AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTO THE PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PURIFICATION CAPACITY OF GRAVITY FED HOME WATER TREATMENT DEVICES SUPPLIED IN SOUTH AFRICA

摘要

Recent outbreaks of cholera and other waterborne diseases in Southern Africa have resulted in a public perception that tap water is not safe for drinking purposes (Lang, 2007). As a result, the use of gravity fed (jug and counter top) home water treatment devices (HWTDs) in the domestic and occupational setting is increasing rapidly (Ahammed and Meera, 2010; Kaiser, 2010). Most of these devices are sold over the counter and consumers buy these products in good faith on the basis of claims of their efficiency made during marketing and advertising campaigns, and with the expectation that the device will remove 90-100% of all harmful microorganisms (Berney et al., 2008; Varbanets et al., 2009). However, very often the claims made in the manufactures brochures are not substantiated by independent research (Fengyi et al., 2009). Thus a need existed for an independent exploratory study to evaluate a representative number of gravity fed HWTDs sold in South Africa against the claims that are made by their manufacturers and in sales brochures.