Eff ti H h ld W t T t t d R lEffective Household Water Treatment and Roles of Women in Flood Emergency

Bilqis Amin Hoque, Sufia Khanam, Richard Johnston, A Salam, Abu Zahid Shipon and Md. Abubakkor Siddik

IntroductionIntroduction

• Frequency of extreme floods and cyclones are increasing

• When the existing drinking water systems are damaged/affected; risks for exposure to drinkingdamaged/affected; risks for exposure to drinking microbiologically contaminated water  increases  significantly in rural areas of developing countries.

• Post flood/cyclone epidemics of water borne diseases• Post flood/cyclone epidemics of water‐borne diseases have been common and contributing significantly to the health burdens P i f d i (POU) h b k li f i• Point‐of‐use device  (POU) has been a key relief item over ages

Key Issues and Challenges Key Issues and Challenges

• The investment needs will increase with the increase in frequency of disasters.

• The length of emergency water period and its complexities can vary with the impacts of disaster (localcomplexities can vary with the impacts of disaster (local contexts, types of disaster, etc)

• Emergency is a managerial term, demanding decision g g gand follow‐up in terms of extra‐ordinary measures

• Usually household POU is regarded as a simple approach. It is rarely followedIt is rarely followed

• But POU is a technology; local contexts will determine its performance.  

Research objective Research objective

• Revisit scopes for POU methods used inRevisit scopes for POU methods used in Bangladesh 

MethodologyMethodology

• Cyclone Sidr (category 5) hit  Bangladesh on November 15 2007, g ,causing  a storm surge of up to 5m

• Two kinds of POUs ; PUR ( new)• Two kinds of POUs ; PUR  ( new)and WPT (commonly distributed)

i f i i• Housewives of PUR recipients were provided with training

• Data collected by: (i) interviewing  about use, knowledge, acceptance  (ii) water quality: physical RCL and(ii) water quality: physical, RCL and TTC and (iii) diarr. prevalence among PUR, WPT and Comparison children 

Acceptance of POUs

PUR acceptance (N=131) WPT acceptance (N=126)yes10%

no28%

yesyes72%

no90%

Concentration of residual chlorine (RCL) in PUR treated stored water samples

Distribution RCL (mg/l) of PUR Treated Water30

p

20

cy

10

Std Dev = 24

1.0094

.8882

.7669

.6357

.5145

.3933

.2620

.1408

.02

Freq

uenc

0

Std. Dev = .24 Mean = .39

N = 131.00

RCL (mg/l)

.94.82.69.57.45.33.20.08

Concentration of residual chlorine (RCL) in WPT treated stored water samples

Distribution Rcl(mg/l) of WPT

6

in WPT treated stored water samples

5

4

3

Concentration of residual chlorine (RCL) in PUR treated stored water samples

ncy

2

.94.78.62.46.30.14-.02

Freq

uen 1

0

Std. Dev = .29 Mean = .29

N = 20.00

RCL(mg/l)

1.02.86.70.54.38.22.06

Level of Schooling of Housewives (recipients) and presence of POU treated water

Variable PUR (%) WPT (%)A Ab t

p

Present Absent Present Absent

Households with 131 51 20 173samples (N)

Education:Education:No SchoolingPrimary (1-5 yrs)

1943

1157

510

1554y ( y )

> Primary 38 32 85 31

There were statistically significant differencesThere were statistically significant differencesbetween the proportions of schoolings in both WPT present and WPT absent groups

Rates of 24 Hour Prevalence of Diarrhea Among Children in POU and Comparison GroupsChildren in POU and Comparison Groups

12 014.0

ce

8.010.012.0

reva

lenc

%)

2 04.06.0

ates

of p

r(%

0.02.0

Comparison WPT PUR

Ra

Types of the group

RR f PUR 0 23 0 07 0 73RR of PUR= 0.23; 0.07-0.73RR of WPT= 0.45; 0.19-1.03

Conclusions Conclusions

• Reconfirmed household POU device as an effective emergency water approach, provided it is used properly 

• PUR was a new method and required more work than the WPT; rate of use of PUR was higher than  WPT.; g

• Housewives /women managed the POUs • Training on use of POU was rare  

L l f t k l d b t f POU hi h• Level of correct knowledge about use of POU was higher among PUR than among WPT users. 

• Probably training on PUR contributed to its higher rate of use compared to that of WPT 

• POUs were not adequately distributed• Overall; management of POU was weakOverall; management of POU was weak 

Conceptual Framework 

DISASTERquality

SAFE WATERPOU

Access to, type ogPOU,  treatment, use, knowledge, q y , g ,

SES, contamination

WWater system

Damaged Not Damaged

Affected

Water systemWater system

Damaged Not    Damaged

Recommendations Recommendations

• Further develop POU devices (various kinds ofFurther develop POU devices (various kinds of appropriate devices and not only low‐cost) and its management system (needs, promotion,its management system (needs, promotion, access to/distribution/stock piling, monitoring, upgrading , etc. in line with comprehensive pg g , pdisaster management)   

• Build capacity of women about householdBuild capacity of women about household management of POUs for emergency drinking water based on local contextswater based on local contexts

Thank YouThank You