Abstract
The current study investigated the acceptance rate and long-term effectiveness of cost-effective household water treatment systems deployed in Makwane Village. A structured questionnaire was used prior to implementation to collect information such as level of education, level of employment, and knowledge about point-of-use water treatment systems in the target area. The long-term effectiveness was determined by factors such as the Escherichia coli removal efficiency, turbidity reduction, silver leached, and flow rate of the household water treatment devices. The results of the survey prior to deployment revealed that only 4.3% of the community had a tertiary qualification. Moreover, 54.3% of the community were unemployed. The results further revealed that 65.9% of the community were knowledgeable about other point-of-use water treatment methods. The acceptance rate, which was found to be initially higher (100%), reduced after three months of implantation (biosand filter with zeolite-silver clay granular—82.9%; silver-impregnated porous pot filters—97.1%). Moreover, the long-term effectiveness was determined, taking into consideration the adoption rate, and it was found that silver-impregnated porous pot filters have a long life compared to biosand filter with zeolite-silver clay granular. Although household water treatment systems can effectively reduce the burden of waterborne diseases in impoverished communities, the success of adoption is dependent on the targeted group. This study highlights the significance of involving community members when making the decision to scale up household water treatment devices in rural areas for successful adoption.
Highlights
Access to piped water supply through house connections is the ideal solution to counteract water-related illnesses
The results showed a relationship between the age of the participant/household and the knowledge of the water treatment methods
It was found that the user’s preference is the key factor in enhancing the acceptance and adoption rate of Household water treatment systems (HWTS) devices in communities. It is vital for consumera’ preferences, choices, and aspirations to be taken into consideration for a successful scale-up of HWTS in underserved communities
Summary
Access to piped water supply through house connections is the ideal solution to counteract water-related illnesses. Especially in the poorest rural areas, is ascribed to an inadequate supply of safe drinking water [3,4,5,6,7,8,9]. The WHO [10] has highlighted that properly managed water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services are an indispensable part of preventing disease and protecting human health, especially during infectious disease outbreaks. It is of paramount significant for the government to invest in water and sanitation systems in preparation for disastrous situations. Point-of-use water treatment systems are, a solution to addressing water-related diseases which result from the pollution of water sources
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