UV treatment / Solar disinfection (SODIS)

SODIS (Solar Water Disinfection Process) uses sunlight to inactivate harmful microorganisms in water almost completely. Transparent plastic (PET) or glass bottles filled with contaminated, but clear, water are exposed to the sun for six hours in sunny weather or two days in cloudy weather. If a temperature of 50 degrees Celsius is reached, an exposure time of one hour is sufficient.

This technology was awarded a prize by SIMAVI and organisations such as SANDEC are promoting it in many developing countries.

Plastic bottles filled with contaminated water are placed in the sunlight

Advantages	Disadvantages
Very cheap.

Costs

Very low, re-use of plastic bottles.

Applying conditions

Numbers: Used by more than 1,000,000 in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Games (Dutch)

Game Solar Disinfection

SODIS Manual

Although SODIS is very easy to do, SODIS has a pamphlet with more specific information.

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Movie

• Philippines www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnjO-y8-Crw
• Sierra Leone Sodis workshop www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJiV0qKm1T8&feature=related

External links

• SODIS Reference Center
• Simavi