Domestic Water Supply
CHAPTER ONE
BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
1.1 INTRODUCTION
It is naturally believed that, water is a non negotiable and vital resource necessary for human life, survival and development. According to Parfit(2008), ‘’Where there is no water, there is no life’’. According to Wang (1987) ‘’Water ranks first among all the basic natural resources essential to life (water, food, shelter and clothing).It makes up to 90% of human body’s volume and two-third (2/3) of its weight (Ajao 1995).Hence, water plays a crucial role in the survival of man on earth.
Water also has many uses, depending on the areas of human need. It is used for recreation, domestic and industrial purpose as well as for research works, which all occupy prominent requirements for water of standard quality. However, domestic use of water, according to (Malawi, Draft Water Act, 1999, part 1:1) is the provision of water for household and sanitary purposes and for the watering and dipping of stock. Domestically, water serves as a vital resource for drinking having got a profound power to quench thirst, bath the cells, and hydrate body tissues. It provides a physiological need for metabolic process. In cooking cleansing, and waste disposal purposes, water remains extremely important in homes (Udoma, 2005).
In spite of the important roles which water play in the survival of man, it is an establish fact that potable and safe water is not uniformly distributed over the earth surface and it is not within the reach of everyone, albeit water is the most plentiful of all natural substances. As opined by Overman (1968), the problem is one of matching supply with demand. Thus, for a man to remain efficient and in ‘’water balance’’, he must be supplied with enough water to replace the large amount he loses through the lungs, kidney, and skin (Murray &Wilson, 2000).
More so, the importance of a proper water supply has been recognised in the British Public Health Act of 1936, by which
BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
1.1 INTRODUCTION
It is naturally believed that, water is a non negotiable and vital resource necessary for human life, survival and development. According to Parfit(2008), ‘’Where there is no water, there is no life’’. According to Wang (1987) ‘’Water ranks first among all the basic natural resources essential to life (water, food, shelter and clothing).It makes up to 90% of human body’s volume and two-third (2/3) of its weight (Ajao 1995).Hence, water plays a crucial role in the survival of man on earth.
Water also has many uses, depending on the areas of human need. It is used for recreation, domestic and industrial purpose as well as for research works, which all occupy prominent requirements for water of standard quality. However, domestic use of water, according to (Malawi, Draft Water Act, 1999, part 1:1) is the provision of water for household and sanitary purposes and for the watering and dipping of stock. Domestically, water serves as a vital resource for drinking having got a profound power to quench thirst, bath the cells, and hydrate body tissues. It provides a physiological need for metabolic process. In cooking cleansing, and waste disposal purposes, water remains extremely important in homes (Udoma, 2005).
In spite of the important roles which water play in the survival of man, it is an establish fact that potable and safe water is not uniformly distributed over the earth surface and it is not within the reach of everyone, albeit water is the most plentiful of all natural substances. As opined by Overman (1968), the problem is one of matching supply with demand. Thus, for a man to remain efficient and in ‘’water balance’’, he must be supplied with enough water to replace the large amount he loses through the lungs, kidney, and skin (Murray &Wilson, 2000).
More so, the importance of a proper water supply has been recognised in the British Public Health Act of 1936, by which