We evaluated the ability of UNICEF-designed pot-chlorinators to achieve recommended free residual chlorine (FRC) levels in well water in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, during a cholera outbreak. Thirty wells were randomly selected from six neighbourhoods. Pot-chlorinators – perforated plastic bottles filled with gravel, sand and calcium hypochlorite granules – were placed in each well. FRC was measured before and 24, 48 and 72 h after placement and compared with World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended levels of ≥1 mg L−1 for well water during cholera outbreaks and 0.2–5 mg L−1 in non-outbreak settings. Presence of well covers, distance from wells to latrines, and rainfall were noted. Complete post-chlorination data were collected from 26 wells. At baseline, no wells had FRC >0.09 mg L−1. At 24, 48 and 72 h post-chlorination, 4 (15%), 1 (4%) and 0 wells had FRC ≥1 mg L−1 and 16 (62%), 4 (15%) and 1 (4%) wells had FRC between 0.2 and 5 mg L−1, respectively. Several families reported discontinuing household water chlorination after wells were treated with pot-chlorinators. Pot-chlorinators failed to achieve WHO-recommended FRC levels in well water during a cholera outbreak, and conveyed a false sense of security to local residents. Pot-chlorination should be discouraged and alternative approaches to well-water disinfection promoted.
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Research Article|
April 25 2011
Evaluation of pot-chlorination of wells during a cholera outbreak, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, 2008
Elizabeth C. Cavallaro;
1Mailstop C-25, Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer assigned to the Global WASH Epidemiology Team, Waterborne Diseases Prevention Branch (WDPB), Division of Foodborne, Bacterial, and Mycotic Diseases (DBFMD), National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
E-mail: [email protected]
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Julie R. Harris;
Julie R. Harris
2Mycotic Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, MSC-09, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
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Mauricio Serafim da Goia;
Mauricio Serafim da Goia
3Bissau Department of Water and Sanitation, Ao cuidado de Eng. Leonel Gomes, Guiné Telecom Apartado 100-1011 Bxo Codex República da Guiné-Bissau
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Jean Carlos dos Santos Barrado;
Jean Carlos dos Santos Barrado
4Sergio Arouca Public Health National School, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rua Leopoldo Bulhoes, 1480 – Manguinhos, 21041-210, Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil
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Aglaêr Alves da Nóbrega;
Aglaêr Alves da Nóbrega
5EPISUS/CIEVS/SVS, Esplanada dos Ministerios, Bloco G, Brasilia, DF Brazil
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Inácio Carvalho de Alvarenga Júnior;
Inácio Carvalho de Alvarenga Júnior
6WHO Guinea Bissau, Av. Pansau Na Isna, PO Box 177, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
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Augusto Paulo Silva;
Augusto Paulo Silva
7Ministério da Saúde - Secretaria de Estado, Avenida Unidade Africana, Caixa Postal 50-1013 Bissau Cedex, República da Guiné-Bissau
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Jeremy Sobel;
Jeremy Sobel
8Mailstop E-93, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
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Eric Mintz
Eric Mintz
9Mailstop A-38, Global WASH Epidemiology Team, WDPB, DBFMD, NCEZID, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
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J Water Health (2011) 9 (2): 394–402.
Article history
Received:
July 29 2010
Accepted:
December 23 2010
Citation
Elizabeth C. Cavallaro, Julie R. Harris, Mauricio Serafim da Goia, Jean Carlos dos Santos Barrado, Aglaêr Alves da Nóbrega, Inácio Carvalho de Alvarenga Júnior, Augusto Paulo Silva, Jeremy Sobel, Eric Mintz; Evaluation of pot-chlorination of wells during a cholera outbreak, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, 2008. J Water Health 1 June 2011; 9 (2): 394–402. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wh.2011.122
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