Safe Water System

Purpose

The Safe Water System (SWS) is a simple, inexpensive water quality intervention, appropriate for the developing world and proven to reduce diarrhoeal disease incidence in users by 22 to 84 per cent. The objective is to make water safe through disinfection and safe storage. The intervention includes point-of-use household water treatment with sodium hypochlorite (chlorine-based) solution, safe water storage and behaviour change communication.

In particular, the initiative aims to reduce diarrhoeal diseases in children under five and other vulnerable populations.

Approach

Society for Family Health (SFH), an affiliate of Population Services International, partnered with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to launch SWS in Zambia in 1998. The solution is locally manufactured, then distributed and marketed as 'Clorin' to consumers, various non-governmental organisations and other partners involved in community mobilisation activity.

Outcomes

Since its commencement, SFH has sold or distributed more than 17 million bottles of Clorin, each of which protects a family of 6 for a month. Since national introduction in 1999, both reported incidence of diarrhoea among children under-five and child mortality has reduced.