Evaluation of the complementary use of the ceramic (Kosim) filter and Aquatabs in Northern Region, Ghana
Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2008.
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | eng |
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2008
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/43897 |
| _version_ | 1826203864110465024 |
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| author | Swanton, Andrew A |
| author2 | Susan Murcott. |
| author_facet | Susan Murcott. Swanton, Andrew A |
| author_sort | Swanton, Andrew A |
| collection | MIT |
| description | Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2008. |
| first_indexed | 2024-09-23T12:44:29Z |
| format | Thesis |
| id | mit-1721.1/43897 |
| institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2024-09-23T12:44:29Z |
| publishDate | 2008 |
| publisher | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | mit-1721.1/438972019-04-12T15:37:03Z Evaluation of the complementary use of the ceramic (Kosim) filter and Aquatabs in Northern Region, Ghana Swanton, Andrew A Susan Murcott. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Civil and Environmental Engineering. Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2008. Includes bibliographical references (p. 130-136). The Kosim filter is a ceramic water filter that is currently used in Northern Ghana. Based on prior MIT research in Northern Ghana, this technology is effective at removing 92% of turbidity, 99.4% of total coliforms, and 99.7% of E. Coli from unimproved water sources. However, the product water is still microbially contaminated. The purpose of this thesis is to explore the effectiveness of combining two household water treatment technologies, the Kosim filter and Aquatabs, in order to achieve a more effective and complete water treatment system. Aquatabs are sodium dichlorisocyanurate chlorine tablets that are used on the household scale. They are particularly effective at killing pathogenic bacteria; however, they have predominantly been applied in emergency relief situations and have never, apart from one research study conducted by the Center for Disease Control, previously been applied in Ghana. In this study, 59 rural households (24 in a lower-class community and 35 in a lower middle-class community) in possession of Kosim filters were visited as part of a three week pilot study. During the initial visit, households were surveyed about the use and perception of their Kosim filters, they were trained in the use and given a one week supply of Aquatabs, and their Kosim filtered water (without Aquatabs) was tested. After one week, the same households were re-visited. A similar survey was conducted about the use and perception of the combined Kosim filter and Aquatabs system, and the filtered and chlorine disinfected water was tested. The addition of Aquatabs to the Kosim filtered water significantly reduced the microbial contamination; however, it did not completely remove pathogenic bacteria. (cont.) The average total coliform concentration in the drinking water was reduced by 50% compared to the filtered-only water, and the percentage of households with no total coliform concentration increased from 44% to 64%. Furthermore, the percentage of households with no E. Coli in their drinking water increased from 88% to 98%. In terms of user acceptability, all of the survey respondents indicated that the Aquatabs "improved the taste of the water" as they associated it with municipally treated or bottled water, suggesting that the chlorine taste is acceptable to these potential consumers. by Andrew A. Swanton. M.Eng. 2008-12-11T18:47:43Z 2008-12-11T18:47:43Z 2008 2008 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/43897 263688398 eng M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission. http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582 163 p. application/pdf f-gh--- Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| spellingShingle | Civil and Environmental Engineering. Swanton, Andrew A Evaluation of the complementary use of the ceramic (Kosim) filter and Aquatabs in Northern Region, Ghana |
| title | Evaluation of the complementary use of the ceramic (Kosim) filter and Aquatabs in Northern Region, Ghana |
| title_full | Evaluation of the complementary use of the ceramic (Kosim) filter and Aquatabs in Northern Region, Ghana |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of the complementary use of the ceramic (Kosim) filter and Aquatabs in Northern Region, Ghana |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of the complementary use of the ceramic (Kosim) filter and Aquatabs in Northern Region, Ghana |
| title_short | Evaluation of the complementary use of the ceramic (Kosim) filter and Aquatabs in Northern Region, Ghana |
| title_sort | evaluation of the complementary use of the ceramic kosim filter and aquatabs in northern region ghana |
| topic | Civil and Environmental Engineering. |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/43897 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT swantonandrewa evaluationofthecomplementaryuseoftheceramickosimfilterandaquatabsinnorthernregionghana |