Changes

In many rural areas where infrastructure is poor, finding solutions for contaminated drinking water is difficult. Here dilute Dilute chlorine solution is often sold in bottles to be used at a household level to disinfect water. For more information about water disinfection using chlorine see [[Chlorine (Sodium Hypochlorite) ]] The costs of packaging and distributing these bottles however are very high. Because of this, chlorine disinfection is unaffordable for most rural households, even though the cost of the actual chlorine is only around 5% of the price of the bottle. It is therefore much more efficient for the chlorine to be bought in bulk and placed in dispensers at local water sources, increasing the intake of chlorine and so the average drinking water quality.

Chlorine has been used to disinfect drinking water for over a century in central pipelines and in individual households. However since the costs of this are extremely high and not all communities have the necessary infrastructure, Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA ) developed chlorine dispensers to be installed at communal water points.

It has so far only been installed in Kenya, however IPA is planning to scale up the program. It The system has the potential to work on a global scale as a solution to waterborne diseases. Studies show it improves health at a cost of 20$ per [[http://www.who.int/healthinfo/global_burden_disease/metrics_daly/en/index.html DALY]] (disability adjusted life year). Approximately 100$ per DALY is considered very cost effective.

It is currently being implemented The system has been extremely successful in Kenya. 20 dispensers were installed at water points supplying water to around 5000 people in rural areas. Previously around 8% of households used chlorine to disinfect the water. A study 6 months after installation, showed 61% of households used chlorine and this number is still increasing

A study showed that 6 months after installation of the dispensers 61% of households disinfected water using chlorine, compared to 8% before installation. More dispensers will soon be installed, at various locations such as schools, springs and urban sites.

More dispensers will soon be installedPilot programs are also being organised by NGOs in Swaziland, at various locations such as schoolsEthiopia, springs and urban sitesBangladesh.