Water Purification Solutions in Ghana

28 Jan, 2023

High-quality living is the birthright of every human being. However, a healthy life remains elusive for several people. One significant component of a person’s well-being is access to purified water that is safe for drinking or daily use. Contaminated water is a major issue in a country like Ghana, where many people live on limited resources. Hence, the need for water purification solutions is rising every day.

Even in today’s era, where information is readily available, many people are unaware of vital information related to water purification, such as

  • The need for water purification solutions
  • Various types of solutions available
  • Cost associated with each solution

    As you read on, you’ll get to know more about these topics. So, let’s begin with the core question.

 

Why Do We Need Water Purification Solutions? 
 

People often confuse clear water with clean water. However, just because water obtained from a specific source ‘appears’ free from contamination and is void of dirt, it doesn’t mean you can use it for drinking or household uses.

Critical processes like everyday drinking water consumption and cooking require water that is free from contaminants and harmful elements. This is where water purification solutions come in handy.

Let’s see the primary reasons that make water purification a must. 
 

  1. Prevent Yourself Against Diseases-causing Microbes

Consumption of contaminated water, even in the slightest amount, can be catastrophic for an individual’s health. Water purification is necessary to keep yourself and your near ones safe from bacteria and viruses. These microbial contaminants are the reason behind the spread of diseases like Giardiasis, Shigellosis, Norovirus, and Legionnaires’ disease. 
 

  1. Save Money on Avoidable Water Expenses

What will anyone do if the water they have access to is not clean? They will have to rely on expensive water bottles and water tankers, whose supply may be unreliable as well. In a country like Ghana, where not everybody can afford costly water sources, water purification proves to be a boon for the people, making access to clean water affordable. 
 

  1. Improve Your General Health

In addition to preventing you from falling ill, purified water promotes healthy daily living. Eating food that has been washed with purified water and drinking clean water helps keep your digestion strong and brings a glow to your skin. This will help your body free from problems like constipation, stomach ache, etc., and common skin problems. 
 

  1. Overall Societal Upliftment

When clean water that is fit for consumption is readily available to the common populace, people don’t have to spend money on buying pure water or traverse long distances to fetch clean water. The time and money saved can be put to use in other areas like a child’s education, community status, family nourishment, etc.

Now that we know why water purification is necessary, let’s move on to the next part.



Best Methods for Water Purification

 

Numerous methods can be employed to purify water for regular usage. Given below are the most common and effective ones.

  • Distillation – Impure water often consists of dirt, heavy metals, and other minerals. This process allows you to obtain purified water by heating the impure water and collecting the vapours in another container. 
     
  • Boiling – It is the oldest method of water treatment. Most microbes, protozoa, and bacteria are unable to live in the high temperature of boiling water and hence, are killed off through this process. Water after boiling should be strained of the dead impurities. 
     
  • Chemical treatment – Another water disinfection method useful in emergencies is using chemical tablets. Disinfectant tablets are mostly made of chlorine or iodine and are used to purify water within 60 minutes, with a slight alteration in taste. 
     
  • Solar purification – Probably the most affordable water purification solution after boiling and distillation, solar water disinfection (SODIS) leverages the power of the sun’s radiation to eliminate biological contaminants from the water. The process may be a little time-taking, but it is easy to adopt anywhere and mostly available for free. 
     
  • Ultraviolet (UV) purification – Water purifiers using UV rays are highly successful in removing pathogens from contaminated water, making it safe for drinking and essential needs. The UV devices in the market are portable as well, with the option of carrying them during travel, making them a dependable water purification option. 
     
  • Water filters – Another excellent alternative for getting rid of harmful components in the water is using a water purifier. They come in portable versions with a ceramic cartridge that keeps large impurities out, and the silver inside kills the disease-causing microbes. Along with UV devices, these filters make for a great travel companion.

 

How Much Does Each Water Purification Solution Cost?

 

Now that we have seen the various water purification solutions available, let’s take a look at what each of them may cost you approximately.

  1. Boiling 1 litre of water can be done in an estimated 1 Ghanaian Cedi.
  2. The process of distillation is free of cost. However, the distillation apparatus can cost anywhere from 770 to 2300 Ghanaian Cedi.
  3. The cost of 50gm of chlorine and iodine tablets for treating water can range from 30 to 70 Ghanaian Cedi.
  4. For solar water purification, you can construct your own apparatus with household items. However, if you decide to buy a solar water purifier, it may cost you up to 3800 Ghanaian Cedi.
  5. Portable water filters may cost you 350 to 500 Ghanaian Cedi for a 200 ml capacity filter.
  6. Depending on the brand and battery capacity, you can get UV purification devices for 50 to 150 Ghanaian Cedi.

 

Choosing a Safe and Affordable Water Purification Solution

 

With the number of disease-causing microbes and other factors that contribute to making the water unfit for daily use rising every day, we need innovative solutions that people can trust and use affordably.

One such inexpensive and effective water purification solution is Aqua Salveo. It is a liquid water disinfectant that can be used for water purification requirements in schools, offices, hospitals, houses, etc. It is approved by the South Africa Bureau of Standards (SABS) as a chlorine-free disinfectant solution.

It's time we made our lives healthier by using top-quality water purification solutions formulated after thorough research.