AChlorine Tablet Use for Household Water Treatment in Emergencies: Guidance for Tablet Selection

Publication Year:

2019

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Resource Type:

Report

Summary:

The document provides comprehensive guidance on the selection of chlorine tablets for household water treatment in emergency situations. It outlines a procedure for assessing water quality, recipient context, taste and odor thresholds, and local context to determine the most appropriate chlorine tablet size.

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Abstract

Chlorine tablets are often a good choice for water treatment in emergencies because they are widely available, cost-effective, easily transported, and simple to use. However, the availability of multiple tablet sizes in an emergency can result in users treating their water improperly, and some doses may be unpalatable to users. This document provides tools to assess water needs in an emergency and make a recommendation for the best chlorine tablet to avoid confusion and provide water that users will accept. This approach may also be used even when only one tablet size is available to inform use of that tablet. This includes activities that assess: 1) water quality, 2) recipient context, 3) taste and odor thresholds, and 4) local context, and the coordination of a recommendation based on these parameters.

Resource Type

Report

Publication Year

2019

Author

Language

Organizational Affiliation

University Affiliation

Business Connect Takeaways

Importance of Context-Specific Tablet Selection: The document emphasizes the need to assess water quality, recipient context, taste and odor thresholds, and local context to select the most appropriate chlorine tablet size for effective and acceptable water treatment in emergency situations.

Recommendations for Humanitarian Response Organizations: It recommends conducting chlorine tablet selection processes at the start of an emergency or during protracted crises, as well as purchasing and pre-positioning a wider range of chlorine tablet dosages to allow for the use of the tablet identified by the selection process.

Focus on Safe and Acceptable Water Treatment: The document provides tools and guidance to avoid confusion and ensure that the chosen chlorine tablet dose effectively disinfects water, provides residual protection, and is acceptable to users, thereby facilitating correct and consistent use of water treatment in emergency contexts.