Household water chlorination for the developing world : a cast study in Lumbini, Nepal

Abstract

This thesis examines the CDC's Safe Water System program as an approach to the provision of microbially safe water in the developing world and evaluates a pilot study of household chlorination established in January 2001 in Lumbini, Nepal based on the Safe Water System approach. The evaluation of the Lumbini Household Chlorination Pilot Study presented here is based on field visits conducted in Lumbini, Nepal in January 2002. During this field-study period, households participating in the chlorination pilot study were visited to assess the level of effectiveness and acceptance of household chlorination in the region. Assessments of the effectiveness of household chlorination were based on bacterial removal and measured free chlorine residuals in stored household water supplies, as well as on health data collected over the course of the pilot study by the International Buddhist Society. Assessments of the acceptance of household chlorination were based on user interviews conducted during household visits. In addition to the pilot study evaluation, a microbial water quality survey was conducted on public tubewells installed in Lumbini by the International Buddhist Society. This thesis presents recommendations for the expansion of household chlorination in Lumbini, including the establishment of a formal user education program and the introduction of user contributions and cost-recovery for household chlorination products. In addition, it presents recommendations for the establishment of a well inventory in Lumbini and suggests standard surveying and microbial testing procedures to facilitate future well surveying efforts in Lumbini.