Long-Term Sustainability of Using Hemodialyzers to Inexpensively Provide Pathogen-Free Water to Remote Villages Lacking Electricity

Friedrich K Port,Mathieu Lamolle,David A Goodkin,Linda Donald,Jochen G Raimann,Joseph M Boaheng,Nathan W Levin,Seth Johnson

doi:10.3390/w14030471

Abstract

The provision of clean water to remote communities is a major goal of both the World Health Organization and the United Nations. We report on the long-term sustainability of filter-sterilizing polluted water in remote villages in Ghana that lack electricity. Contaminated water pumped several times a week via a gasoline pump into a 1000 L elevated tank is filtered through polysulfone hemodialyzers on demand. The 3 nm fiber pore size rejects all bacteria, parasites, and viruses. Villagers flush organic matter from the dialyzers thrice daily to maintain a flow of up to 250 L/h. Having previously reported a 73% reduction in diarrheal episodes, we now address system sustainability. After passing through the hemodialyzer filters, a fecally polluted water source remains consistently free of pathogens even after the system has been in place for >1 year in most villages. Filters are easily replaced when needed. Daily cost for unlimited clean water is less than USD 2.22 per village over five years. Villagers have continued to independently fill the tank and flush the system, because they appreciate the clean water and health benefits. We demonstrate that over 2–6 years this system providing pathogen-free drinking water can be maintained independently by villagers for long-term sustainability. It does not require electricity nor disinfectants to be added to the product water and is ready for far broader application in similarly remote settings.

Highlights

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently provided a summary of drinking water concerns that are alarming, including the following: 785 million people lack even a basic drinking water service, the drinking water for at least two billion people is contaminated by feces, and half of the world’s population will be water-stressed by 2025 [1]
To initiate a village for the Easy Water for Everyone system we found it useful to meet with village elders and explain the health benefits of this system and the need for two villagers to be trained to do a flushing procedure of the hemodialyzer filters thrice daily to maintain a high flow of clean water
Mothers have been the strongest advocates for the clean water because they see the immediate and dramatic reduction of diarrheal episodes among their children

Summary

Introduction

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently provided a summary of drinking water concerns that are alarming, including the following: 785 million people lack even a basic drinking water service, the drinking water for at least two billion people is contaminated by feces, and half of the world’s population will be water-stressed by 2025 [1]. Ponds and rivers may be continually infected by coliform bacteria and pathogenic viruses. Women often bear the burden of spending many hours per day retrieving water and caring for ill children, foregoing their own education and career opportunities. Remote African villages in particular are at grave peril for the transmission of water-borne pathogens and often lack even basic capabilities to combat the challenge. Flooding may contaminate water from wells or boreholes. Antiseptic agents may be added to drinking water, but this approach incurs costs and poses the risks of inadequate levels and poor palatability

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Results

Discussion

Conclusion