Household water storage, handling and point-of-use treatment

Consumption of unsafe water continues to be one of the major causes of diarrhoeal disease death. Up to 1.1 billion people still do not have access to “improved” sources of drinking water. 5.2 billion people, using an “improved” source, nevertheless drink water which is unsafe, following contamination at source, in the piped distribution system or as a result of unhygienic handling during transport or in the home.

This literature review presents : 1) a situational analysis of household water and waterborne diseases, 2) field studies of the health benefits of promotion interventions in the home to achieve and maintain water quality, 3) a quantitative assessment of the health benefits of promoting interventions in the home to achieve and maintain water quality4) promotion of hygiene behaviour change, and 5) the effectiveness of methods for treatment, handling and storage of water in the home

Evidence shows, that the provision of safe water alone can reduce diarrhoeal and other enteric diseases by 6 % to 50 %, even in absence of improved sanitation and hygiene measures. The improvement of the microbiological quality of household water by point-of-use treatment and safe storage in improved vessels reduces diarrhoeal and other water-borne diseases in communities and households. Flocculation or filtration with chemical or physical inactivation of pathogens are required in most situations, and has to be followed by the additional barrier of safe storage. Therefore communities must have ready access to appropriate, effective, easy to use and affordable water treatment technologies.