Providing clean water, keeping water clean: an integrated approach

Authors: THOMPSON T.; SOBSEY M.; BARTRAM J.

Source: International Journal of Environmental Health Research, Volume 13, Supplement 1, Supplement 1/June 2003 , pp. S89-S94(1)

Publisher: Taylor and Francis Ltd

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Abstract:

Millions of people, most of whom are children in developing countries, die of basic hygiene-related diseases every year. Interventions in hygiene, sanitation and water supply have been shown to control disease burden. Universal access to improved water sources and basic sanitation remains elusive but is an important long-term goal. Studies have shown that improving the microbiological quality of household water by on-site or point-of-use treatment and safe storage in improved vessels reduces diarrhoeal and other waterborne diseases in communities and households of developing and developed countries. The extent to which improving drinking water quality at the household level reduces diarrhoeal disease probably depends on a variety of technology-related and site-specific environmental and demographic factors that require further investigation, characterisation and analyses.

Keywords: Hygiene-related disease; sanitation; low-cost intervention; water storage system; affordability; safe water; socio-cultural acceptability; UV disinfection; chemical disinfectants; coagulation - flocculation; sedimentation; filtration; chlorination; multi-barrier approach