Piseth

What is Solar Water Disinfection?

Q.        What kinds of bottle can be used? Does ADRA provide training on SODIS?

A.         The PEP bottle, i.e. 3 kinds of pure drinking water bottle can be used - the 2 liters, the 1.5 liters and the 0.5 liter. The full-water bottle needs to be exposed to the sun at least 6 hours a day (9 am - 3 pm) in dry season, and 2 days for rainy season. The bottom of the bottle needs to be directed to the sun.

            On 25-26 March, ADRA will conduct training on the topic in Siem Reap. If anyone is interested in they can contact ADRA.

Q.     What kind of water can be use? Do we have any measurement to check if the water is clear enough before we expose it?  

A.       Any water can be used if it is clear. We have a testing instrument with a “cross” sign in the bottom. We place the bottle, full with water, on the SODIS logo on top of a table in the shade and look through the bottle from top to bottom. Water turbidity is less than 30 NTU, if you can read the letters of the SODIS logo through the water. If we see SODIS Logo in the bottom of the bottle the water can be used. In case that you do not see SODIS Logo, you need to pure out 30% of the water. This means that SODIS requires relatively clear water with a turbidity less than 30 NTU.

           You can make the water clear by using alum, but this causes some problem to the health. The best way is to use Mrom ¬RmuM¦. You can expose them to the sun and then pound before putting then in the water. After the water is clear you can use it.

Q.        The bottle that we use cannot be recycling. I have heard that the plastic bottle can cause cancer when we pure the hot water in?

A.         SODIS can only kill the batteries in the water but not chemical substances. The wells with Asenic or coliform will be closed. SODIS does not processing the chemical substances of the bottle as the highest temperature is only 50C.

            We still encourage the people to use boiled water, pure drinking water and water filter. SODIS is for those who cannot afford the 3 options.

Q.        How do you know that the batteries in the water are dead?

A.         We sent the SODIS water to 2 laboratories, pastor and the national one. The result was the same that 99.9% of the batteries were dead.