Do low-cost ceramic water filters improve water security in rural South Africa?

This study examined the performance of a low-cost ceramic candle filter system (CCFS) for point of use (POU) drinking water treatment in the village of Hobeni, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. CCFSs were distributed in Hobeni and a survey was carried out among their users. The performance of 51...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Drinking water engineering and science 2016-10, Vol.9 (2), p.47-55
Main Authors: Lange, Jens, Materne, Tineke, Grüner, Jörg
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Candles
Contamination
Drinking water
E coli
Efficiency
Households
Human factors
Hygiene
Laboratories
Laboratory tests
Low cost
Management
Microorganisms
Nanoparticles
Rain
Rain water
Repeated loading
Rural areas
Security
Silver
South Africa
Surveying
Wastewater
Water filters
Water pollution
Water purification
Water quality
Water security
Water shortages
Water springs
Water supply
Water treatment
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Summary:This study examined the performance of a low-cost ceramic candle filter system (CCFS) for point of use (POU) drinking water treatment in the village of Hobeni, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. CCFSs were distributed in Hobeni and a survey was carried out among their users. The performance of 51 CCFSs was evaluated by dip slides and related to human factors. Already after two-thirds of their specified lifetime, none of the distributed CCFSs produced water without distinct contamination, and more than one-third even deteriorated in hygienic water quality. Besides the water source (springs were preferable compared to river or rain water), a high water throughput was the dominant reason for poor CCFS performance. A stepwise laboratory test documented the negative effects of repeated loading and ambient field temperatures. These findings suggest that not every CCFS type per se guarantees improved drinking water security and that the efficiency of low-cost systems should continuously be monitored. For this purpose, dip slides were found to be a cost-efficient alternative to standard laboratory tests. They consistently underestimated microbial counts but can be used by laypersons and hence by the users themselves to assess critical contamination of their filter systems.
ISSN:1996-9465
1996-9457
1996-9465
DOI:10.5194/dwes-9-47-2016