Efficacy of household methods for disinfecting water for human consumption: focus on the context of Santarém, state of Pará, Brazil

Abstract

In the Amazon region, cities such as Santarém, in the state of Pará, Brazil, still lack Water Treatment Stations to serve the entire population. In these places, household methods of water disinfection are important to preserve potability and avoid undesirable health effects. Our study experimentally evaluated the effect of household methods for eliminating Escherichia coli in water samples. The techniques evaluated for this study were: (i) sodium hypochlorite 2.5%; (ii) boiling; (iii) ceramic filter, and (iv) sun exposure. Samples were tested, combining different concentrations of E. coli (from 3 to 100 colony forming units/100mL). The results showed that household disinfection methods were effective in eliminating E. coli; except for the ceramic filter, the water of which was still positive for their growth, even after filtration. Considering that the distribution of treated water does not reach most of the population living in Santarém and in peri-urban areas, such as the quilombola and riverside communities, the use of such methods as sodium hypochlorite 2.5%, boiling, and sun exposure may favor health promotion and reduce the occurrence of outbreaks of dysentery transmitted by water.