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==Project==
==Project==
An effective method to reduce turbidity has the potential to appreciably increase the number of people with access to SODIS treatment.  This study is focused on providing a simple, low-cost method of reducing turbidity of source water prior to SODIS treatment.  This study will measure the effectiveness of natural coagulants on a variety of soil media.  Availability of materials will be considered as a strong determinant in the viability of treatment.  Global soil distribution and solar energy potential will be considered in determining which areas of the world will benefit most from this type of treatment.
An effective method to reduce turbidity has the potential to appreciably increase the number of people with access to SODIS treatment.  This study is focused on providing a simple, low-cost method of reducing turbidity of source water prior to SODIS treatment.  This study will measure the effectiveness of natural coagulants on a variety of soil media in water.  Availability of materials will be considered a strong determinant in the viability of treatment.  Global soil distribution and solar energy potential will be considered in determining which areas of the world will benefit most from this type of treatment.




[[Category:Queens Applied Sustainability Group]]
[[Category:Queens Applied Sustainability Group]]

Revision as of 21:00, 21 September 2010

This project will focus on methods to decrease turbidity in source water prior to treatment by solar water disinfection (SODIS). It is based on preliminary experiments performed for the design of a low-cost filter unit for pre-SODIS treatment. This new study will explore the use of a natural agent to facilitate coagulation-flocculation and settling of particles.

Background

Over a billion people around the world do not have access to clean, safe drinking water and over 2.4 billion people do not have access to water for sanitation purposes. This puts these people - who are concentrated in the global south - at risk for waterborne diseases as a result of enteric microbial content. These pathogenic viruses, bacteria, and parasites (largely of fecal origin) are considered one of the biggest threats to human health in developing countries.

Over 4 billion cases of diarrhea occur annually as a result of waterborne diseases. Diarrhea causes 4% of the world's deaths and is the leading cause of death among children under the age of five. Other diseases, such as trachoma - the leading cause of blindness in developing countries - are rampant as a result of inadequate sanitation.

All of this calls for access to clean water for drinking and sanitation purposes. The World Health Organization, the United Nations, and Red Cross all advocate for the implementation of low-cost treatment at the household level as a means of providing water that is free of the enteric microbes associated with waterborne diseases. By providing safe water alone, diarrheal and other enteric diseases can be reduced by 6 to 50%; the challenge remains in offering simple, sustainable treatment methods that are appropriate for the user at the household level.

Treatment of water by solar water disinfection (SODIS) has been tested in both epidemiological and microbiological studies and is considered an appropriate technology for treatment of water at the household level. The combination of ultraviolet radiation and heat is highly effective at disinfecting water, though the technology is significantly limited to clear water (turbidity of <30 NTU). For the considerably large number of people who collect water from sources affected by overland flow, erosion, and pollution, SODIS is not a viable treatment option. There is therefore significant need for a method to reduce turbidity prior to solar treatment for efficient inactivation of microbes.

Project

An effective method to reduce turbidity has the potential to appreciably increase the number of people with access to SODIS treatment. This study is focused on providing a simple, low-cost method of reducing turbidity of source water prior to SODIS treatment. This study will measure the effectiveness of natural coagulants on a variety of soil media in water. Availability of materials will be considered a strong determinant in the viability of treatment. Global soil distribution and solar energy potential will be considered in determining which areas of the world will benefit most from this type of treatment.

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