Water (Switzerland)
Volume 11, Issue 4, 2019

Characterization of disinfection by-products levels at an emergency surface water treatment plant in a refugee settlement in Northern Uganda (Article) (Open Access)

Ali S.I.* , Arnold M. , Liesner F. , Fesselet J.-F.
  • a Public Health Department, Médecins Sans Frontières, Naritaweg 10, Amsterdam, 1043 BX, Netherlands, Dahdaleh Institute of Global Health Research, Victor P. Dahdaleh Building, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
  • b Public Health Department, Médecins Sans Frontières, Naritaweg 10, Amsterdam, 1043 BX, Netherlands, Dahdaleh Institute of Global Health Research, Victor P. Dahdaleh Building, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
  • c Public Health Department, Médecins Sans Frontières, Naritaweg 10, Amsterdam, 1043 BX, Netherlands
  • d Public Health Department, Médecins Sans Frontières, Naritaweg 10, Amsterdam, 1043 BX, Netherlands

Abstract

The reliance on chlorination in humanitarian operations has raised concerns among practitioners about possible health risks associated with disinfection by-products; however, to date, there has not been an evaluation of disinfection by-product (DBP) levels in an emergency water supply intervention. This study aimed to investigate DBP levels at a surface-water treatment plant serving a refugee settlement in northern Uganda using the colorimetric Hach THM Plus Method. The plant had two treatment processes: (1) Simultaneous clarification-chlorination ("rapid treatment"); and (2) pre-clarification and chlorination in separate tanks ("standard treatment"). For both standard (n = 17) and rapid (n = 3) treatment processes, DBP levels in unique parcels of water were tested at 30 min post-chlorination and after 24 h of storage (to simulate what refugees actually consume). DBP levels after 24 h did not exceed the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline limit of 300 ppb equivalent chloroform, either for standard treatment (mean: 85.1 ppb; 95% confidence interval (C.I.): 71.0-99.1 ppb; maximum: 133.7 ppb) or for rapid treatment (mean: 218.0 ppb; 95% C.I.: 151.2-284.8; maximum: 249.0 ppb). Observed DBPs levels do not appear to be problematic with respect to the general population, but may pose sub-chronic exposure risks to specifically vulnerable populations that warrant further investigation. © 2019 by the authors.

Author Keywords

Water quality Refugee camp Chlorination Disinfection by-products Water treatment Trihalomethanes Chlorine Humanitarian

Index Keywords

Surface treatment Chlorine compounds methane Health risks byproduct chlorine Clarifiers Chemicals removal (water treatment) Clarification Humanitarian Trihalomethanes water treatment plant Disinfection Surface waters Disinfection byproducts Disinfection by-product methodology Water treatment plants Uganda Confidence interval surface water chlorination Refugee Camps water treatment world health organization human settlement water supply Water quality Humanitarian operations
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85065036794&doi=10.3390%2fw11040647&partnerID=40&md5=99d299c66562f7b7cd58a5c7f8132f50
DOI: 10.3390/w11040647
ISSN: 20734441
Original Language: English