Design, performance, and demand for a novel in-line chlorine doser to increase safe water access

Abstract

Abstract Financially sustainable strategies are needed to increase access to safe drinking water in low-income settings. We designed a novel in-line chlorine doser that employs the Venturi principle to automatically add liquid chlorine at the point of water collection (tap outflows). The Venturi does not require electricity or moving parts, and users do not have to change the way they typically collect water. We field-tested the Venturi and assessed its technical performance and sales viability at water kiosks in Kisumu County, Kenya. We offered kiosk owners 6-month service packages to lease or lease-to-own the device; 27% of kiosks given a sales pitch committed to a service package. All but one kiosk paid in full during the 6-month service period and more than two-thirds purchased the device with payments totaling >$250 USD per kiosk. Kiosk customers could choose to purchase chlorinated or unchlorinated water from separate taps; 66% reported buying chlorinated water. Kiosk taps fitted with the Venturi had detectable free chlorine residual 97.6% of the time. The technical performance of the Venturi and effective demand from kiosks indicate high potential for the Venturi to increase safe water access in low-income communities.