The future of chlorine disinfectant choice in rural areas

Abstract

According to recent survey 63 Million people in India (which is equal to the population of Australia, Sweden, Bulgaria, Srilanka) have no or lack of access to safe drinking water. This paper reviews briefly about the forms of Chlorine which is used as disinfectant both at the household level and for community water supplies in rural areas. Comparison between different forms of chlorination technologies are also carried out to come up with the most reasonable cost. For surface waters, disinfectant such as solid chlorination (bleaching powder) is followed after sand filtration for rural area water supplies which appears to be the most feasible option. However, difficulties associated with lack of skilled manpower to control chlorine doses and storage of the bleaching powder properly are the main problems often arise. Further, there still a need to develop more reliable and simple methods of disinfection in rural areas.