Diseases caused by bacteria in contaminated water lead to various health problems, such as severe dehydration due to diarrhea, long-lasting abdominal issues, acute bloody diarrhea known as dysentery, and persistent diarrhea like Brainerd diarrhea. The bacteria most commonly responsible for these waterborne illnesses include Vibrio cholerae, Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Shigella. Worldwide, these infections result in 2-3 billion cases of diarrhea annually, causing 1-2 million deaths, predominantly among infants and young children who suffer from dehydration and other complications. Those most at risk are the two billion people living in poverty in developing countries. In the United States, individuals in periurban "colonias" and isolated rural areas with inadequate water treatment systems also face similar threats.The spread of these diseases is often due to contaminated surface water and failing municipal water systems. While chlorination and proper handling can prevent these infections, building centralized water treatment infrastructures is costly and time-consuming. Therefore, immediate solutions are needed to provide safe drinking water. Practical methods include point-of-use disinfection and using secure storage containers for water. Affordable electrolytic generators that produce sodium hypochlorite from salt water are now accessible in developing regions. Communities utilizing sodium hypochlorite and storing purified water to prevent recontamination have seen nearly a 50% decrease in diarrheal disease cases, with costs amounting to just pennies per family.
