Evaluating the efficacy of household filters used for the removal of bacterial contaminants from drinking water

Abstract

Due to the erratic nature of microbial contaminants in drinking water, private and municipality water supply systems failed to deliver safe drinking water to households. In Ethiopia, there is lack of data and knowledge on the effectiveness of filter devices used to treat drinking water at household. This study aims to evaluate efficiency of household point of use filter devices (membrane filter, membrane with activated carbon, ceramic candle type filter and hybrid (multistage)) in reducing bacterial contaminants from drinking water. Percent reduction efficiency model was employed in evaluating bacterial removal efficiency. Membrane filter and membrane with activated carbon filter devices had good total coliform removal efficiency on the 1st and 2nd days than hybrid filter device which showed low removal efficiency. Similarly, all filter devices showed better fecal coliform removal efficiency on the 1st day compared to 2nd day but had low heterotrophic bacteria removal efficiency during the three days filtration. Fecal Streptococcus removal efficiency on the 2nd and 3rd days by all filter devices was low except the first day. The result in general showed that using of point of use filter devices for prolonged time could not guarantee in providing risk free drinking water at household level.

Ceramic Filters for the Efficient Removal of Azo Dyes and Pathogens in Water

“…The presence of free OH groups and bonded O-H bands of carboxylic acid is indicated by this O-H stretching vibration, which occurs over a wide range of frequencies [23]. The two sharp peaks at 2935 cm −1 and 2854 cm −1 , which are due to the asymmetric and symmetric stretching of C-H bonds in aliphatic chains, respectively, are evidence of the existence of sp 3 and sp 2 hybridized carbons [22]. These peaks have been linked to the level of caffeine in coffee [24].…”

“…However, in this study, the results were inconclusive. The FTIR spectrum for coffee bean residue showed peaks between 3400 cm −1 and 3000 cm −1 , attributed to the O-H stretching, which is likely due to inter-and intramolecular hydrogen bonding with polymetric hydrocarbons such phenols, carboxylic acids, and alcohols [22]. The presence of free OH groups and bonded O-H bands of carboxylic acid is indicated by this O-H stretching vibration, which occurs over a wide range of frequencies [23].…”