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Exploring Potentials and Constraints of H2O2 Water Disinfection for Household Settings

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Abstract

Poor sanitation facilities and deficiencies in infrastructure lead to a scenario of waterborne diseases, particularly in low-income regions. Point-of-use (POU) and point-of-entry (POE) solutions may be potential interventions for a positive impact in public health, complying with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of safe and affordable water for all (SDG 6). Chlorination is a common POU practice, thus benchmarking disinfection against it could be beneficial for finding alternative household-scale approaches. Here, we explored hydrogen peroxide, a well-known and commercially available oxidant, as a standalone disinfectant targeting Escherichia coli and Phi X174 bacteriophage as a model of enteric viruses, common pathogens found in source waters. Oxidation of natural organic matter (NOM) was also assessed by photometric assays. A 30-min exposure to H2O2 at 0.3% provided > 6.5 log10-inactivation of phage, whereas chlorine reached approximately 3.0. When exclusively targeting bacteria, both disinfectants were considered efficient, but, when Phi X174 was included, only H2O2 satisfied criteria. Chlorine oxidation performance was considered sufficient; however, NOM variations obtained by H2O2 treatments should be further assessed. Though some limitations are discussed, particularly considering residuals, these are taken as directions for investigating practical applications. Overall, results suggest H2O2 is a potential standalone POU disinfectant, encouraging research on context-specific household settings or emergency scenarios.

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Acknowledgements

Authors acknowledge Dr. Natália de Melo Nasser Fava for growing phage stocks.

Funding

The Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) UK Research and Innovation (SAFEWATER; EPSRC Grant Reference EP/P032427/1) supported this work. The Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES-PROEX – Financial code 001) granted Kamila Jessie Sammarro Silva with a PhD scholarship.

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  1. Department of Hydraulics and Sanitation, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, 400 Trabalhador São-carlense Avenue, São Carlos, São Paulo, 13566-590, Brazil

    Kamila Jessie Sammarro Silva & Lyda Patricia Sabogal-Paz

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Silva, K.J.S., Sabogal-Paz, L.P. Exploring Potentials and Constraints of H2O2 Water Disinfection for Household Settings. Water Air Soil Pollut 232, 483 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-021-05434-3

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