Shaping the future: Our strategy for research and innovation in humanitarian response.

A global organisation that finds solutions to complex humanitarian problems through research and innovation..
Our purpose is clear: we work in partnership with a global community of humanitarian actors, researchers and innovators to improve the quality of humanitarian action and deliver better outcomes for people affected by crises.
We empower the humanitarian community. Find out how we can support you...

The Safe Water Optimization Tool (SWOT) generates evidence-based point-of-distribution free residual chlorine (FRC) targets to adjust chlorine dosing by operators and ensure water quality at point-of-consumption. To investigate SWOT effectiveness in surface waters, we conducted two before-and-after mixed-method evaluations in a Uganda refugee settlement served by piped and trucked surface water systems. We surveyed 888 users on water knowledge, attitudes, and practices; collected 2768 water samples to evaluate FRC,Escherichia coli, and disinfection by-products (DBPs) concentrations; and conducted nine key-informant interviews with system operators about SWOT implementation. After baseline data collection, SWOT chlorination targets were generated, increasing point-of-distribution FRC targets from 0.2 to 0.7–0.8 mg/L and from 0.3 to 0.9 mg/L for piped and trucked systems, respectively. At endline, household point-of-consumption FRC ≥ 0.2 mg/L increased from 23 to 35% and from 8 to 42% in the two systems.

With these increases, we did not observe increased chlorinated water rejection or DBPs concentrations exceeding international guidelines. Informants reported that SWOT implementation increased knowledge and capacity and improved operations. Overall, SWOT-generated chlorination targets increased chlorine dosage, which improved household water quality in surface waters although less than previously documented with groundwater sources. Additional operator support on prechlorination water treatment processes is needed to ensure maximally effective SWOT implementation for surface water sources.

View Publication

Subscribe to our newsletters....

Subscribe
 
Elrha © 2018 - 2025 Elrha is a registered charity in England and Wales (1177110). KEEP IN TOUCH Want to stay up to date with our latest updates? Sign up to our newsletters
Elrha
Elrha Please upgrade your browser

You are seeing this because you are using a browser that is not supported. The Elrha website is built using modern technology and standards. We recommend upgrading your browser with one of the following to properly view our website:

Windows Mac

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of browsers. We also do not intend to recommend a particular manufacturer's browser over another's; only to suggest upgrading to a browser version that is compliant with current standards to give you the best and most secure browsing experience.