Laboratory efficacy and field effectiveness of hollow fiber membrane microfilters used for household water treatment in Honduras
Laboratory efficacy and field effectiveness of hollow fiber membrane microfilters used for household water treatment in Honduras
Publication Year:
2017
Authors:
Murray, Anna L.; Stewart, Barbara; Hopper, Catherine; Tobin, Ellen; Rivera, Jimmy; Mut-Tracy, Henry; Stewart, Patrick; Stewart, Cordelia; Tobin, Claire; Goeb, Mario; Meub, Carolyn; Lantagne, Daniele S.
Language:
English
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Summary:
The article is about the laboratory efficacy and field effectiveness of hollow-fiber membrane filters (HFMFs) used for household water treatment (HWT) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and humanitarian contexts. The study tested the performance of four different HFMFs in removing E. coli and other contaminants from influent water.
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Resource Information
Abstract
The Sawyer PointONE™ hollow fiber membrane filter is increasingly promoted for long-term household water treatment in developing countries. Limited data demonstrate PointONE™ microbiological laboratory efficacy and short-term diarrheal disease reduction among users, but household microbiological data is lacking. To compare laboratory and household PointONE™ filter microbiological performance, we enumerated Escherichia coli (E. coli) and total coliforms in source and filtrate water from: (1) one new filter with E. coli-spiked water (107–109 CFU/100 mL) in the laboratory, (2) one new filter with natural Maine and Honduran surface waters, and (3) 50 filters used in Honduran homes for 1–3 years. In laboratory tests, all filtrate samples had 99.99999% reduction). In natural surface waters, all filtrate samples had ≤1 MPN/100 mL E. coli (≥99.5% reduction). In households, filtrate samples had geometric mean 5.1 MPN/100 mL E. coli (90% reduction), with only 30% of filtrate samples complying with international standards of undetectable E. coli. Total coliform presence in natural water filtrate varied for both new and household filters. The discrepancy between laboratory and household results and premature filter failure are not well understood. Further research is recommended to understand this performance disparity and determine filter failure mechanisms in households.
Resource Type
Journal Article
Publication Year
2017
Author
Murray, Anna L.; Stewart, Barbara; Hopper, Catherine; Tobin, Ellen; Rivera, Jimmy; Mut-Tracy, Henry; Stewart, Patrick; Stewart, Cordelia; Tobin, Claire; Goeb, Mario; Meub, Carolyn; Lantagne, Daniele S.
Language
English
Relevant Country
Honduras
Specific Contaminants
Bacteria, E. coli
Specific Solutions
Sawyer PointONE
University Affiliation
University of Maine, Tufts Univeristy, University of Michigan,
Business Connect Takeaways
Fouling develops rapidly on fibers, depending on HFMF type and influent water quality, and there is no one-size-fits-all backwashing solution.
Additional laboratory work should focus on expanding testing with other field-relevant influent water qualities but also to test additional cleaning solutions and backwashing solution combinations.
Completing field studies seem necessary to determine if cleaning methods can be adopted but also to measure water quality and fouling indicators in collaboration with users over time.