Evaluating In-line Chlorination in Nigeria

ConditionsDiarrhea Water Quality Adoption

Trial statusNot yet recruiting

Trial phaseNot applicable

Trial typeInterventional

Biological sexAll

Age15+

SponsorUniversity of California, Berkeley

About this trial

This study evaluates the implementation and effectiveness of in-line chlorination (ILC) for improving drinking water quality in rural Nigeria. Unsafe drinking water remains a major contributor to diarrheal disease, particularly among children under five. Inline chlorination is a passive water treatment approach that automatically doses chlorine at community water systems without requiring electricity or daily user action. Two cluster randomized controlled trials will be conducted in Kano State (North-West Nigeria) and Cross River State (South-South Nigeria). Communities will be randomized to either receive in-line chlorination installed at eligible communal water systems or serve as controls with no chlorination. The unit of randomization is a community or a cluster of communities that share water system for drinking water. The primary objective is to estimate the causal impact of in-line chlorination on household drinking water quality. Outcomes include the prevalence of Escherichia coli contamination in tap water and stored household water as well as the presence of free chlorine residual. Secondary objectives assess water source usage and adoption of chlorinated sources, as well as reduction in diarrheal disease. Implementation fidelity and operational performance of chlorination devices will also be monitored.

Eligibility criteria

This trial accepts healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Adult (18+) or emancipated minor (15+) pregnant women and women with children under 5 years old who do not plan to permanently move in the next 12 months.

Must be knowledgeable about the household's water collection and management practices

Disqualifiers

Non-age-eligible women. Men and non-emancipated minors. Women who do not consent.

Trial design

Design model

Parallel

Treatments tested in this trial

In-line Chlorination (ILC) with Behavioral Change Communication (BCC)
Device
In-line chlorination devices will be installed on all compatible communal water systems within treatment communities. Devices automatically dose chlorine proportional to water flow without requiring electricity or daily user input. Technologies will include TuriTap liquid dosers installed at handpumps and CTI-8 tablet dosers installed at tanks or piped systems. Devices will be calibrated and routinely monitored to maintain chlorine residual within recommended ranges. In addition to device installation, communities will participate in behavior change communication (BCC) activities designed to support understanding and acceptance of chlorinated water. BCC activities will include community sensitization meetings conducted by the implementing partner. Meetings will provide information on the purpose of chlorination through the in-line chlorination devices, expected benefits and limitations, safe water handling practices, and guidance for addressing taste or odor concerns.

Treatment groups

2,655 Participants

are divided into 2 treatment groups

Group A: Arm 1: Inline Chlorination (ILC) with Behavioral Change Communication (BCC)Experimental treatment 1 intervention

Group B: Arm 2: Control (No Chlorination)No intervention 0 interventions

Trial outcomes