Waterborne Health Risks in Cooch Behar Municipality, West Bengal, India: A Study of Water Usage, Treatment, and Sanitation Practices

Waterborne health issues in urban India are significant public health concerns directly or indirectly linked to water treatment and sanitation practices. The municipality of Cooch Behar, with a population of 77,935 urban dwellers, provides water to its residents. A sample of 400 households was selected using stratified simple random sampling in Cooch Behar Municipalities, West Bengal, India. The results indicate that all wards have a location quotient (LQ) below 1, indicating that the concentration of water supply compared to demand in each ward is lower than in the city. The chi-square test results suggest a significant association between income group and hygiene practices, indicating that income level influences the likelihood of adopting these practices. Approximately 55.5% of respondents claimed they face dermatitis problems when using water from overhead reservoirs. There is a significant disparity in handwashing practices across income groups, with 99% of the high income group (HIG) reporting regular handwashing compared to only 12% in the lower income group 2 (LIG2). Regular monitoring and testing of water sources, especially overhead reservoirs, should be conducted to ensure they meet safety standards, and public awareness is essential.