Abstract：
In the sub-Saharan region of Africa, access to safe drinking water remains limited in many countries. This study provides an overview of the quality of surface water and groundwater in rural and peri-urban areas of Madagascar, Uganda, and Rwanda. Selected physico-chemical parameters, inorganic species (including inorganic ions), and organic pollution indicators, such as total organic carbon, non-ionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, anionic surfactants, sum of phenolic compounds and formaldehyde, were analysed. Principal component analysis was applied to assess the variability of the water quality and identify regional dependencies. The inorganic ion composition in the majority of the studied samples meets WHO and EU requirements for drinking water intended for human consumption and poses no human health risk. However, an individual non-cancer-causing health index for nitrates and the values of Water Quality Index show a possible threat of ingesting the studied drinking water. The presence of surfactants (0.1-0.65 mgL-1), phenolic compounds (0.025-1.76 mgL-1) and formaldehyde (0.04-0.32 mgL-1) may also pose a risk to human, animal, and aquatic life. Additionally, in-situ measurements for E. coli and Total Coliforms conducted during the last field campaign in Madagascar (2022) revealed that all studied drinking water sources ranged from intermediate risk to unsafe. This result calls for the urgent need to enhance WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) services in the studied areas. The presence of both chemical and microbiological pollutants shows the need for the local authorities to develop and implement a catchment management plan to ensure the protection of water resources from potential pollution, and raise community awareness about the impact of human activity on water resources.
摘要：
在非洲的撒哈拉以南地区，在许多国家，获得安全饮用水的机会仍然有限。这项研究概述了马达加斯加农村和城市周边地区的地表水和地下水质量，乌干达，卢旺达。选定的物理化学参数，无机物（包括无机离子），和有机污染指标，如总有机碳，非离子表面活性剂，阳离子表面活性剂，阴离子表面活性剂，酚类化合物和甲醛的总和，进行了分析。主成分分析用于评估水质的变异性并确定区域依赖性。大多数研究样品中的无机离子成分符合世卫组织和欧盟对用于人类消费的饮用水的要求，并且不构成人类健康风险。然而,硝酸盐的个体非致癌健康指数和水质指数显示摄入研究的饮用水可能存在威胁。表面活性剂（0.1-0.65mgL-1）的存在，酚类化合物（0.025-1.76mgL-1）和甲醛（0.04-0.32mgL-1）也可能对人类构成风险，动物,和水生生物。此外,在马达加斯加(2022年)的最后一次野外活动期间对大肠杆菌和总大肠杆菌进行的原位测量显示,所有研究的饮用水源从中等风险到不安全不等.这一结果要求迫切需要加强WASH(水，卫生，和卫生)研究地区的服务。化学和微生物污染物的存在表明，地方当局需要制定和实施流域管理计划，以确保保护水资源免受潜在污染，并提高社区对人类活动对水资源影响的认识。
