Assessment of the Potential Contribution of the Ceramic Filter “Songhai” in the Treatment of Drinking Water in Benin (West Africa)
Author(s)
Roch Christian Johnson1,
Gratien Boni1,
Cyriaque Degbey2,
Karel Togbe1,
Hermione Amoukpo1,
Michel Boko1
Affiliation(s)
1 Laboratory of Hygiene, Sanitation, Toxicology and Environmental Health, Interfaculty Center of Training and Research in Environment for the Sustainable Development, University of Abomey-Calavi (CIFRED-UAC), Cotonou, Benin. 2 Regional Institute of Public Health, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.
1 Laboratory of Hygiene, Sanitation, Toxicology and Environmental Health, Interfaculty Center of Training and Research in Environment for the Sustainable Development, University of Abomey-Calavi (CIFRED-UAC), Cotonou, Benin. 2 Regional Institute of Public Health, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.
ABSTRACT
Contamination of domestic water sources by the biological and physico-chemical pollutants remains a public health issue in Benin. The household water purification devices such as ceramic filters may be a solution. “Filtre Songha?” is a ceramic filter, accessible and easy to use, marketed in Benin. The purpose of this study is to assess the contribution of the “Filtre Songha?” in the treatment of water for domestic use in a peri-urban area in Porto-Novo (Benin). Water samples have been taken, from a collective well and from the lagoon in the 5th district of Porto-Novo. The physico-chemical and bacteriological parameters were measured before and after filtration. The results showed that the use of filters has allowed for a reduction of 97.5% for total coliform in the well water and 99.05% for water from the lagoon. The reduction is 100% for Escherichia coli and fecal streptococci in both cases. Given the low cost and the lifetime use of “filtre Songhai”, this device can be recommended to households for drinking water, particularly for children below five years old the most vulnerable to water related diseases. Research is still necessary to improve the filtration time of this device.
Contamination of domestic water sources by the biological and physico-chemical pollutants remains a public health issue in Benin. The household water purification devices such as ceramic filters may be a solution. “Filtre Songha?” is a ceramic filter, accessible and easy to use, marketed in Benin. The purpose of this study is to assess the contribution of the “Filtre Songha?” in the treatment of water for domestic use in a peri-urban area in Porto-Novo (Benin). Water samples have been taken, from a collective well and from the lagoon in the 5th district of Porto-Novo. The physico-chemical and bacteriological parameters were measured before and after filtration. The results showed that the use of filters has allowed for a reduction of 97.5% for total coliform in the well water and 99.05% for water from the lagoon. The reduction is 100% for Escherichia coli and fecal streptococci in both cases. Given the low cost and the lifetime use of “filtre Songhai”, this device can be recommended to households for drinking water, particularly for children below five years old the most vulnerable to water related diseases. Research is still necessary to improve the filtration time of this device.
Cite this paper
Johnson, R. , Boni, G. , Degbey, C. , Togbe, K. , Amoukpo, H. and Boko, M. (2015) Assessment of the Potential Contribution of the Ceramic Filter “Songhai” in the Treatment of Drinking Water in Benin (West Africa). Journal of Water Resource and Protection, 7, 702-706. doi: 10.4236/jwarp.2015.79057.
Johnson, R. , Boni, G. , Degbey, C. , Togbe, K. , Amoukpo, H. and Boko, M. (2015) Assessment of the Potential Contribution of the Ceramic Filter “Songhai” in the Treatment of Drinking Water in Benin (West Africa). Journal of Water Resource and Protection, 7, 702-706. doi: 10.4236/jwarp.2015.79057.
References
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es071268u [6] INSAE Bénin (2013) Résultats provisoires du RGPH4.
http://www.insae-bj.org/recensement-population.html [7] Akodogbo, H. (2005) Contribution à l’amélioration de la qualité de l’eau à usage domestique dans le 5ème arrondissement de la commune de Porto-Novo-Bénin. Mémoire DESS en environnement et santé. Abomey Calavi: UAC. [8] Moubokounou, G. (2010) Techniques de traitement de l’eau à domicile: Evaluation de l’efficacité des filtres en céramique. Mémoire de Master, Ouagadougou: 2IE.
[1] OMS/UNICEF (2013) Progrès en matière d’assainissement et d’alimentation en eau. Rapport-OMS, 40 p. [2] Hunter, P., MacDonald, A.M. and Carter, R.C. (2010) Water Supply and Health. PLoS Medicine, 7, e1000361. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000361 [3] Degbey, C., Makoutodé, M., Agueh, V., Dramaix, M. and de Brouwer, C. (2011) Facteurs associés à la qualité de l'eau de puits et prévalence des maladies hydriques dans la commune d’Abomey-Calavi (Bénin). Cahier Santé, 21, 47-55. [4] Higy, C. and Laurent, C. (2011) Analyse de la qualité de l’eau de puits transformés. Un exemple d’application au Bénin, Juillet, 23 p. [5] Vinka, A. and Oyanedel-Craver, J.A.S. (2008) Sustainable Colloidal-Silver-Impregnated Ceramic Filter for Point-of- Use Water Treatment. Environmental Science & Technology, 42, 927-933.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es071268u [6] INSAE Bénin (2013) Résultats provisoires du RGPH4.
http://www.insae-bj.org/recensement-population.html [7] Akodogbo, H. (2005) Contribution à l’amélioration de la qualité de l’eau à usage domestique dans le 5ème arrondissement de la commune de Porto-Novo-Bénin. Mémoire DESS en environnement et santé. Abomey Calavi: UAC. [8] Moubokounou, G. (2010) Techniques de traitement de l’eau à domicile: Evaluation de l’efficacité des filtres en céramique. Mémoire de Master, Ouagadougou: 2IE.