Effectiveness of different household water treatment approaches for people living with HIV/AIDS in Africa

Adults and children living with HIV/AIDS are more susceptible to microbiological contamination of water. The 2008 WHO guidelines for people with HIV state that the “lack of … safe water and safe management of human waste exposes people with HIV to increased risk of transmission of waterborne and other enteric pathogens.” A number of different household water treatment (HWT) approaches can potentially be used depending on local availability in a particular area. Some examples of effective HWT are biosand filters, ceramic filters, SODIS, combined flocculationchlorination and chlorination. For water sources with high turbidity (seasonally or year round) the effectiveness of the HWT approach under high turbidity conditions should be considered as part of selecting the appropriate HWT approach. Biosand filters, ceramic filters, flocculationchlorination, and SODIS are effective at removing or inactivating Cryptosporidium and pathogenic bacteria commonly associated with persistent diarrhea depending on the turbidity of the water source. Combining chlorination with a preceding turbidity and Cryptosporidium oocyst removal step potentially provides optimal HWT for people living with HIV/AIDS.