Tapping a New Solution for Clean Water

Improving the quality of the urban water supply has historically led to major declines in mortality. However, poor areas often subsist on intermittent water supplies at collection points that are at risk for contamination. 

A novel passive chlorination device tested in poor urban areas of Bangladesh reduced child diarrhea 23% over 14 months, according to a new Lancet Global Health study.

While earlier research has focused on household-level treatments that produced bad-tasting water, this study found that a low chlorine dose—undetectable in taste—automatically administered at water collection points could reduce diarrhea through existing collection systems, without the need for electricity.

The Lancet Global Health