Evaluation of the complementary use of the ceramic (Kosim) filter and Aquatabs in Northern Region, Ghana

The Kosim filter is a ceramic water filter that is currently used in Northern Ghana. Based on prior MIT research in Northern Ghana, this technology is effective at removing 92% of turbidity, 99.4% of total coliforms, and 99.7% of E. Coli from unimproved water sources. However, the product water is still microbially contaminated. The purpose of this thesis is to explore the effectiveness of combining two household water treatment technologies, the Kosim filter and Aquatabs, in order to achieve a more effective and complete water treatment system. Aquatabs are sodium dichlorisocyanurate chlorine tablets that are used on the household scale. They are particularly effective at killing pathogenic bacteria; however, they have predominantly been applied in emergency relief situations and have never, apart from one research study conducted by the Center for Disease Control, previously been applied in Ghana. In this study, 59 rural households (24 in a lower-class community and 35 in a lower middle-class community) in possession of Kosim filters were visited as part of a three week pilot study. During the initial visit, households were surveyed about the use and perception of their Kosim filters, they were trained in the use and given a one week supply of Aquatabs, and their Kosim filtered water (without Aquatabs) was tested. After one week, the same households were re-visited. A similar survey was conducted about the use and perception of the combined Kosim filter and Aquatabs system, and the filtered and chlorine disinfected water was tested. The addition of Aquatabs to the Kosim filtered water significantly reduced the microbial contamination; however, it did not completely remove pathogenic bacteria.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2008

Author dc:creator

• Swanton, Andrew A

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Susan Murcott.

• Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/43897

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/43897