Technical Brief No.46: Chlorination of community water supplies ‘Some water sources contain disease-causing organisms which need to be removed or killed before ‘the water Is safe to drink. If caretully undertaken and monitored, disinfection is an effective means. of removing such organisms. Chlorine Is the most widely used dleinfectant, and one which is often the most readily available. This technical brief describes a method of calculating the dose of chlorine required to disinfect small community water supplies. Why disinfect? Wate reatmont processes such as storage, secimenta- {on and sand tivation wil educe the contont of disease: causing organisms nator, butwilrteave tcompletaly treo of euch organisms, Disvecton, when applied and corrosed property, the most practical and effective means of removing such organisms Methods of disinfection Boling water may be offoctve as amothodofdsinfecton, Dut its not practicable for large quantities. Sunlight can alsoact asanatural mothodofsinfecion,butitis Simone. A chlorination checklist O Chlorine needs at feast hit an hour contact ne with water to diinfec t, The besttime to apply itis alter any’ ther reatment process, and before storage and uso. © Never apply chlorine betore stow sand filtration er any other biological process, asthe chorine wil kil of the ‘bactora which assist reatmont, making tho treatment ineffective, (© Never add any said form of chiorine directly toa water supply, ast wil not mand dissolve. Always make up ‘a8 a paste firs, mixing the chlerine compound wit alte water. © Disinfection is only one defence against a'sease, Every etfort should be made o protect water sources trom Contamination, and to prevent subsequent contamination during collection and storage. (© The correct procedure for applying a disinfectant to water should be strctly adhered to, and water supplies Should be monitores regularly to ensure that they are free from bacteria, Otherwise, people may be misled 10 believe thatthe water is safe to dink when, infact, itis hazardous to-do so, ‘© “The optimum chiorine residual in a small, communal water supply is inthe range of 0.3 to 0.Smgi (© The chlorine dose required to disinfect a supply wil increase fhe waters very turbid. In such circumstances, ‘tis best to treat the water to reduce turbiity before chlorination Caution Alltormsof chlorine are harmful tohealth—avoid skincontact and donotinhale he fumes. Chlorine should ’be stored in cool, dark, dry and sealed containers, and out of reach of children.