Solar Disinfection
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Solar Disinfection
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Disinfect soiled water with this free and easy
technique using solar radiation. This simple process of filling
transparent containers with water, and exposing them to full sunlight for
about five hours, destroys pathogens in the water. |
| Name: Household-Based Solar Disinfection Method |
| Status: |
| Theme: Safe Water Management |
Region and Country: Maharashtra, India |
| Partners: |
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Programme Activities:
Water disinfection can be quite effective in managing soiled water and
preventing the spread of disease. In Maharashtra, however, 44% of all
households do not attempt to purify water at all, and of those that do, the
most common method by far is to strain water through a cloth, which offers
little or no disinfection of disease-causing agents. Only 18% of households
(13% rural) boil or filter their water, and predictably, diarrhoea occurs
much less frequently among these households than in those that do not boil or
filter water.
Boiling water and using chemical additives as water disinfection methods
require resources, essentially money and time, to treat drinking water. This
programme promotes a water disinfection method that does not require any
resources or much effort. Solar disinfection uses solar radiation to
inactivate and destroy pathogens present in water. Treatment consists of
filling transparent containers with water and exposing them to full sunlight
for about five hours (or two consecutive days under 100 percent cloudy sky).
Disinfection occurs by a combination of radiation and thermal treatment (the
temperature of the water does not need to rise much above 50 degrees C.).
Solar disinfection requires relatively clear water (turbidity less than
30NTU). This program will be promoted to all sectors of the community.
Intended Results:
Households in the state of Maharashtra will know about and utilize the
promoted solar disinfection method. Consequently diarrhoea and dehydration
will occur much less frequently in these households that disinfect their
drinking water. In those households that do not disinfect their water using
solar disinfection, the promotion of this program will at least make them
aware that their water is not safe to drink. This knowledge and awareness is
essential in moving towards a sense of priority and urgency to disinfect
drinking water. When they have the available resources necessary, they too
can disinfect their drinking water to decrease incidences of diarrhoea and
dehydration.
Programme Management and Implementation:
Promotion of the solar water disinfection method and messages about the
necessity for it and other disinfection techniques will be provided to
mothers, health care providers, and the general public through training
programmes, TV and radio broadcasts, and instructive pamphlets. The materials
designed for and used in the program will be pre-tested to ensure clarity and
success on a larger scale.
Programme Monitoring and Evaluation:
Initially programme monitoring will ensure that informative materials are
reaching the appropriate audiences, that broadcasts air when scheduled, and
other technical issues. Eventually, monitoring will ensure that the solar
water disinfection method is being conducted properly and will evaluate
recall and the understanding of the targeted audiences. Statistics on those
who know about and are conducting solar water disinfection will be evaluated
and compared to statistics before program implementation. The program will be
modified as necessary.
Learning and Dissemination:
Related Resources:
More information on solar disinfection is available on the website
www.sodis.ch
UNESCO Project
Solar Disinfection of Drinking Water and Oral Rehydration Solutions
Guidelines for Household Application in Developing Countries
Aftim Acra - Zeina Raffoul - Yester Karahagopian
Department of Environmental Health
Faculty of Health Science - American University of Beirut
Beirut, 1984
- Foreword
- Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT)
The Revolution for Children
The Four Simple Technologies
Global Diarrhoeal Diseases Control Programs
Causes, Transmission, and Control of Childhood Diarrhoea
- Oral Rehydration Solutions (ORS)
The Practical Issues
Domestic Formulations
Disinfection by Boiling
- Solar Energy
Fundamental Considerations
From Sun to Earth
World Distribution
A Competitor
Some Practical Hints
- Solar Disinfection Studies
Drinking Water
Oral Rehydration Solutions
- Appendix
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