Proof-of-concept evaluation at Cox's Bazar of the Safe Water Optimization Tool: water quality modelling for safe water supply in humanitarian emergencies.

Journal: BMJ global health
Published Date: Aug 20, 2025

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Waterborne diseases are leading concerns in emergencies. Humanitarian guidelines stipulate universal water chlorination targets, but these fail to reliably protect water as postdistribution chlorine decay can leave water vulnerable to pathogenic recontamination. The Safe Water Optimization Tool (SWOT) models chlorine decay to generate context-specific chlorination targets that ensure water remains protected up to point-of-consumption. The SWOT has not been tested in an active humanitarian response, so we conducted a proof-of-concept evaluation at a Cox's Bazar refugee settlement to validate its modelling and assess its efficacy and effectiveness.

Authors

  • Syed Imran Ali
    Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Kyung Hee University Seocheon-dong, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 446-701, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: s.emran.a@oslab.khu.ac.kr.
  • Michael De Santi
    Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
  • Matt Arnold
    Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
  • Usman T Khan
    Department of Civil Engineering, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON, Canada M3J 1P3 E-mail: utkhan@yorku.ca.
  • Tarra L Penney
    Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
  • Syed Saad Ali
    Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
  • Jean-François Fesselet
    Public Health Department, Médecins Sans Frontières, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
  • James Orbinski
    Department of Family and Community Medicine, Temerty School of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.

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