title: Evaluating four measures of water quality in clay pots and plastic safe storage containers in Kenya.
abstract: Household water treatment with chlorine can improve microbiological quality and reduce diarrhea. Chlorination is typically assessed using free chlorine residual (FCR), with a lower acceptable limit of 0.2 mg/L, however, accurate measurement of FCR is challenging with turbid water. To compare potential measures of adherence to treatment and water quality, we chlorinated recently-collected water in rural Kenyan households and measured total chlorine residual (TCR), FCR, oxidation reduction potential (ORP), and E. coli concentration over 72 h in clay and plastic containers. Results showed that 1) ORP served as a useful proxy for chlorination in plastic containers up to 24 h; 2) most stored water samples disinfected by chlorination remained significantly less contaminated than source water for up to 72 h, even in the absence of FCR; 3) TCR may be a useful proxy indicator of microbiologic water quality because it confirms previous chlorination and is associated with a lower risk of E. coli contamination compared to untreated source water; and 4) chlorination is more effective in plastic than clay containers presumably because of lower chlorine demand in plastic.
authors: Waterborne Disease Prevention Branch, Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA. Electronic address: iod7@cdc.gov.
authors: Jennifer L
authors: JL
authors: Murphy
authors: Waterborne Disease Prevention Branch, Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors: Tracy L
authors: TL
authors: Ayers
authors: Waterborne Disease Prevention Branch, Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors: Jacqueline
authors: J
authors: Knee
authors: Safe Water and AIDS Project, Kisumu, Kenya.
authors: Jared
authors: J
authors: Oremo
authors: Safe Water and AIDS Project, Kisumu, Kenya.
authors: Aloyce
authors: A
authors: Odhiambo
authors: Safe Water and AIDS Project, Kisumu, Kenya.
authors: Sitnah H
authors: SH
authors: Faith
authors: Safe Water and AIDS Project, Kisumu, Kenya.
authors: Ronald O
authors: RO
authors: Nyagol
authors: Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors: Christine E
authors: CE
authors: Stauber
authors: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA.
authors: Daniele S
authors: DS
authors: Lantagne
authors: Waterborne Disease Prevention Branch, Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors: Robert E
authors: RE
authors: Quick
mesh_terms: D002713:Chlorine; D004926:Escherichia coli; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D010969:Plastics; D060753:Water Quality; D014881:Water Supply
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D002713:Chlorine
keywords: Chlorination; Household water treatment; Safe water storage