In July, the Zabul, Afghanistan Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) provided the country’s Shajoy District with a new water sanitation process, a SANILEC® 6 hypochlorite generation system donated by Severn Trent De Nora, Sugar Land, Texas, USA. Members of the Zabul PRT chose Shajoy as the test site for the SANILEC 6 equipment because of the quality of its hospital, which is responsible for managing the sanitation process. Shajoy is the first district in Zabul Province given the opportunity to make clean drinking water for families.
The SANILEC 6 system uses a hypochlorite generation process in which electricity converts salt water into a chlorine solution that is added to water drawn from village wells. About one tablespoon of the chlorine solution added to a four-gallon jug of well water is enough to kill all bacteria and parasites in the water. The hospital puts salt water in a 135-liter tub using well water and three kilograms of salt bought from the local market. The generator powers a probe, which is placed into the salt water. After about eight hours, the required chlorine solution is generated.
The PRT will donate to each family one four-gallon jug for holding well water and a one-liter bottle to fill with the chlorine solution. One capful of chlorine solution from the bottle sanitizes the water in the jug, and families refill the bottle at the hospital each month. One SANILEC 6 system helps provide clean water to approximately 300 families, or 5,000 people, for just $5 per month.
"This process will destroy the germs in the water, making it safe to drink so your children won't get sick," said Capt. James Arnold, a family physician for the Zabul PRT as he spoke to a group of Shajoy elders. "I ask you, respectfully, to encourage your families and others to continue to use purified water. If you do this, you won't get sick from the water, you’ll combat diarrhea and your children will get the nutrition they need to grow strong and healthy." "Unclean water and dysentery are the biggest health issues in Zabul," added Dr. Saleh Mohammed, the Shajoy District hospital director.
If the project is successful, PRT will purchase additional generators for Shajoy's 750 families and begin expanding the project in the province.
About Severn Trent De Nora, LLC
Severn Trent De Nora, LLC (www.severntrentdenora.com) is a joint venture offering a solid foundation to support marine and offshore industrial water disinfection needs by drawing upon the strength and global resources of Severn Trent Services, Fort Washington, Pa. (www.severntrentservices.com) and Gruppo De Nora, Milan, Italy (www.denora.it). Severn Trent De Nora offers the benefits of enhanced technical solutions and a greater range of services by combining the seawater disinfection capabilities of both companies. Severn Trent De Nora offers products to serve marine waste water treatment applications and the seawater disinfection needs for the following applications: power generation, desalination facilities, coastal industry, offshore oil and gas facilities, general marine, cruise vessel industry and navies worldwide.