WATASOL and local production of chlorine

We have developed WATASOL, as a technology, and a methodology, to produce chlorine locally, so that communities can start to have access to safe water. Chlorine is a means to purify water of 99.99% bacteria. It is recognised by the WHO as “quite effective” as a means to treat household water, and it is broadly recommended in Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage (HWTS) systems where there is no alternative for producing drinkable water.

WATASOL today, tomorrow the tap

By using chlorine, WATASOL is, thus, a start on the path to safe drinking water. HWTS may not be, admittedly, the ideal solution to provide access to safe water and it should not divert from the objective to achieve a tap in every household. But let’s get real here. For the 783 million individuals who are not only far away from any tap of piped water, but are using unsafe and contaminated water, in ‘normal’ or in ‘emergency’ situations, it is a wonderfully important step to improve today’s situation. It is a step towards a healthier, more vibrant society into which, one day, the tap should come.

A study published by UNICEF in January 2008 shows that household-based interventions are about twice as effective in preventing diarrhoeal disease (47%) than improved wells, boreholes and communal stand pipes (27%). It is thus of fundamental importance to find solutions whereby communities can resolve their drinking water problem, in a self-sufficient and enduring way.

Chlorination, which consists of adding active chlorine (sodium hypochlorite) to water, is the most common method for disinfecting drinking water of parasites, bacteria and viruses. Indeed, active chlorine destroys or inactivates 99% of pathogenic micro-organisms in water with a very high reliability.

Antenna has developed a WATA line of devices, part of the WATASOL approach, for the local production of active chlorine through the electrolysis of salt water. They are specifically designed for the context of communities in developing countries. The resulting solution can be used for drinking water chlorination or as a disinfectant for use in households, hospitals or community clinics.

Despite its simplicity, to produce drinking water for a community with a WATA device is indeed a true responsibility, and thus requires skilled people as operators, specially trained for that purpose. This website features a Toolbox of documents for specific training on the production and use of active chlorine.