Abstract
Generally disinfection of water at household level can be achieved using several soluble tablets or chemicals which have been proven to render water to be microbiologically safe. The use of disinfectants at household levels has been reported to contribute to the reduction of waterborne diseases in areas with limited supply of piped water. Water guard is produced and widely used in Tanzania especially in the rural and informal settlements; whilst in Namibia, water marker and Aqua tabs are imported and distributed to similar communities. Sodium Hypochlorite, a chlorine base chemical which is either in powder or tablet form is widely used in the two countries. Through informed consent community volunteers were used for the collection of water from shallow wells, which was subsequently treated and analysed in Tanzania. Volunteers were also asked about their methods of water treatment and storage. In Namibia, information on appropriate use of purification chemicals at household level was obtained through desktop review and key informants. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness and proper utilisation of the water purification chemicals at household level in the two countries. The appropriate use of chemical doses provides 100% disinfection efficiency with chlorine residue of less than 0.3 mg/l which is within the recommended limits for WHO. The authors conclude that household water purification chemicals are effective against pathogens; however the chemicals’ effectiveness depends on appropriate use in terms of mixing, handling and hygiene of container used. A common problem experienced by Namibia and Tanzania is related to improper mixing, which affects the taste of water, and thus influences the user’s choice of prolonged use.
Highlights
Access to safe drinking water is one of the Millennium Development Goals [1]
A common problem experienced by Namibia and Tanzania is related to improper mixing, which affects the taste of water, and influences the user’s choice of prolonged use
The authors conclude that the utilization and effectiveness of water purification tablets is affected by several factors including incorrect dosing leading to objectionable smell and taste, storage in direct sunlight, cost, and perceived benefit
Summary
Access to safe drinking water is one of the Millennium Development Goals [1]. While piped water supply is an important long-term goal for many developing countries including Tanzania and Namibia, the WHO and UNICEF acknowledge that it is unlikely to meet the MDG target of halving the proportion of the people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation by 2015. A large portion of population use water from other sources such as boreholes, wells and rivers. The quality and safety of such water sources is poor, and affecting the public health. Some of the country challenges in water and sanitation are: limited access to potable water and sanitation services; and lack of empirical evidence on the impact of point of use water treatment methods is concerning
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