title: Appropriate technology for rural India - solar decontamination of water for emergency settings and small communities.
abstract: A commercial solar water heating system was evaluated for its effectiveness in decontaminating drinking water with a view to use in emergency situations. A total of 18 seeding experiments carried out over 6 months with 10(5) to 10(7)Escherichia coli/ml showed that the solar heater produced 125 l of bacteriologically safe water in 4 h when the ambient temperature was above 30 degrees C, with a holding time of at least 2 h. The solar water heating system is inexpensive, easy to transport and set up and could provide safer drinking water for 50 people a day. It would be effective in the decrease and prevention of waterborne disease in emergency situations, and is appropriate for use in small communities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Sciences, Christian Medical College, Vellore 632004, Tamilnadu, India. gkang@cmcvellore.ac.in
authors.forename: Gagandeep
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Sheela
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: Vinohar
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Balraj
mesh_terms: D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004203:Disinfection / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004326:Drinking; D004867:Equipment Design; D004926:Escherichia coli; D006361:Heating / Q000379:methods*; D007194:India; D012423:Rural Health; D012993:Solar Energy; D013997:Time Factors; D014871:Water Microbiology; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*; D014881:Water Supply