Evaluation of A Point-Of Use Water Purification System (Llaveoz) in a Rural Setting of Chiapas, Mexico. J Microbiol Exp 2014, 1(3): 00015
*Corresponding author: Javier Gutierrez-Jimenez, University of Science and Arts of Chiapas, Libramiento norte poniente#1150, Col. Lajas Maciel, Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, Mexico, Tel: +52-9616170440/ 4303; E-mail: javier.gutierrez@unicach.mx
Access to potable water is a priority for highly-marginalized rural communities of Chiapas, Mexico where consumption of poorly sanitized water has fostered severe diarrheal diseases among children. Interventions aimed to reduce contaminants present in water are necessary to reduce morbidity and mortality rates. In this work we evaluated the efficiency of a point of use water purification system, Llaveoz, to eradicate total coliform (TC) bacteria and diarrheagenic E. coli (DEC) strains in 62 paired water samples obtained from households during the dry and rainy season. TC was determined by the membrane filtration method whereas DEC strains were evaluated by a multiplex PCR approach. After Llaveoz treatment, water samples collected during the dry season (N=20) had an 80.3% reduction of TC counts (p<0.05). Similarly, TC were significantly reduced (72.3%, (p<0.05)) in water samples treated during the rainy season (N=42). A total of 28 E. coli strains were isolated of which 14.3% (N=4) were identified as DEC strains (ETEC (N=2), EAEC (N=1) or EIEC (N=1)) in untreated water samples. Llaveoz-treated water did not contain DEC strains. Thus, the Llaveoz system represents an alternative method to obtain more pure water in regions where potable water sources are not available.
The Llaveoz™ water disinfection system (patent US2011/0215037 A1) consists in a plastic faucet which is placed at the base of a water container used at home for water storage; the faucet contains an ultraviolet light bulb UVC type which uses electricity (110V or 12V). Its light goes on when the faucet is opened in order to pour clean water. To eliminate suspended solids, parasites and bacteria, the faucet is connected to a microfiltration cartridge which contains polypropylene membranes with 0.1µm pore diameter. In vitro studies demonstrate that Llaveoz is able to eliminate ∼99, 100% and ∼99% of parasites, bacteria and virus, respectively. Llaveoz purification system is fabricated and distributed to rural and peri-urban communities by EOZ group, a non-profit organization funded by Flor Cassassuce with a self-funding mechanism.
