DETERMINANTS OF SAFE DRINKING WATER IN PAKISTAN: A CASE STUDY OF FAISALABAD

Water quality has declined not only in Pakistan but also the whole world due to the contamination of water sources by pollution which is damaging human health. This study was designed to evaluate the water quality. Logit model was applied on socioeconomic factors as determinants of consumption of safe drinking water in Faisalabad, Pakistan. For this purpose samples were collected from 225 households. Results obtained provided clear evidence that almost all the water samples were contaminated with microbes like Total Plate Count (TPC) Total Coliform and E. Coli (0157), as well as showed higher than standard values for hardness, turbidity and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) It was also observed that per capita income of Household, residential status, level of awareness and (ground water having smell of some chemical)smell of ground water were positively related to the household consumption of safe drinking water while age of family head, occurrence of some waterborne diseases to any family member were negatively related to the household consumption of safe drinking water. Policies regarding improvement in educational system and public awareness campaigns ranging from urban to country side should be launched.