CTI Water Chlorinator

Compatible Technology International (CTI)

Snapshot
Manufacturing & delivery
Performance & use
Research & standards
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Product description Brand name and product description

The CTI Water Chlorinator is a non-electrical water disinfectant system that was designed for communities with gravity supply water systems.The Water Chlorinator attaches to a gravity-fed water tank, delivering a controlled dosage of chlorine to a community’s water tank. The chlorine kills most disease-causing pathogens, making the water safe to drink.

Target region(s) Target region for distribution/implementation (listed by country if specified)

Nicaragua and Central America

Distributors/implementing organizations Organization(s) distributing/deploying this product directly to communities/individuals?"

CTI in partners with Emerging Opportunities for Sustainability (EOS) International and with Self Help International (SHI) in Nicaragua.

Market suggested retail price Price per unit or service price per usage/terms (USD). Subsidies noted.

Chlorinator unit can be built and installed for about USD200, and average cost of chlorine tablets is USD3 – USD10 per month depending on the size of the population served.

Competitive landscape Similar products available on the market. May not be a comprehensive listing.

Other chlorine dispensing units such as the Lotus Water chlorine dosing device and the Zimba automatic chlorine dispenser.

SDG targeted United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targeted with this product/application/service

SDG #6: Clean water and sanitation

Target user(s) Target user/consumer base (country, income segment)

Communities with small scale gravity-fed distribution systems.

Manufacturing/building method(s) Detail regarding solution production or construction method (instructions, mass production capacity, custom made,etc...)

Chlorinators are manufactured locally from schedule 40 PVC pipe, fittings, and ¼ inch (6 mm) sheet PVC. The system is constructed with simple tools and assembled with standard PVC cement and stainless steel screws or PVC pegs. The body of the unit is a 4 inch (100 mm) PVC tee, with a 9 cm nipple and coupling on each end. A 4 inch (100 mm) riser, 30 cm long, is fitted into the branch of the tee, and is closed on top by a cap. More detail can be found in the information manual.

Product Intellectual Property Open source/IP protected (note patent)/trade secret/other?

Open source

User Provision Model Where can the product be purchased/acquired by end users?

In Nicaragua, CTI and partners train villagers to install and maintain the water chlorinator. They provide sanitation education in partnership with the health ministry and identify dedicated village volunteers to replace chlorine and maintain systems. CTI maintains chlorine banks with local partners to restock systems and periodically monitor their maintenance.

Distribution to date Number of units that have been deployed, downloads or users to date

Chlorinators have been installed in more than 600 rural communities in Nicaragua, providing safe water to more than 340,000 villagers.

Fields marked are sourced values that have been evaluated by the manufacturer or a third party, all others are design specifications.

Active Chemical

Calcium hypochlorite

Bacteria Removed (Log Scale)

Not listed

Dosage per Liter

1 mg/L

Electricity Requirement

none

End of life indicator (yes/no)

No indicator - chlorinators should be inspected and tablets replenished when low.

Lifetime Volume (L)

According to CTI, approximately two 140 g tablets will be used per week.

Maintenance Schedule

Chlorinators need to be maintained regularly and free chlorine residual monitored.

Treatment Lifespan

If not stored in a covered container, 24 hours.

Turbidity (NTU)

If water is >10 NTU it must be filtered before chlorination.

Volume Treated (L)

Not applicable

Design specifications Component and Operation overview including power, portability, facility requirements, preventative maintenance and user training requirements

The chlorinator must be installed on: 1) a gravity fed system, 2) where influent water with >10 ntu is filtered before passing through the chlorinator, and 3) where the flow through the chlorinator is between 2 and 10 gpm (.13 and .63 liters/sec). The chlorinator is manufactured from: 1 4″ x 4″ PVC T, 21″ of 4″ PVC pipe, 2 4″ couplings, 1 4″ cap, 17″ of 3″ pvc pipe, 1.3 square feet of 1/4″ PVC sheet a small container of PVC cement and 11 #4 x 1/2″ stainless steel sheet metal screws.

Product schematics Design and assembly illustrations

Technical support Technical support provided by

Formal water committees, called CAPS (Comite de Agua Potable y Saneamiento, or Potable Water and Sanitation Committee) are trained in operation and maintenance, including free chlorine residual testing.

Replacement components Availability of replacement components (in-country, by order,...)

To keep a constant supply of chlorine tablets within short distance from local villages, CTI has established more than 20 regional chlorine banks that store small inventories of tablets for sale to local villages. These banks keep records indicating which communities are replacing their chlorine.

Lifecycle Disposal and warranty

CTI recommends estimating chlorine usage at two 140 g tablets per week. This ranges greatly depending on the water flow rate and number of operating hours.

Manufacturer specified performance targets Designer / Manufacturer specified targets

For an average ground water supply the maximum flow that one chlorinator can treat (including bypassed flow) is about 20 gpm (about 1.3 liters/sec).

Vetted performance Findings of manufacturer evaluations or independent testing centers

CTI carried out an evaluation in Nicaragua.

Testing organizations Independent lab, academic research centers, etc.

In house CTI evaluation.

Safety Potential hazards / risks related to operation of this product

none known

Complementary technical systems Performance of this product is improved with another technology (eg. Cookstoves and Wind-blocking skirts)

Water should be stored in a safe storage container with a lid and tap to preserve water quality.

Academic research Academic research related to the product (e.g. published papers in peer-reviewed journals)

None identified

Compliance with regulations Product certifications and standards referenced by designer/manufacturer

Not known.

Evaluation methods Evaluation methods/protocols/guidelines referenced by designer or manufacturer.

A study by CTI was conducted during March – June 2014 in 37 rural communities located within the departments of Matagalpa and Jinotega, and in villages with a typical, closed, gravity-fed community water system. Water samples were collected and analyzed for presence of bacteria. The study concluded that chlorination of rural water sources through the CTI-8 significantly reduces bacterial contamination of drinking water.

Other information

Installed project video and Construction video

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CTI Water Chlorinator

Compatible Technology International (CTI)

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