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By Rose Delaney, Staff Writer & Researcher for Save The Water™ | March 8, 2019
In a nutshell, "Household Water Treatment and Storage" is an important public health initiative that improves global access to water. Significantly, it improves the quality of water by treating it in the home.At present, 780 million people worldwide can’t access a clean and safe water source.1 Consequently, close to 2 million children under the age of five die from poor water and hygiene every year.2Can you imagine hundreds of children in the United States dying from a preventable disease such as diarrhea everyday?Evidently, most people in developed countries such as the United States access clean, safe water on a daily basis. Thus, why can’t people in developing countries such as Kenya do the same?For one thing, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) ensures the "availability of water and sanitation for all.”In the same fashion, Household Water Treatment and Storage (HWTS) tackles the challenge of unclean and thus unsafe water in developing countries.3
Significantly, HWTS practices prevent widespread water-related diseases. Moreover, it contributes to poverty reduction and improved health across developing countries.4In other words, less time spent trying to access clean water sources means more time for productive work. Additionally, clean water sources reduce healthcare costs caused by water-related diseases.5Actually, HWTS reduces diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, and hepatitis E.6,7Basically, educating and training people on hygiene and how to implement HWTS is essential. Also, importantly, HWTS can help save millions of lives by introducing clean water.
First, let's look at diarrhea. Undoubtedly, when people can’t access clean water, they don’t prioritize hand washing.1 In fact, about 842,000 people die each year from diarrhea as a result of poor sanitation.8Evidently, children under five are most likely to get diarrhea. What’s more, a global estimate suggests that 19% of children die from diarrhea annually.Specifically, 73% of these deaths occur in 15 developing countries.5,7 To be sure, implementing HWTS for hand-washing reduces diarrhea.Second, let's look at schistosomiasis. This disease harms over 700 million people in 74 countries.9 That is to say, its devastating effects compare to malaria.Basically, snails carrying parasitic worms in contaminated freshwater cause this disease. In developing countries, people use local water sources to urinate and to defecate. Therefore, the disease spreads quickly.9Surprisingly, schistosomiasis is a “neglected tropical disease.” Indeed, it causes bladder cancer as well as kidney and liver problems.9Additionally, infected children suffer from anemia and malnutrition. Therefore, improving access to household toilets can significantly reduce this disease.Lastly, let's look at Dengue Fever. Generally, insects that breed in household water containers spread this disease.10 Overall, 2.5 billion people live in regions at risk of dengue fever.10Evidently, symptoms include fever, mild bleeding and muscle pain. Even more, these symptoms can progress to severe bleeding, shock, and death.Interestingly enough, one method to reduce the disease includes safely covering water containers.4,10
MethodCase StudyChlorination use (i.e. adding chlorine to water) disinfects public water supplies. Also, it helps eliminate waterborne disease, reduces viruses and bacteria, and is relatively inexpensive.4For example, a nongovernmental organization improved water quality in rural Haitian communities. In summary, small-scale chlorination was introduced despite natural disasters and political unrest.Filtration is the inexpensive process of removing harmful chemicals and pollutants from water. However, more studies are needed.4According to a study in Bolivia, users of micron ceramic candle-shaped filters experienced a 64% reduction in diarrhea.4Solar disinfection (SODIS) allows people to treat and drink water from small, narrow-necked bottles.2For example, in Sikkim, India, 65 children under five took part in a SODIS intervention trial. After 8 weeks, SODIS users saw a reduction in diarrhea of about 76%.11Filtration and chlorination is a combined approach that reduces bacteria.2For example, local Haitians communally accepted a purifier. In fact, a study conducted on the purifier outlined a 56% reduction in diarrheal disease.2Flocculation and Chlorination combines a coagulation step for particle removal (flocculation) with a chlorination step(s) for disinfection. For this reason, it offers high removal rates of bacteria in contaminated water.2According to a study on point-of-use water treatment in West Kenya, this method is best for 4 reasons: (1) works well in contaminated waters, (2) requires little infrastructure,(3) serves rural zones, and (4) encourages vulnerable communities to make water safe.12To sum up, we can achieve HWTS for everyone. But we must educate and communicate behavioral changes about hygiene and sanitation in developing countries.