Assessment of the Potential Contribution of the Ceramic Filter “Songhai” in the Treatment of Drinking Water in Benin (West Africa)

Roch Christian Johnson¹, Gratien Boni¹, Cyriaque Degbey², Karel Togbe¹, Hermione Amoukpo¹, Michel Boko¹

¹Laboratory 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.
²Regional Institute of Public Health, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.

DOI: 10.4236/jwarp.2015.79057                

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.

Keywords

Drinking Water, “Filtre Songhai”, Porto-Novo, Bénin

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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