A critical evaluation of two point-of-use water treatment technologies: can they provide water that meets WHO drinking water guidelines?

摘要

Point-of-use (POU) technologies have been proposed as solutions for meeting the MillenniumnDevelopment Goal (MDG) for safe water. They reduce the risk of contamination between thenwater source and the home, by providing treatment at the household level. This study examinedntwo POU technologies commonly used around the world: BioSand and ceramic filters. While thenhealth benefits in terms of diarrhoeal disease reduction have been fairly well documented fornboth technologies, little research has focused on the ability of these technologies to treat otherncontaminants that pose health concerns, including the potential for formation of contaminants asna result of POU treatment. These technologies have not been rigorously tested to see if theynmeet World Health Organization (WHO) drinking water guidelines. A study was developed tonevaluate POU BioSand and ceramic filters in terms of microbiological and chemical quality of thentreated water. The following parameters were monitored on filters in rural Cambodia over a sixmonthnperiod: iron, manganese, fluoride, nitrate, nitrite and Escherichia coli. The results revealednthat these technologies are not capable of consistently meeting all of the WHO drinking waternguidelines for these parameters.