Effective water treatment for rural communities in Suriname : a comparison of point-of-use ceramic filters and centralized treatment with sand filters

Abstract There is an urgent need for an effective and long-lasting ceramic filter for point-of-use water treatment. In this study, silver-diatomite nanocomposite ceramic filters were developed by an easy and effective method. The ceramic filters have a three-dimensional interconnected pore structure and porosity of 50.85%. Characterizations of the silver-diatomite nanocomposite ceramic filters were performed using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Silver nanoparticles were confirmed to be formed in situ in the ceramic filter. The highest silver concentration in water was 0.24 μg/L and 2.1 μg/L in short- and long-term experiments, indicating very low silver-release properties of silver-diatomite nanocomposite ceramic filter. The nanocomposite ceramics show strong bactericidal activity. When contact time with Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) of 105 colony forming units (CFU)/mL exceeded 3 h, the bactericidal rates of the four different silver content ceramics against E. coli and S. aureus were all 100%. Strong bactericidal effect against E. coli with initial concentration of 109 CFU/mL were also observed in ceramic newly obtained and ceramic immersed in water for 270 days, demonstrating its high stability. The silver-diatomite nanocomposite ceramic filters could be a promising candidate for point-of-use water treatment.

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Implementation of point-of-use water treatment methods in a rural Tanzanian community: a case study

Journal of Water Sanitation and Hygiene for Development ◽

10.2166/washdev.2020.141 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 1012-1018

Author(s):

T. M. Ngasala ◽

S. J. Masten ◽

C. Cohen ◽

D. Ravitz ◽

E. J. Mwita

Keyword(s):

Water Treatment ◽

Rural Communities ◽

Water Samples ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Ease Of Use ◽

Water Disinfection ◽

Coliform Bacteria ◽

Treatment Methods ◽

Point Of Use ◽

Household Water

Abstract This study was conducted in an agro-pastoral community in Northern Tanzania, where water sources are contaminated, and point-of-use water treatment is rarely used. The objectives of the study were to determine the quality of drinking water at the household level and to assess the perception and attitude towards the treatment methods that were introduced to community members. The three treatment methods evaluated were chlorine tablets, silver-infused ceramic tablets, and solar water disinfection (SODIS). These methods were selected due to their availability, ease of use, cost, and effectiveness in water with high levels of coliform bacteria. Each home within the study area was provided with one of three treatment methods. The use, performance, and acceptability of the new water treatment methods were assessed over a three-week period. Prior to the introduction of the methods, 40% of households reported that they treated water regularly. However, 80% of the household water samples tested positive for Escherichia coli. After introducing the new methods, 60% of households increased their water consumption, and all water samples tested negative for E. coli during the final week of testing. The work demonstrates the need to provide access to cost-effective household water treatment methods, especially in rural communities that lack access to potable water.

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Ceramic Filters Impregnated with Silver Nanoparticles for Point-of-Use Water Treatment in Rural Guatemala

Journal of Environmental Engineering ◽

10.1061/(asce)ee.1943-7870.0000330 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 137 (6) ◽

pp. 407-415 ◽

Cited By ~ 72

Author(s):

Erin N. Kallman ◽

Vinka A. Oyanedel-Craver ◽

James A. Smith

Keyword(s):

Silver Nanoparticles ◽

Water Treatment ◽

Ceramic Filters ◽

Point Of Use

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Evaluating the Sustainability of Ceramic Filters for Point-of-Use Drinking Water Treatment

Environmental Science & Technology ◽

10.1021/es4026084 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 47 (19) ◽

pp. 11206-11213 ◽

Cited By ~ 49

Author(s):

Dianjun Ren ◽

Lisa M. Colosi ◽

James A. Smith

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Water Treatment ◽

Drinking Water Treatment ◽

Ceramic Filters ◽

Point Of Use

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Cost-effective water treatment of polluted surface water by using direct filtration and granular activated carbon filtration

Water Science & Technology Water Supply ◽

10.2166/ws.2002.0028 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 233-240 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

J. Cromphout ◽

W. Rougge

Keyword(s):

Activated Carbon ◽

Water Treatment ◽

Treatment Process ◽

Treatment Plant ◽

Granular Activated Carbon ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Water Treatment Plant ◽

Direct Filtration ◽

Carbon Filtration ◽

Effective Water

In Harelbeke a Water Treatment Plant with a capacity of 15,000 m3/day, using Schelde river water has been in operation since April 1995. The treatment process comprises nitrification, dephosphatation by direct filtration, storage into a reservoir, direct filtration, granular activated carbon filtration and disinfection. The design of the three-layer direct filters was based on pilot experiments. The performance of the plant during the five years of operation is discussed. It was found that the removal of atrazin by activated carbon depends on the water temperature.

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Up-flow roughing filtration: rehabilitation of a water treatment plant in Tarata, Bolivia

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1998.0346 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 37 (9) ◽

pp. 105-112 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Ana María Ingallinella ◽

Luis María Stecca ◽

Martin Wegelin

Keyword(s):

Water Treatment ◽

Pilot Plant ◽

Laboratory Tests ◽

Treatment Plant ◽

Water Treatment Plant ◽

Horizontal Flow ◽

Design Parameters ◽

Sand Filters ◽

Chemical Products ◽

Made In

This paper presents the methodology used for the rehabilitation of the pretreatment stage in a water treatment plant for a village located in Bolivia which has 3500 inhabitants. The treatment plant was initially composed by horizontal-flow roughing filters and slow sand filters, but due to the high contents of colloidal turbidity of the providing source, it did not work properly. A plan of rehabilitation was made which comprised laboratory tests, pilot tests and proposal of modifications based on the results of previous stages. The laboratory tests were made in order to find the optimum conditions to coagulate the raw water. It was found that horizontal-flow roughing filters must be turned into up-flow roughing filters, so a pilot plant was built and was operated for three months in order to find suitable design parameters. The results obtained obtained during the operation of the pilot plant and the proposal of modifications are presented. The results of operation of the final plant, which are also reported, demonstrated the advantages of the up-flow roughing filtration as a pretreatment stage when it is necessary to add chemical products in small treatment plants.

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Methods, Protocols, Guidance and Standards for Performance Evaluation for Point-of-Use Water Treatment Technologies: History, Current Status, Future Needs and Directions

Water ◽

10.3390/w13081094 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (8) ◽

pp. 1094

Author(s):

Emily S. Bailey ◽

Nikki Beetsch ◽

Douglas A. Wait ◽

Hemali H. Oza ◽

Nirmala Ronnie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Water Treatment ◽

Enteric Bacteria ◽

Current Status ◽

Household Water Treatment ◽

Produce Water ◽

Point Of Use ◽

Treatment Technologies ◽

Injury And Repair ◽

Testing Protocols

It is estimated that 780 million people do not have access to improved drinking water sources and approximately 2 billion people use fecally contaminated drinking water. Effective point-of-use water treatment systems (POU) can provide water with sufficiently reduced concentrations of pathogenic enteric microorganisms to not pose significant health risks to consumers. Household water treatment (HWT) systems utilize various technologies that physically remove and/or inactivate pathogens. A limited number of governmental and other institutional entities have developed testing protocols to evaluate the performance of POU water treatment systems. Such testing protocols are essential to documenting effective performance because inferior and ineffective POU treatment technologies are thought to be in widespread use. This critical review examines specific practices, procedures and specification of widely available POU system evaluation protocols. Testing protocols should provide standardized and detailed instructions yet be sufficiently flexible to deal with different treatment technologies, test microbe priorities and choices, testing facility capabilities and public health needs. Appropriate infectivity or culture assays should be used to quantify test enteric bacteria, viruses and protozoan parasites, or other appropriate surrogates or substitutes for them, although processes based on physical removal can be tested by methods that detect microbes as particles. Recommendations include further research of stock microbe production and handling methods to consistently yield test microbes in a realistic state of aggregation and, in the case of bacteria, appropriately physiologically stressed. Bacterial quantification methods should address the phenomenon of bacterial injury and repair in order to maximally recover those that are culturable and potentially infectious. It is only with harmonized national and international testing protocols and performance targets that independent and unbiased testing can be done to assure consumers that POU treatment technologies are able to produce water of high microbial quality and low health risk.

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Use of ceramic pot filter (CPF) technology under pressure in an in-line pumping system

Water Science & Technology Water Supply ◽

10.2166/ws.2017.157 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 843-852

Author(s):

Travis D. Gardner ◽

Joe D. Guggenberger

Keyword(s):

Water Treatment ◽

Low Cost ◽

Total Coliform ◽

Fecal Coliforms ◽

Coliform Bacteria ◽

Limiting Factor ◽

Water Production ◽

Pumping System ◽

Point Of Use ◽

Logarithmic Reduction

Abstract Ceramic pot filters (CPFs) are an effective point of use water treatment device in developing nations due to their low cost and effectiveness. CPFs are gravity fed, typically making water production a major limiting factor to a CPF's lifetime and acceptability. Directly connecting CPFs to in-line pumping systems or systems with an elevated storage tank would allow filter usage for constant water treatment at increased pressures, increasing the quantity of treated water. Ceramic disks were manufactured for testing in a specially designed housing apparatus. Filters of varying thicknesses and clay to sawdust mass ratios were manufactured to fit tightly. Flowrate and microbiological removal efficacy (logarithmic reduction value (LRV)) were determined over the testing period at various pressures. Flowrate values ranged from 2.44 to 9.04 L per hour, significantly higher than traditional CPF technology. LRVs ranged from 1.1 to 2.0, lower than traditional CPF technology but still effective at removing most Escherichia coli and total coliform bacteria. Filters proved effective at removing total and fecal coliforms at pressures less than 70 kilopascals. The optimum filter had a thickness of 3.2 cm and clay to sawdust ratio of 6:1 by mass. Filters proved to be ineffective if flowrates were above 5 L/h.

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