Factors affecting continued use of ceramic water purifiers distributed to tsunami‐affected communities in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Abstractobjectives There is little information about continued use of point-of-use technologies after disaster relief efforts. After the 2004 tsunami, the Red Cross distributed ceramic water filters in Sri Lanka. This study determined factors associated with filter disuse and evaluate the quality of household drinking water.methods A cross-sectional survey of water sources and treatment, filter use and household characteristics was administered by in-person oral interview, and household water quality was tested. Multivariable logistic regression was used to model probability of filter non-use.results At the time of survey, 24% of households (107 ⁄ 452) did not use filters; the most common reason given was breakage (42%). The most common household water sources were taps and wells. Wells were used by 45% of filter users and 28% of non-users. Of households with taps, 75% had source water Escherichia coli in the lowest World Health Organisation risk category (<1 ⁄ 100 ml), vs. only 30% of households reporting wells did. Tap households were approximately four times more likely to discontinue filter use than well households.conclusion After 2 years, 24% of households were non-users. The main factors were breakage and household water source; households with taps were more likely to stop use than households with wells. Tap water users also had higher-quality source water, suggesting that disuse is not necessarily negative and monitoring of water quality can aid decision-making about continued use. To promote continued use, disaster recovery filter distribution efforts must be joined with capacity building for long-term water monitoring, supply chains and local production.

Sustained adoption of water, sanitation and hygiene interventions: systematic review

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“…To model this effect, all simulated households are 2.05 times as likely to treat their water if their W Q i is above a varied threshold value (0 - 2000 CFU/100ml) (Casanova et al, 2012). Since this scenario is highly dependent on baseline filter compliance, the two parameters were varied concurrently for this experiment.…”

“…They also found that the odds ratio for using a filter was 1.7 when study participants were collecting surface water compared to 0.56 when using ground water which is of presumably better quality. A second study by Casanova et al (2012) found that study participants were almost twice as likely to use their CWF when E. coli were present in the water. They likewise found that those with tap water were less likely to use the filters compared to those who used well water exclusively.…”

Modeling the Complexities of Water, Hygiene and Health in Limpopo, South Africa

“…To model this e↵ect, all simulated households are 2.05 times as likely to treat their water if it is above a given threshold value (Casanova et al , 2012). Since this scenario is highly dependent on baseline filter usage, the two parameters were varied concurrently for this experiment.…”

“…They also found that the odds ratio for using a filter was 1.7 when study participants were collecting surface water compared to 0.56 when using ground water which is of presumably better quality. A second study by Casanova et al (2012) found that study participants were almost twice as likely to use their ceramic water filter when there was E. coli present in the water. They likewise found that those with tap water were less likely to use the filters compared to those who used well water exclusively.…”