Clearinghouse

Description
The Safe Water System (SWS) is a water quality intervention that employs simple, robust, and inexpensive technologies appropriate for the developing world. The intervention consists of three steps:

• Sodium hypochlorite solution;
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• Safe water storage in plastic containers;
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• Behavior change techniques, including communication, and education.

Benefits

• Simple
• Inexpensive
• Excellent bacterial/viral removal

Drawbacks

• Effective only for low lurbidity
• Does not inactivate protozoa
• Smell and taste may be unacceptable
• Very stable distribution channel required

Ideal Situation

• Communities with an established store where users can continuously purchase disinfectant bottles.

Important Chlorine Information

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

References & Links

• Mission Report: An Evaluation of the Zambia CLORIN Program
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• Meeting the Need for Safe Drinking Water in Rural Mexico Through Point-of-Use Treatment [PDF]

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333, U.S.A
Public Inquiries: (404) 639-3534 / (800) 311-3435