Microbiological removal effectiveness of commercially available point of use water treatment devices for household use in jimma town, south west Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Diarrhea is a major public health problem that disproportionately affects children in developing countries, including Ethiopia. Nowadays, numerous point-of-use devices are manufactured and sold all over the country for the prevention and control of waterborne disease. Even though many people have bought and installed point-of-use drinking water treatment devices, there is a lack of data on their type and applicability of devices at the household. Besides, little has known about the microbiological efficiency of these devices on quality of water for human consumption. Objectives: To evaluate the microbiological removal effectiveness of commonly used and commercially available point of use water treatment devices for household use Method: The study was conducted in Jimma city from June to August, 2021; laboratory based cross sectional study was designed and household survey at six Kebeles and 385 randomly selected households was conducted and four most accepted point of use water treatments ceramic, tulip, a new modified sand filter produced in Jimma University and Wuha -agar chemical disinfectants were identified. And then, microbial removal effectiveness; turbidity reduction and flow rate of these devices were evaluated using locally available water sources of municipality tap, rain, ground and spring in laboratory. Result and discussion: The study result shown as among the commercially available water treatment devices, Tulip filter 75.15%, 81.99%, and 48.62%;35.59%;1.15l/h ceramic filter 62.91%, 49.16% and 62.18 %; 16.44%;1.06l/h an average value were registered for microbial (EC, FC and TC) removal effectiveness, turbidity reduction efficiency and flow rate respectively. And a chemical disinfectant Wuha- agar 89.37%, 48.66% and57.48%; was also registered average value of microbial (EC, FC and TC) removal effectiveness after 30-minute contact time. Microbial (EC, FC and TC) removal efficiency, turbidity reduction and flow rate of modified sand filter 83.17%, 55.88% and 52.59%; 30.89%; 1.83l/h average value was registered respectively. From regression analysis turbidity have significant effect on microbial removal effectiveness of devices but flow rate does not have significant effect at 99% confidential interval. Conclusion: This study observed that Tulip/ceramic candle filter followed by chemical disinfectant Wuha- agar registered higher performance of microbial removal effectiveness.