This cross-sectional study assessed the microbiological contamination and associated risk factors in drinking water from 270 rural households. The findings were compared to Rwanda's national drinking water quality standards. Overall, 56.7% of water samples met the national pH standards. However, only 21.9% met the microbiological safety criteria for drinking water. Factors significantly associated with the quality of stored drinking water included age of the household head (p = 0.041), education level (p = 0.047), water source (p = 0.018), and water treatment practices (p = 0.023). Logistic regression indicated that older adults were 3.38 times more likely to use unsafe drinking water (95% CI: 1.24–9.24; p = 0.018). These findings highlight the need for regular monitoring of household drinking water quality and the implementation of WASH interventions, such as the treatment of drinking water, to ensure access to safe drinking water.