Bacteriological and Chemical Analysis of Drinking Water in an Inline Chlorinated Solar-Powered Sand Abstraction System in Lingwe Village, Matobo District, Zimbabwe

Access to clean water is critical for achieving Sustainable Development Goals 3 (good health and wellbeing) and 6 (clean water and sanitation). Despite global commitments, many sub-Saharan countries fail to provide equitable access to clean water, particularly in rural settings where system performance and water quality are rarely verified. A scoping review will be conducted prior to primary data collection to synthesize existing evidence on water quality in decentralized chlorinated rural systems, thereby informing the design and contextualization of the empirical study. This study aims to assess the bacteriological and chemical quality of drinking water in an inline chlorinated solar-powered sand abstraction system in Lingwe Village, Matobo District, Zimbabwe. This study will employ a cross-sectional analytical mixed-methods design. Quantitative data will be collected through bacteriological and chemical analysis of water samples from 17 standpipes, a reservoir, an abstraction source, and 25 households (n = 102). Parameters to be assessed include Escherichia coli , pH, residual chlorine, turbidity, nitrate, and fluoride levels. Qualitative data will be gathered through ten key informant interviews, four focus group discussions (8-12 participants each), and structured environmental field observations to explore user and operational factors affecting the system. Quantitative data will be analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics (Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U, Spearman correlation, and chlorine decay modelling) in R and SPSS. Qualitative data will be analysed using thematic analysis in NVivo. Findings will be integrated using a joint display framework. Findings will inform water quality monitoring practices, highlight system limitations, and provide empirical data for optimizing water treatment and distribution in similar contexts. The Lingwe community may benefit from this study as it will determine whether the system consistently delivers water that meets WHO and national standards. The hope is also that findings will inform water quality monitoring practices, highlight system limitations, and provide empirical data for optimizing water treatment and distribution in similar contexts.