1.2.1 EMERGENCY PROGRAMMES

Question 1

Emergency contexts are normally characterized by

Answer 1

a high vulnerability of the population and a high risk of epidemics.

Question 2

My priority in the case in the setting up of camps for refugees or IDPs is

Answer 2

Rapidly + efficiently covering the basic needs

Question 3

In these contexts,

Answer 3

microbiological water quality is a major issue,

Question 4

Treatment of water is therefore highly recommended, and the most common process employed is

Answer 4

Chlorination

Question 5

When water is clear, chlorination removes

Answer 5

fecal contamination (though it is less effective against most viruses, protozoa cysts, and helminth ova than against bacteria).

Question 6

Turbid water needs

Answer 6

pre-treatment before chlorination, and it is usual practice to flocculate it with chemicals.

Question 7

Residual chlorine will

Answer 7

protect water from further bacteriological contamination during a limited period of time after the initial disinfection.

Question 8

Monitoring of residual chlorine must be done on a

Answer 8

daily basis at the distribution points.

Question 9

Water-quality monitoring should be

Answer 9

systematic and properly reported:

Question 10

HOW

Answer 10

daily monitoring of the water treated through the measurement of free residual chlorine (with pool tester) at the water distribution sites (taps) and therapeutic feeding center/ health center storage containers;

If chlorination is not done, regular random checking of microbiological contamination (fecal coliform counts);

If chemically-assisted sedimentation is done, daily chemical analysis (to measure the quantity of flocculants necessary and to check the water treated).

Note. – The short-term nature of emergency programmes (limited to several months in general) means that risks of developing chronic diseases through ingestion of chemical contaminants is limited and not considered a priority.

Question 11

organoleptic parameters

Answer 11

(taste, smell – including chlorine – and color of the water)

Question 12

physicochemical parameters

Answer 12

(especially conductivity)

Question 13

Verification of organoleptic parameters and physicochemical parameters is of little use and should be considered only if

Answer 13

the population to be served find the water unacceptable.