Dept of Microbiology, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou, 0950, Limpopo Province, South Africa; MRC, Division of Clinical Epidemiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng Province, South Africa; Dept of Medical Microbiology, University of Pretoria, National Health Laboratory Service, Pretoria, Gauteng Province, South Africa
Potgieter, N., Dept of Microbiology, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou, 0950, Limpopo Province, South Africa; Becker, P.J., MRC, Division of Clinical Epidemiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng Province, South Africa; Ehlers, M.M., Dept of Medical Microbiology, University of Pretoria, National Health Laboratory Service, Pretoria, Gauteng Province, South Africa
The use of different concentrations of sodium hypochlorite solutions (placebo; 1% and 3.5% sodium hypochlorite solutions) and 2 water-storage containers (traditional plastic container and the improved CDC safe water-storage container) as interventions in 2 rural communities using different water sources (improved vs. unimproved) was evaluated over a period of 4 months. Standard methods were used to determine the presence of indicator organisms (total coliforms, faecal coliforms, Escherichia coli, faecal enterococci, Clostridium perfringens, male-specific F-RNA and somatic coliphages) in the water samples. The results indicated that the 1% and the 3.5% sodium hypochlorite solutions effectively reduced the numbers of indicator microorganisms to undetectable counts in both types of water-storage containers. However, no statistical differences were seen between the 2 types of water-storage containers in the numbers of indicator microorganisms present in the stored water with the addition of a placebo sodium hypochlorite solution. Compliance of households with the use of the sodium hypochlorite intervention ranged between 60% and 100%. A household questionnaire survey indicated an urgent need for education concerning the risk of waterborne diseases, the proper use of safe household water-storage devices and water treatment processes and improvement of hygiene and sanitation practices in these rural households.
Rural households; Safe water-storage container; Sodium hypochlorite solution; South Africa; Store drinking water; Chemicals removal (water treatment); Escherichia coli; Hydrometallurgy; Microorganisms; Nucleic acids; Plastic containers; RNA; Sodium; Surveys; Wastewater treatment; Water supply; Potable water; drinking water; fecal coliform; household survey; microorganism; rural area; safety; water storage; water treatment; Africa; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Clostridium perfringens; Enterococcus; Escherichia coli