Safe Water Solution (SWS) was developed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the late 1990s. Since then, PSI has become by far the largest distributor, with SWS programs in 18 countries. Almost all of these programs are national in scope.

As a dilute chlorine solution, SWS decreases the incidence of diarrhea by approximately 50% by inactivating bacteria, viruses, and most parasites. One capful of solution typically treats 20 liters of water (roughly 5 gallons), which is the size of most jerry cans and containers people use to obtain and store their water.

SWS costs less than one penny per day to treat the drinking water for a family of six.

SWS is distributed through the private commercial sector, public institutions including clinics and schools, and through networks of non-governmental organization, faith-based organizations, and community-based organizations. SWS is attractively branded in every country in the local language. In addition to social marketing SWS, PSI concentrates on conducting engaging behavior change communication campaigns that encourages and educates on the importance of proper water treatment, storage, and hygiene.
 
Read more about our SWS programs
Zambia
Ethiopia
Nigeria
Mozambique

Why Chlorine?
Most people in the developing world obtain their water from a central source, such as a well, borehole, pump, lake, or river and carry it home in jerry cans or other containers. During transport and storage, even water from a clean source often becomes contaminated. Contaminated surface water sources and large, poorly functioning municipal water distribution systems contribute to the transmission of water-related diseases.

SWS is a simple, affordable and effective intervention. Preventing re-contamination with a chlorine residual, SWS keeps properly stored water safe for 24 hours after treatment. Many other water treatments can be prohibitively expensive. For example, in Zambia, firewood or other fuels such as kerosene used to boil water usually cost around 60 times more than SWS.