Household Perspectives towards Integrated Management of Drinking Water in Faisalabad District, Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

This study was aimed to examine the socioeconomic characteristics of the households and their linkages to the management of drinking water; the provision of education, income, water related cultural practices and utilization of health facilities. Furthermore, focused objective of the study was to examine the awareness about the causes of consequence water borne diseases, knowledge and preventive measures; and the importance of water quality as appropriate aspects to enhance integrated management of drinking water at household and community level in Faisalabad District. Cross-sectional study was conducted in urban areas of Faisalabad District of Punjab province in Pakistan. Triangulation was used to get significant detailed information and comprehensive interview schedule was used for the collection of information. The study identifies different factors effecting to the quality of water and sewerage system in most of the urban areas; are neither sufficient nor adequate and are often dysfunctional. Sewerage is usually carried in most of the urban areas by open surface flow drains, which ultimately discharge into streams and the river system, polluting the waterways and underground aquifers. The study also found that the contamination of drinking water caused highly contagious; people suffer from cholera, diarrhea, hepatitis and stomachache repeatedly; especially infants, children and pregnant women are affected more. It is suggested that to minimize the future drinking water shortages and undesirable environmental impacts, there is a need for more equitable sharing of water resources between society and nature is required.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n5s2p503