Groundwater Safety in the Nyagatare District, Rwanda: Evaluating current water quality status and health implications for improved management strategies
(2026) In TVVR 5000 VVRM05 20252Division of Water Resources Engineering
- Abstract
- Despite its importance, rural groundwater quality in Rwanda remains
insufficiently monitored. This study aimed to investigate the groundwater
quality, its health implications as well as how management can be improved to
reduce the health risks of rural boreholes in the Nyagatare district in Rwanda.
In total 61 boreholes were visited and 48 groundwater samples were collected.
Analysis was conducted for 31 parameters, and a risk characterization was
conducted for fluoride, nitrate and nitrite. Additionally, a health survey and
sanitary inspection was conducted at the borehole sites to assess potential
health effects and the sanitary conditions. Interviews were also held to explore
possible management improvements with stakeholders.... (More) - Despite its importance, rural groundwater quality in Rwanda remains
insufficiently monitored. This study aimed to investigate the groundwater
quality, its health implications as well as how management can be improved to
reduce the health risks of rural boreholes in the Nyagatare district in Rwanda.
In total 61 boreholes were visited and 48 groundwater samples were collected.
Analysis was conducted for 31 parameters, and a risk characterization was
conducted for fluoride, nitrate and nitrite. Additionally, a health survey and
sanitary inspection was conducted at the borehole sites to assess potential
health effects and the sanitary conditions. Interviews were also held to explore
possible management improvements with stakeholders. Results revealed that
46 samples were microbiologically contaminated and that fluoride posed a
health risk for 32 samples. Considering user’s acceptability, turbidity and
salinity were elevated for some boreholes. There was no correlation between
health risks and survey reports. The observed sanitary conditions at the sites
were mostly unsatisfactory. Main recommendations include: regular
monitoring of fecal coliforms, identifying strains of bacteria, assessing health
statistics, monitoring of fluoride, nitrate and metals, geogenic source
investigation of fluoride, investigating and establishing water user committees,
WASH training, evaluating implementing auditing and abstraction fees and
consider installing filters. (Less) - Popular Abstract
- Despite its importance, groundwater quality in Rwanda remains insufficiently monitored while people rely on it for drinking water, especially in the northeastern part: the Nyagatare district. Simultaneously, over 80 % of diseases affecting the Rwandan population are reported to be waterborne. This study aimed to investigate the groundwater quality, its health implications as well as how management can be improved to reduce the health risks of rural boreholes.
In total, 61 boreholes were visited in September 2025 and 48 groundwater samples were collected in the district. The groundwater quality was mainly evaluated based on laboratory analysis, health risk calculations and Rwanda’s drinking water standard. People were also asked about... (More) - Despite its importance, groundwater quality in Rwanda remains insufficiently monitored while people rely on it for drinking water, especially in the northeastern part: the Nyagatare district. Simultaneously, over 80 % of diseases affecting the Rwandan population are reported to be waterborne. This study aimed to investigate the groundwater quality, its health implications as well as how management can be improved to reduce the health risks of rural boreholes.
In total, 61 boreholes were visited in September 2025 and 48 groundwater samples were collected in the district. The groundwater quality was mainly evaluated based on laboratory analysis, health risk calculations and Rwanda’s drinking water standard. People were also asked about their experiences in a water use and health survey and the operational and sanitary conditions at each borehole was documented to assess potential health effects and the sanitary issues. Furthermore, interviews were held to explore possible management improvements with stakeholders.
Results revealed that most samples were microbiologically contaminated and that the boreholes were unsanitary. This was also in line with statements from stakeholder interviewees in regard to rural boreholes in general as management is informal. However, barely anyone reported becoming ill in the health survey. Moreover, it was found that fluoride posed a health risk for more than half of the samples, implying a risk of at least developing harmful dental conditions. Considering user’s
acceptability, the water was too cloudy and salty which could be solved through installation of filters.
Given the results, more groundwater quality monitoring related to potential health implications is recommended and the genetic variant of bacteria in the groundwater should also be identified as some are more harmful than others. Investigating the source of fluoride contamination is also recommended as well as assessing health statistics covering expected effects to see the actual health impacts in the area. Lastly, in practical terms the sanitary conditions of the boreholes could be improved by engaging and training local people. Moreover, different regulatory instruments could be investigated to improve the management even more. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9225133
- author
- Fagergren, Åsa LU and Sällström, Mikaela LU
- supervisor
- organization
- alternative title
- Grundvattensäkerhet i Nyagataredistriktet i Rwanda: utvärdering av rådande vattenkvalitetsförhållanden och hälsopåverkan till stöd för förbättrade förvaltningsstrategier
- course
- VVRM05 20252
- year
- 2026
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- groundwater quality, health risk, microbiological contamination, fluoride, groundwater management, borehole
- publication/series
- TVVR 5000
- report number
- TVVR 26/5002
- ISSN
- 1101-9824
- language
- English
- additional info
- Examiner: Kenneth M persson
- id
- 9225133
- date added to LUP
- 2026-04-08 08:54:08
- date last changed
- 2026-04-10 08:22:56
@misc{9225133,
abstract = {{Despite its importance, rural groundwater quality in Rwanda remains
insufficiently monitored. This study aimed to investigate the groundwater
quality, its health implications as well as how management can be improved to
reduce the health risks of rural boreholes in the Nyagatare district in Rwanda.
In total 61 boreholes were visited and 48 groundwater samples were collected.
Analysis was conducted for 31 parameters, and a risk characterization was
conducted for fluoride, nitrate and nitrite. Additionally, a health survey and
sanitary inspection was conducted at the borehole sites to assess potential
health effects and the sanitary conditions. Interviews were also held to explore
possible management improvements with stakeholders. Results revealed that
46 samples were microbiologically contaminated and that fluoride posed a
health risk for 32 samples. Considering user’s acceptability, turbidity and
salinity were elevated for some boreholes. There was no correlation between
health risks and survey reports. The observed sanitary conditions at the sites
were mostly unsatisfactory. Main recommendations include: regular
monitoring of fecal coliforms, identifying strains of bacteria, assessing health
statistics, monitoring of fluoride, nitrate and metals, geogenic source
investigation of fluoride, investigating and establishing water user committees,
WASH training, evaluating implementing auditing and abstraction fees and
consider installing filters.}},
author = {{Fagergren, Åsa and Sällström, Mikaela}},
issn = {{1101-9824}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
series = {{TVVR 5000}},
title = {{Groundwater Safety in the Nyagatare District, Rwanda: Evaluating current water quality status and health implications for improved management strategies}},
year = {{2026}},
}