Narrow-Mouthed Water Storage Vessels and in Situ Chlorination in a Bolivian Community: A Simple Method to Improve Drinking Water Quality

Abstract

Abstract. Epidemiologic investigations of the Latin America cholera epidemic have repeatedly implicated untreated drinking water and water touched by hands during storage as important vehicles for disease transmission. To prevent such transmission, we provided a new narrow-mouthed, plastic, water storage vessel and 5% calcium hypochlorite solution for home disinfection of stored water to a Bolivian Aymara Indian community at risk for cholera. We evaluated acceptance of this intervention and its effect on water quality. Each of 42 families in the study obtained water from a household well; fecal coliform bacteria were found in water from 39 (93%) of 42 wells and 33 (79%) of 42 usual water storage vessels. One group of families received the special vessels and chlorine (group A), a second received only the special vessels (group B), and a third served as a control group (group C). Water samples collected every three weeks from group A special vessels had lower geometric mean fecal coliform colony counts (P < 0.0001) and lower geometric mean Escherichia coil colony counts (P < 0.0001) than water from group B or C vessels. Adequate levels of free chlorine persisted in these vessels for at least 5 hr. The special vessels and chlorine solution were well accepted and continued to be used for at least six months. Use of the vessel and chlorine solution produced drinking water from nonpotable sources that met World Health Organization standards for microbiologic quality.

Water distribution system and diarrheal disease transmission: a case study in Uzbekistan.

“…A short-term alternative involves the use of a narrow-necked water container with spout and chemical disinfectant, such as that used in this and other studies. [14][15][16] Our data suggest that this simple combination of water disinfection and a physical barrier to recontamination, if used appropriately and supplemented with hygiene education, can be an affordable, effective short-term means of reducing diarrheal rates in those areas where potable water is currently not available. Our study not only documents the feasibility and effectiveness of this method but also establishes the behavioral and cultural willingness of our study population to adopt such an intervention, provided the containers are made available.…”

Transmission of epidemic Vibrio cholerae O1 in rural western Kenya associated with drinking water from Lake Victoria: an environmental reservoir for cholera?

“…These lessons from the pre-antibiotic era should not be forgotten; in addition to the promotion of ORS as the mainstay of treating clinical cases of cholera, public health efforts should focus on bringing safe, reliable drinking water to regions such as Asembo. Point-of-use chlorination programs and safe water storage containers are an inexpensive approach 19,20 that can be rapidly implemented. More permanent measures are the construction of water-and sewage-treatment facilities.…”

Utilization of a basic care and prevention package by HIV-infected persons in Uganda

“…risk of diarrhoea through treatment of water with sodium hypochlorite solution, safe water storage, and behaviour change techniques (Luby, 2004;Semenza, 1998;Quick, 1996Quick, , 2002. A recent study in Uganda demonstrated that use of the SWS reduced the number of episodes and duration of diarrhoea among people with HIV .…”