DRINKING WATER IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES - THE MINIMUM TREATMENT PHILOSOPHY. A CASE STUDY.

Selection of proper water sources combined with proper intake arrangements and the introduction of sanitary zones, requiring the simplest possible treatment methods, should be an appropriate approach to a safe and sound water quality policy, here introduced as the 'minimum treatment philosophy'. Based on a water quality study for the Kigoma Region in Tanzania, this paper presents a priority list for the selection of water sources. Since the major obstacle to a hygienic, safe water supply is microbiological contamination, and since improvement of the microbiological water quality is dependent on the turbidity of the water, suggested treatment methods should be aimed against these two parameters.