Water Availability and Quality Assessment in Health Facilities: A Case Study of Five Primary Health Care Centres in the Federal Capital Territory

Abstract

This study evaluates water availability, quality, and the utilization of water-related funding in five Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The research focuses on compliance with the World Health Organization (WHO) and Federal Ministry of Environment (FMEnv) water quality standards, as well as service benchmarks defined by the Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for safely managed water. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaires and direct water sampling, with physical, chemical, heavy metal, and microbial analyses conducted. Findings reveal that most physical and chemical parameters, such as pH (6.73–6.95), turbidity (0.02–0.15 NTU), and total dissolved solids (28.3–342 mg/L), met WHO and FMEnv standards. However, phosphate levels at Karu PHC exceeded permissible limits, and significant microbial contamination was detected: Escherichia coli (6.0×10¹ CFU/100mL), total coliforms (6.5×10¹ CFU/mL), and Salmonella/Shigella were all present above WHO and FMEnv safety thresholds. In terms of water availability, Garki and Gwarinpa PHCs lacked consistent access in critical areas such as toilets and operating rooms, falling short of JMP criteria. Bwari, Karu, and Kuje PHCs had better access, meeting the availability benchmark. Despite overall compliance with accessibility and contamination-free criteria, gaps in critical areas hinder full classification as "safely managed." Regarding funding, the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) allocation was found to be minimal (0–25%) or absent in some PHCs like Garki and Gwarinpa, where Drug Revolving Funds (DRF) are used instead but are not applied to water infrastructure. The absence of dedicated financial resources for water services contributes to ongoing WASH-related challenges. The study highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions, including microbial disinfection, phosphate control, infrastructure upgrades, and more strategic allocation of BHCPF resources. These measures are crucial for improving health outcomes and enhancing the quality of care in FCT PHCs, ensuring reliable access to safe water in line with global WASH standards.