European Journal of Scientific Research ISSN 1450-216X / 1450-202X Vol. 142 No 3 October, 2016, pp.246-256 http://www.europeanjournalofscientificresearch.com Household Water Treatment in Benin: Current/Local Practices Akuemaho Virgile Onésime Akowanou Laboratoire des Sciences et Techniques de l’Eau (LSTE) Université d’Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Benin Martin Pépin Aina Corresponding Author, Laboratoire des Sciences et Techniques de l’Eau (LSTE) Université d’Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Benin E-mail: marnickson@yahoo.fr Tél: 00229 96613936 Leo Groendijk Department of Environmental and Water Technology Van Hall Larenstein, Part of Wageningen University and Research Post Box 1528, 8901 BV Leeuwarden, The Netherlands Benjamin Kouassi Yao Laboratoire de Procédés Industriels, de Synthèse De l’Environnement et des Energies Nouvelles Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny de Yamoussoukro BP 1093 Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire Abstract In Benin, many families struggle to ensure the safety of the drinking water. This problem is common to most of developing countries. Even the water is clean, at source, it can be contaminated during transport and storage. Then, household water treatment technologies as emerged as an approach people can rely to treat water at home. Several methods of household water treatment are known and in use in Benin. Some from ancestral knowledge, others from initiative of NGOs. A very few households treat their water to prevent waterborne diseases, even if the source is not improved. And most of the time, they do not use these methods according to the recommended operating procedures. To address today the problem of the safety of water quality at household level in Benin, the need of the efficiency of the household water treatment in local area has to be proved. Moreover, populations have to be involved in all the aspect of the implementation of these methods. Communication and local NGOs outreach are also essential. Keywords: Household water treatment, Benin, Water demand 1. Introduction Water means life- this truth is so often repeated, that its significance often becomes lost. All natural organism need water for their survival. Therefore water is a right, such as clean air, soil and whole biosphere. People in developed world have access to excellent quality of drinking water. This access is obvious, and the tap water price is affordable. Population in developed world are protected in this way