Guidance on household water treatment measures during the flood and storm season in Vietnam

Guidance on household water treatment measures during the flood and storm season in Vietnam (Image from the internet)

Guidance on household water treatment measures during the flood and storm season in Vietnam

On September 6, 2024, the Department of Environmental Health Management (Ministry of Health of Vietnam) issued Official Dispatch 480/MT-SKMT to the Health Departments of 63 provinces and cities regarding the response to the No. 3 typhoon (Typhoon Yagi) and floods.

The water treatment measures are guided as follows:

(1) Selection of Water Source

It is recommended to choose well water or borehole water for treatment. In the absence of groundwater sources, if surface water from ponds, lakes, rivers, streams, or canals must be used, choose locations with the least potential contamination, and try to collect water as far from the shore as possible for treatment through the following steps.

(2) Water Treatment Measures

Step 1: Clarification of Water

There are many methods to clarify water, the simplest is using alum or filtering through clean cloth.

- Clarification with alum: Use alum at a ratio of 1g per 20 liters of water. Stir the equivalent amount of alum for the water volume needed to be clarified into a scoop of water until it dissolves completely. Pour it into the water container, stir well, wait about 30 minutes for sediments to settle, then strain the clear water.

- If alum is not available, clean cloth can be used to filter out dirt, repeat several times until clear water is obtained (note to use cotton cloth for filtering to allow water to pass through, replace the cloth when it accumulates too much dirt).

Note: In cases where the surface water is too turbid or muddy, pre-filter out sediments using multiple layers of cloth before proceeding with clarification.

Step 2: Water Disinfection

After clarifying, water needs to be disinfected. This can be done using chemicals or boiling.

* Disinfection with chemicals:

Disinfect water using antiseptic products certified by the Ministry of Health of Vietnam for household water usage.

Note:

- After disinfection, water can be used for domestic purposes. However, this water must be boiled before drinking.

- If using chlorine-based disinfection products, ensure disinfection by detecting a chlorine smell. If excess chlorine is added, leave the container open for half an hour to an hour to reduce the smell before use.

- Disinfection with chemical powder should be done under the guidance of medical professionals.

- Check the expiration date of the chemicals before use to ensure effective disinfection and dosage.

* Boiling water

- Only drink water directly after boiling.

- Boiled water should not be kept too long; fresh boiling daily for consumption is recommended.

- If disinfection chemicals are unavailable, drink only boiled water and avoid eating raw vegetables washed with untreated water.

* Use of Water Filtration Devices

Besides the above methods, households can use filtration devices for water treatment. The effectiveness of these devices depends on the quality of the input water, filtration technology, condition and quality of the device, and duration of use. Various types of water filtration devices from different brands are available with varying technologies. Use devices inspected by competent authorities and follow the manufacturer's instructions to ensure effective filtration.

Note: Input water for filtration devices must be pre-clarified; do not use untreated surface water from ponds, lakes, rivers, or canals to avoid clogging the device.

More details can be found in Official Dispatch 480/MT-SKMT issued on September 6, 2024.

>> CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE IN VIETNAMESE