Tirane, Albania: survey on drinking water quality and facilities

To develop a realistic model of the situation, a study was carried out in f our different socioeconomic and hygienic areas of Tirane, namely in the mod ern and historical centre as well as in the intermediate and peripheral are as. In each area interviewers from the city's Public Health Directorate, co ntacted randomly, door-to-door, the residents, submitting a questionnaire a nd collecting water samples at the same time. Our data show relevant differ ences regarding distribution and quality of drinking water between the cent re and peripheral areas. One third of water samples revealed the presence o f microorganisms, whereas one fifth had no residual chlorine. Altogether mo re than 200,000 people in the peripheral areas of Tirane live under low lev el hygienic conditions. The recent outbreaks of cholera, poliomyelitis and the hyperendemic hepatitis A disease are the dramatic results of the low qu ality drinking water.