Effectiveness of ceramic filter for safe Drinking water supply in the coastal Areas of Bangladesh

Abstract

Every year 1.5 million children die from diarrheal diseases (WHO 2009), and many of these deaths can be attributed to unsafe drinking water. Lack of access to drinking water and exposure to waterborne diseases from unsafe drinking water are problems faced by many people in the developing world. The WHO (2010) estimates that 884 million people worldwide lack access to improved sources of drinking water. Persons obtaining water from unimproved sources are at risk of drinking water contaminated with pathogens that may cause diseases such as cholera, enteric fever, dysentery, and hepatitis. Even people with access to so-called improved sources may not have microbiologically safe water and are at risk for developing the same diseases caused by drinking from unimproved sources. Now, in developing countries it has really become important to find out an affordable and effective way to produce safe drinking water that is free from any microbiological contamination. The point-of-use (POU) technology that uses conventional ceramic filters might be an effective way to reduce microbiological contamination. The use of ceramic filter in the developing countries like Bangladesh might be a good secondary source of fresh water where it is very difficult to have fresh drinking water for sustaining life. The southern coastal part of Bangladesh that is Khulna is greatly suffering from fresh surface drinking water sources. This study focuses on the two site of Khulna, which are Mongla and Dacope. A total of 142 water samples were collected in each cycle and three complete cycles were carried out. These samples were analyzed in the laboratory to identify the microbiological characteristics of water before and after filtration. The sample water have been tested for various indicator organism i.e. Total Coliform, Fecal Coliform, E. Coli, Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC), through the process of membrane filtration and droplet technique. In conclusion, through the analysis of the results obtained, clear comparison can be made about the water quality in terms of ceramic filtration, hence the effectiveness of the ceramic filter can be determined. The microbial count for baseline of pond and PSF water source satisfied 0% water sample for all the parameters whereas RWH water supply shows a better result satisfying 44% water sample for safe drinking. Percent of samples satisfying WHO guideline were also evaluated and it has been seen that 21%, 20%, 40% samples satisfied guideline on an average for three cycles for TC, FC, E.coli respectively. A Quantitative Health Risk Assessment (QHRA) is done using the QHRA model. From the analysis it is seen that v the disease burden reduces after treatment of water. For treated PSF, pond and RWH water viral disease burden for median decreases 55%, 55%, 0% respectively with respect to untreated water. The findings of the present study suggests that drinking water supply options available in the southwest coastal zone pose a significant risk to public health and alternative water supply system is required.