Evaluating a Water Quality Assurance Fund Intervention in Ghana and Kenya
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18+
SponsorThe Aquaya Institute
About this trial
The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of a novel financial and capacity strengthening intervention (the 'Water Quality Assurance Fund' program) on water safety management in rural Ghana and Kenya. The investigators hypothesize the intervention will improve water system operator knowledge, chlorination practices, and water quality at the point of collection, as well as improve consumer satisfaction, awareness, and willingness-to-pay for water that is tested and treated.
Eligibility criteria
This trial does not accept healthy volunteersQualifiers
The district or county government was interested in participating in the Assurance Fund program and water systems within the district/county were accessible to a partner central laboratory that was able to provide water sample collection and testing services for a fee.
Water systems were functional.
Water systems were piped water systems (Kenya, Ghana) or mechanized boreholes with a single tapstand (Ghana).
Water systems could afford regular water quality testing from the selected laboratory.
Disqualifiers
Water systems did not meet above inclusion criteria.
Trial design
Design model
Sequential
Treatments tested in this trial
Water Quality Assurance Fund
Other intervention* At the water system level: Written legal agreements between water systems, centralized laboratories, and the organization facilitating the Assurance Fund will provide water systems with regular water quality testing and provide laboratories a guarantee of payments if water systems fail to pay for testing services on time (for up to three concurrent unpaid invoices). Regular debrief meetings will be held with water operators and local government authorities to discuss test results and water treatment options, and to encourage water systems to share water quality information with their consumers. Technical guidance to improve water treatment will be provided, if requested by water system operators or local government authorities. * At the community level: Community engagement, primarily at the onset, to inform the community about the water quality testing program and answer questions.
Treatment groups
4,800 Participants
are divided into 4 treatment groupsGroup A: Assurance Fund Intervention Arm 1Experimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: Assurance Fund Intervention Arm 2Experimental treatment 1 intervention
Group C: Assurance Fund Intervention Arm 3Experimental treatment 1 intervention
Group D: Non-randomized ArmExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Adequate free chlorine residual in water at the point of collection
Free chlorine residual in water at the point of collection above targeted levels of 0.2 mg/L.
Time frame
Baseline, 6-months, 12-months, 18-months, 24-monthsSecondary outcomes
1
Detectable free chlorine residual in water at the point of collection
Free chlorine residual in water at the point of collection above detectable levels of 0.1 mg/L.
Time frame
Baseline, 6-months, 12-months, 18-months, 24-months2
E. coli in water at the point of collection
E. coli in water at point of collection (binary and categorical).
Time frame
Baseline, 6-months, 12-months, 18-months, 24-months3
Water system operator knowledge
Water system operator knowledge related to water quality (score out of 32 points on a knowledge assessment).
Time frame
Baseline, 12-months, 24-months4
Consumer awareness
Household respondent is aware enrolled water is tested or treated
Time frame
Baseline, 12-months, 24-monthsOther outcomes
1
Water system chlorination frequency
Water system operator reports weekly chlorinating frequency.
Time frame
Baseline, 6-months, 12-months, 18-months, 24-months2
Water system revenue
Revenue reported by water systems.
Time frame
Baseline, 6-months, 12-months, 18-months, 24-months3
Households use of enrolled water for drinking
Households use of enrolled water for drinking (binary).
Time frame
Baseline, 12-months, 24-monthsSponsors and contacts
Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.
The Aquaya Institute
Lead sponsor
United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
Collaborator
Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
Collaborator
The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust
Collaborator
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)
Collaborator
Water Mission
Collaborator
Source ClinicalTrials.gov