A Study on Estimation of Chlorine in Drinking Water in an Urban Slum of Guntur District

Background: The share of urban population to the total population of India has increased from 27.81% in 2001 to 31.16% in 2011. This increase has also been accompanied by rapid growth of slums in cities. The 2011 Census of India reveals that 17.4% of urban households in India live in slums This survey was conducted in the urban slum area of Anandapet, Guntur.

Objective: estimating the quality of drinking water, storage method at household level and waste disposal of both solid and sewage in that area and also to estimate chlorine levels in the drinking water consumed by the residents in the wake of the recent GE (gastroenteritis) epidemic in Guntur.

Methodology: A community based Cross-sectional study was carried out during May to June 2018 with the objective of estimating the quality of drinking water, storage method at household level and waste disposal of both solid and sewage in that area.

Results: 77(38.5%) houses do not follow any method of disinfection of water. Whereas 70(35%) houses follow boiling. 38(19%) houses use filter, and 15(7.5%) use water purifier for disinfection of water. Among those 70 houses that boil the water, 59 houses use different well maintained vessel for storage of boiled water and 11 houses use same vessel for storage of boiled water.

Conclusions: Majority of the households in the study area had access to improved source of drinking water. But a few households practiced unhealthy storage and treatment practices like cleaning the overhead tank/ sumps once a month or once in 15 days, not treating water prior to consumption, dipping the glass into the water drum. Absence of free chlorine suggests the need for attention by the concerned authorities and the households