HOUSEHOLD PRACTICES AND PERCEPTIONS OF BOREHOLE WATER IN LAMBANYI MUNICIPALITY GUINEA

Domestic boreholes are essential for self-supply in cities with inadequate public water services. This study examines household practices and perceptions of borehole water in Lambanyi, Conakry, Guinea. A descriptive cross-sectional survey covered 383 households in four neighbourhoods from 5 to 25 June 2024. Data collected through a Microsoft Forms questionnaire were processed in Microsoft Excel using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis of open-ended responses. Overall, 305 households (79.6%) reported boreholes as their sole water source, and 360 (94.0%) used them alone or alongside another source. Only 126 households (32.9%) owned a borehole within their compound; 124 of these (98.4%) also had a storage tank. Across the sample, 202 households (52.7%) reported storage facilities. Although 326 households (85.1%) reported no availability or quality problems, 82 (21.4%) reported access difficulties or conflicts. Stomach pain was reported by 52 households (13.6%) and diarrhoea by 25 (6.5%), without clinical confirmation or evidence that borehole water caused these symptoms. Boreholes play a central role in water supply, but their use extends beyond ownership and raises concerns about access and sanitary oversight. Findings are limited to self-reported information from four neighbourhoods. Strengthening the public network, coordinating borehole management and informing households about safe storage and water quality are priorities for local water management.