Design and Assessing the Effectiveness of Solar Disinfection Systems in Treating Rooftop Harvested Rainwater for Sanitation and Hygiene Purposes in Rural Maternal Health Facilities

Malawi is among the Sub-Saharan African countries with abundant solar energy resources, mainly used for electrification, water pumping, and domestic water heating in rural and urban communities. More than 85% of Malawi’s population is based in remote rural areas, where the majority depend on untreated water that can compromise their health. This study aimed to design an improved Solar Disinfection (SODIS) system for microbial disinfection of harvested rainwater at rural healthcare facilities in Malawi, supplementing the United Nations’ efforts to accelerate SDG 6 through SDG 7. The results accomplished the 0 MPN/100 ml E. coli and 0 MPN/100 ml Total coliform water disinfection using solar UV radiation. Despite the focus on clean water for sanitation and hygiene in maternal healthcare facilities, the study achieved the water quality recommended by the World Health Organization’s and Malawi Bureau of Standards’ drinking water requirements.