Towards appropriate sanitary inspection tools for self supply systems in developing countries

The assessment criteria in many of the available examples of standard sanitary inspection tools are scored on a two-way ‘yes or no’ answer. The possibility of variations between the set out criteria in the forms and the observed sanitary faults are not provided for within the two-way answer system. The use of this type of scoring system may therefore either exaggerate or underplay particular risk factors. Onsite sanitary inspection of urban self supply wells was conducted in Abeokuta, Nigeria. The survey included the inspection of system operations and maintenance, to evaluate systems adequacy for safe water supply. This paper captures the inspection process. It explains the need for moderation of standard sanitary inspection forms to suit the peculiarities of urban self supply wells. The paper introduced a new scoring method and suggests appropriate sanitary survey format for self supply hand dug wells.