90 Protec ting Communit y Water
Store Water Safely
If water is not handled carefully while it is being collected, carried, and stored
in containers, it can be easily contaminated. Water stored in tanks with
cracked walls, or containers with loose, poorly made, or missing covers can be
contaminated by animal waste and germs.
Detebcctnibvxensctbory: How did the drinking water get contaminated?
This activity helps explore how water drawn from a well, spring, or tap can become
contaminated before it is consumed. It can be done with 4 people or more.
Time: ½ hour
➊ The facilitator explains to the group they are health detectives, then gives the
detectives their briefing. Here’s an example: 10 families collect clean drinking water
from a well. During the next few days, children from one family become sick from
drinking contaminated water at home. The other families are fine. The task for the
detectives is to find out how the water became contaminated after it was drawn
from the well.
➋ The facilitator asks for 1 to 3 volunteers. Away from where the rest of the group
can hear, the facilitator explains that their role is to give “clues” as the group asks
questions to try to discover how the water became contaminated. Then the
facilitator can either tell the volunteers, or ask them to quickly decide, how the
water got contaminated before they rejoin the rest of the group.
➌ The group then takes turns asking the volunteers questions, who respond
with “clues” until someone is able to guess correctly how the water became
contaminated.
➍ If the group is large, it can be divided into several teams. Limit the number of
questions, for example, allow each team or person up to 4 questions. The first
person or team to guess the right answer wins.
Repeat the activity several times with different ways the
water became contaminated. Afterwards, the facilitator
can lead a discussion
Was the water
jar covered the
whole time?
to explore the different
ways that drinking water
becomes contaminated.
Talk about what can be
done to keep drinking
It was covered after
it was brought to
the house.
water clean and how
to do that at home
and throughout the
community.
A Community Guide to Environmental Health 2012