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Nielsen AM, Garcia LAT, Silva KJS, Sabogal-Paz LP, Hincapié MM, Montoya LJ, Galeano L, Galdos-Balzategui A, Reygadas F, Herrera C, Golden S, Byrne JA, Fernández-Ibáñez P. Chlorination for low-cost household water disinfection - A critical review and status in three Latin American countries. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2022; 244:114004. [PMID: 35816847 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.114004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Chlorination has historically provided microbiologically safe drinking water in public water supplies. Likewise, chlorine has also been introduced as a low-cost disinfection method in rural and marginalized communities, both at community and household level, as well as during emergencies. Although this practice is common and well established for use as a household water treatment technology in the Global South, several challenges in effective and efficient implementation still need to be addressed. Here, we explored these issues by a literature review and narrowed them to the status of three Latin American countries (Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil). Overall, it was found that although guidance on household-based chlorination includes information on health risks and hygiene, this may not create enough incentive for the user to adapt the method satisfactorily. Physicochemical quality of the water influences chlorination efficiency and it is found that variations in quality are rarely considered when recommending chlorine doses during implementation. These are far more often based on a few measurements of turbidity, thereby not considering dissolved organic matter, or seasonal and day-to-day variations. Other factors such as user preferences, chlorine product quality and availability also represent potential barriers to the sustainable use of chlorination. For chlorination to become a sustainable household water treatment, more focus should therefore be given to local conditions prior to the intervention, as well as support and maintenance of behavioural changes during and after the intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Nielsen
- School of Engineering, Ulster University, Northern Ireland, BT37 0QB, United Kingdom
| | - L A T Garcia
- Department of Hydraulics and Sanitation, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, Avenida Trabalhador São-Carlense 400, São Carlos, São Paulo, Zip code 13566-590, Brazil
| | - K J S Silva
- Department of Hydraulics and Sanitation, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, Avenida Trabalhador São-Carlense 400, São Carlos, São Paulo, Zip code 13566-590, Brazil
| | - L P Sabogal-Paz
- Department of Hydraulics and Sanitation, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, Avenida Trabalhador São-Carlense 400, São Carlos, São Paulo, Zip code 13566-590, Brazil
| | - M M Hincapié
- School of Engineering, University of Medellin, Ctra 87, 30-65, Medellin, 050026, Colombia
| | - L J Montoya
- School of Engineering, University of Medellin, Ctra 87, 30-65, Medellin, 050026, Colombia
| | - L Galeano
- School of Engineering, University of Medellin, Ctra 87, 30-65, Medellin, 050026, Colombia
| | - A Galdos-Balzategui
- School of Engineering, Ulster University, Northern Ireland, BT37 0QB, United Kingdom; Fundación Cántaro Azul, Calzada Daniel Sarmiento 19, Los Alcanfores, 29246, San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico
| | - F Reygadas
- Fundación Cántaro Azul, Calzada Daniel Sarmiento 19, Los Alcanfores, 29246, San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico
| | - C Herrera
- Centro de Ciencia y Tecnologia de Antioquia, Carrera 46, 56-11,15. Ed. Tecnoparque, Medellin, Colombia
| | - S Golden
- Belfast School of Architecture and the Built Environment, Ulster University, United Kingdom
| | - J A Byrne
- School of Engineering, Ulster University, Northern Ireland, BT37 0QB, United Kingdom
| | - P Fernández-Ibáñez
- School of Engineering, Ulster University, Northern Ireland, BT37 0QB, United Kingdom.
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