Advancing performance evaluation standards for household water treatment technologies
Advancing performance evaluation standards for household water treatment technologies
Publication Year:
2018
Authors:
Brown, D.; Farrow, C.; McBean, E. A.; Gharabaghi, B.; Beauchamp, J.
Language:
English
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Summary:
Propose a new framework for evaluating the performance of point-of-use water treatment products, which takes into account the variability of water quality and user behavior in different contexts.
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Resource Information
Abstract
Diarrheal illnesses and fatalities continue to be major issues in many regions throughout the world. Household water treatment (HWT) technologies (including both point-of-use (POU) and point-of-entry (POE) treatment solutions) have been shown as able to deliver safe water in many low-income communities. However, as shown herein, there are important inconsistencies in protocols employed for validating performance of HWTs. The WHO does not stipulate influent concentration as a parameter that could influence removal efficacy, nor does it indicate an influent concentration range that should be used during technology evaluations. A correlation between influent concentration and removal is evidenced herein (R2 = 0.88) with higher influent concentrations resulting in higher log-removal values (LRVs). The absence of a recommended standard influent concentration of bacteria (as well as for viruses and protozoa) could have negative consequences in intervention efforts. Recommendations are provided that regulatory bodies should specify an influent concentration range for testing and verification of HWT technologies.
Resource Type
Journal Article
Publication Year
2018
Author
Brown, D.; Farrow, C.; McBean, E. A.; Gharabaghi, B.; Beauchamp, J.
Language
English
Specific Contaminants
Bacteria, Escherichia coli
University Affiliation
University of Guelph
Business Connect Takeaways
Performance evaluation standards for household water treatment technologies are needed to ensure that products are effective at reducing microbial contamination and safe for use in low-resource settings.
Current evaluation standards do not always reflect real-world conditions or consider the needs and preferences of end-users.
Advancing performance evaluation standards for household water treatment technologies requires collaboration between researchers, product developers, and end-users to ensure that products are effective, safe, and appropriate for use in diverse settings.