Estimating the Global Target Market for Passive Chlorination

Abstract

Deploying passive (in-line) chlorinators is one strategy for improving access to microbially safe drinking water without requiring electricity or daily user input. Using Joint Monitoring Programme data, we calculate the population in low-and middle-income countries (n = 135 LMICs) using drinking water sources that are compatible (piped water and kiosks) or potentially compatible (packaged and/or delivered water, rainwater, boreholes and/or tube wells, and protected springs) with passive chlorinators. Leveraging water quality data from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (n = 37 LMICs), we estimate that 2.32 [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.19, 2.46] billion people use microbially contaminated water sources that are compatible [1.51 (1.42, 1.60) billion] or potentially compatible [817 (776, 858) million] with passive chlorinators. The largest target market for passive chlorinators is in South Asia [551 (532, 571) million rural users and 401 (384, 417) million urban users], where >77% of compatible drinking water sources are contaminated. However, self-reported household water treatment practices (n = 54 LMICs) indicate that chlorination is more common in the African and Latin American regions, suggesting passive chlorination would have higher acceptance in these regions than in Asia. Reaching the full potential of passive chlorinators will require establishing compatability of technologies with hand pump chlorination and identifying financially viable implementation models.

Performance of Community Water Board-Managed Passive In-Line Chlorinators Supported by a Circuit Rider Program in Rural Honduras

“…For example, sensor-based monitoring of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions is increasing and has the potential to offset personnel requirements. 38,39 40 Therefore, we assert that passive chlorinators coupled with an external circuit rider support program, like the one described here, can be replicated at scale to accelerate progress toward safely managed drinking water for all.…”

“…If monitoring and reporting requirements can be successfully transferred to the communities with continued guidance, necessary supplies, and support from EOS, then EOS circuit riders could prioritize technical assistance visits for community water systems in disrepair while continuing to expand passive chlorinator installations into new communities. Over 321 million people in Latin America and the Caribbean, and 2.32 billion people globally, are served by drinking water systems compatible with passive chlorinators . Therefore, we assert that passive chlorinators coupled with an external circuit rider support program, like the one described here, can be replicated at scale to accelerate progress toward safely managed drinking water for all.…”

“…38,39 Sensors could be deployed with passive chlorinators to monitor source water availability and FCR and provide alarms to trigger technical support visits by circuit riders. Additionally, ongoing efforts by EOS to transfer the responsibility of monitoring to key 40 Therefore, we assert that passive chlorinators coupled with an external circuit rider support program, like the one described here, can be replicated at scale to accelerate progress toward safely managed drinking water for all.…”

Chlorine Water Taste Threshold and Acceptability among Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Populations in Rural Panama

“…3,18 Furthermore, recent research indicates that certain regions use chlorine more often�Africa and Latin America� suggesting passive chlorination may have higher acceptance in these regions than in others. 19 Because thresholds reported in the literature have varied widely, there is a need for site-specific taste threshold research, particularly in settings where taste thresholds remain unknown. 20 In Panama (the location of this study), a range of 0.3−0.8 mg/L Cl 2 is recommended by the Panamanian Commission of Industrial and Technical Standards (COPANIT, in Spanish) and, only under "exceptional circumstances" (emergency need for potable water that cannot be served elsewhere, extreme weather conditions, or difficult geography around the water source), the upper end of the range can be expanded to 1.2 mg/L Cl 2 .…”

“…That study only presented participants with two samples compared with the three sample methods used in our study 3-alternative forced choice (3-AFC) . In the U.S. and France studies, the range of taste thresholds varied widely, with French participants having thresholds as low as 0.14 mg/L Cl 2 and US participants not accurately tasting chlorine at 3.0 mg/L Cl 2 . , Chlorine acceptability has been studied at the household level as well, but without a focus on Indigenous groups. , Furthermore, recent research indicates that certain regions use chlorine more oftenAfrica and Latin Americasuggesting passive chlorination may have higher acceptance in these regions than in others . Because thresholds reported in the literature have varied widely, there is a need for site-specific taste threshold research, particularly in settings where taste thresholds remain unknown …”