From Potable Water to Drinking Water: A Conceptual Clarification Based on Individual Boreholes in African Peri-Urban Areas

The rapid urbanization of Sub-Saharan African cities is accompanied by the massive expansion of peri-urban areas, which are often characterized by limited access to hydraulic and sanitation infrastructure. In response, many households rely on individual or community boreholes to obtain water. However, these boreholes are frequently constructed under inadequate technical and regulatory conditions, raising doubts about whether the extracted water meets the standards of “potable water.” This article explores the conceptual distinction between “potable water” and “drinking water,” examines the technical shortcomings of boreholes in peri-urban contexts, and draws implications for water governance. Based on fieldwork conducted in N’Djamena’s 9th district (Gassina, thesis) and on literature concerning urban groundwater in Africa, the study highlights the need to consider water from unregulated boreholes as “drinking water” — that is, water consumed but not necessarily guaranteed as potable — in order to inform more realistic public policies.

potable water, drinking water, individual boreholes, peri-urban areas, water quality

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