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Solar Disinfection is a method to provide clean household drinking
water to rural families with limited resources. The simple method
uses clear plastic PET bottles, water, and sun. Anyone can use SODIS;
laboratory tests and epidemiological studies have shown that it works
well in rural Cambodia.
To use SODIS a family can:
- Obtain clear plastic PET drinking water
bottles and wash them
- Fill bottles with clear water
- Place on a corrugated metal sheet or on the
roof
- Leave exposed to the direct sun for at least
six hours
- Remove the bottles, let cool, and drink
The technology kills water borne bacteria,
viruses, and parasites. The taste of the water does not change
leaving the same fresh tasting lake, river, or well water that
villagers are used to. SODIS does not remove chemical contaminants in
the water.
 
The method was first introduced to Cambodia in
March 2004 in partnership with the NGO ADRA Cambodia. After one year
of SODIS in Preah Vihear province, ADRA received a second year’s
funding for a SODIS program in Siem Reap province. A health impact
study was conducted in ADRA’s intervention villages. Through a
case-control study design, the prevalence of diarrhea in villagers
using SODIS was significantly less than the control villagers not
using SODIS.
 
Ryan Sinclair from Tulane University is
researching SODIS in the Resource LABS for his doctoral dissertation
study. He is conducting a formal disinfection study using real
Cambodian water, plastic bottles, roof material, bacteria, and strong
Cambodian sun. A microbiological model is being developed to
investigate the Cambodia-specific process with unique variables such
as cloudy / rainy days, use of muddy (turbid) water, and half full
bottles.
 
The RDI NGO is also planning further SODIS
dissemination activities and is looking at developing video
educational materials to assist in the nationwide village-based
promotion effort of SODIS.
Contact information:
Ryan Sinclair
rsinclai@tulane.edu
SODIS
Website:
www.sodis.ch
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