Best Option for Water Purification System in an Emergency Situation

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I would like to first appreciate everyone in this forum.

I have been given a task to come up with the best possible option for water purification system in an emergency situation that will be cost-effective and sustainable. Target population: 2000.

I need assistance.
Thank you.   

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25 Answers

  2. Mark,

    Several people have pointed out that it would be much easier to answer your question if you could provide more context to the emergency situation you are expecting. It is also critical to understand and what type of water supply is available to purify and its current quality. Please provide more information and we can be more specific and helpful to you.  

    1 Comment

    1. Thank you all for your observations.

      The system is to be developed for people displaced as a result of flooding. Water source at the displaced camp was surface with turbidity 6.4 ntu which is above standard. Analysis also shows PH as 6.2, total alkalinity 132mg/l but not stated in the maximum required standard, microbiological analysis was Ok. Other parameters were within maximum required standard (WHO). Thank you.

  3. If your emergency situation is flood and failure of electric power supply the you might go for Handpump type UF filters with some tablets.. non electrical, easy and safe.

  4. HI Mark, 

    This is your answer! Contact me with any inquiry at all.  info@csaglobalsolutions.com  4168016019  Thanks, Rhonda

    PURIBLOC
    PURIBLOC is the water preservation technology inside GoPure, a portable, environmentally friendly Pod that keeps drinking water clean and safe, while also greatly improving its taste. Within seconds, bacteria and other contaminants found in ordinary tap water are neutralized, the pH is optimized, and trace minerals added, for healthier water. PURIBLOC keeps water fresher for longer, prevents BioFilm and is designed for use in any water container such as a pitcher, coffee maker or water bottle. No More plastic bottles, no harm to the environment! The GoPure Pod is a thumb-sized, portable Pod that can be used to purify tap water at home as well as anywhere you travel. Just 1 GoPure Pod equals 2,000 16.9 oz. single-use water bottles. 

    http://www.gopurepod.com

  5. If it is for an emergency situation, like post-disaster, then the first thing that should be taken into consideration is that it is economically viable without compromising it's purification abillity. As your target population is very small, you should not try to invest a huge amount when affordable alternatives are present. Also, identify the major contaminants present or possible in the near future in the drinking water of that area and then proceed with the relevant purification technique.

     

  6. Solar Distillation Panels might be a good fit. They require ZERO grid connected energy and have been proven to create pure, potable water from Frac Water, Effluent, Contaminated Mine Water, they have even proven to create pure, potable water from leachate! Panels can create between 7 - 15 Gallons per day of pure, potable water depending on type of water being treated and the amount of Sunshine Hours, need sunlight to make the Panel effective/work. Each Panel costs about $750 USD, not including shipping and can be purchased from GeoSource Foundation in Malibu, CA. See attached Photos.

  7. The best system will be containerized ultrafiltration (UF) or desaliantion plant, depending on the potential source of water.  UF systems will not remove salinity - so they will only be suitalbe if the water source has salinity less than 1,000 mg/L.

  8. this is really an excellent task , in this case you need to present options with very low capital costs,  low maintainanace requirements, high efficiency, low energy / no energy use, blind raw water quality/ in known type of pollutants,  if you will consider these parameters your way will be easier to propose a sustainable useful treatment options, 

    hope this will guide you for some help

  10. The choice of an cost- effective drinking water purification system depends on Emergency Situation, the source of water, pollutants in water, their quantity and other. Possible simple option of solution: using self-made filters for each family, filters for individual houses and a centralized filter for cleaning (depending on the situation, conditions, local resources). As fillers of filters can be sand, known sorbents, including sorbents with bactericidal properties,bactericidal additives and other.

  11. What you mean by emergency situation. There could be a X number of different type of situation?  What Kind of help ?

  12. The cost and application will depend on the situation, is filtration and disinfection required, or just disinfection? What is the emergency situation? Solar driven plug and play disinfection/oxidation units are available for that size of population

  14. First identify what are the classification of contaminants to address; nutrients, metals, bacteria, petroleum, etc.

    Second what is the actual source of the water; is it through a municipal source, ground water, surface water?  I’m doing Disaster Relief in the Islands now; is sewage input a concern?

    Third - great resources above; but run analyticals pre and post - I have designed a mobile water fountain - with chiller for drinking, filling water bottles, and sport coolers.  It has a KDF filter that under low contaminant load may work on about 2 or 3 thousand gallons of water.  The final point of source filtration/purification will be extremely important.  Bleach, iodine and boiling go a long way.  

  16. It depends entirely on the resources available to you. Many of the suggestions below are great - if you have the funds and access to warehousing to store plant for possible deployment etc. In a 3rd world environment these resources may not be readily available.

    Slow sand filtration is a proven technology that can be implemented with minimum resources. A system can be constructed by local people and does not require sophisticated operator capability.

    Combine a sedimentation tank, if necessary dosed with some sort of chitosan based flocculant, a slow sand filter, and disinfection dosing using sodium or calcium hypochlorite, to provide a simple, robust, and scalable water treatment system.

  17. Brethren,

    I've been in the water treatment domain for only a small number of years but my question is why do we opt for RO membranes for domestic applications? I could understand the logic should the ground water have contaminants such as hydrocarbons or dissolved salts but in most places, an RO System only generates rejects. I believe simple Filtration (Micro or Ultra) coupled with Activated Carbon &/or UV does the job fairly well. I think I may be missing a point and would really love some direction. My apologies if I've intruded & digressed from the question at hand.

  18. Water Purification Tablets

    Unlike antiquated iodine water purification, chlorine dioxide tablets and water treatment drops effectively remove the worst viruses and bacteria without leaving an unpleasant aftertaste. Chlorine dioxide tablets and liquid drops are affordable and highly effective.

    On average, chlorine dioxide treatments cost between .50 and .75 cents. Vacuum-sealed tablets are shelf-stable for four years making them an excellent choice for first aid kits and emergency packs. Chlorine dioxide kills giardia in 30 minutes and the more stubborn cryptosporidium in four hours.

    Tablets and drops are great for purifying and preserving stored water. Potable Aqua, Aquamira, and MicroPur are a few of brands that manufacture water purification tablets and chlorine dioxide drops. One pack of 30 tablets usually costs less than $15.

    • Aquamira Frontier Emergency Water Filter
      The Aquamira Frontier is a disposable personal water purification system that includes an integrated drinking straw. The Frontier Emergency Filter by McNett and Aquamira fits on standard water bottles and can also be used for drinking directly from an unpurified water source. The Frontier includes an activated carbon filter with antimicrobial media that can purify up to 20 gallons of water. The filter effectively reduces bacteria and viruses, however, it does not meet EPA standards unless combined with secondary water treatment drops. Aquamira’s Frontier water filter weighs one ounce making it an ideal choice for carrying in a pocket, day pack, or three-day emergency kit. At $12 each, you can afford to purchase one for everybody in the family.
    • Aquamira Frontier Pro by McNett
      Engineers working for Aquamira were called upon to develop a portable, pump-free filtration device that can compete with larger units. The task was to double the output of the Aquamira Frontier emergency edition without increasing the size or weight. To achieve this, designers added a series of pre-filters to extend the life of the activated carbon filter. The Frontier Pro is a disposable water purification system with a 50 gallon capacity. A patented mouthpiece filters water as you drink without causing cross-contamination. The Frontier Pro can also be used as a gravity-fed filter. The size and capacity of the Frontier Pro makes it ideal for individuals as well as 72-hour emergency supply kits. For best results, filtered water should also be treated with chlorine dioxide tablets. The Frontier Pro retails for $24.95, so you can buy one and afford a second for backup.
    • SteriPEN Emergency Water Purification System
      Hand-held water purification systems developed by SteriPEN have been used by military groups, relief organizations, and individuals all over the world. The SteriPEN Emergency model can purify one quart of water in 90 seconds. The UV element is designed to fit in all standard water bottles. For ease of use, LED indicators blink when the purification cycle is complete. The SteriPEN is powered by four AA batteries. Lithium ion batteries are ideal because they have the highest energy capacity and resist self-discharge in storage. The SteriPEN can purify 100 quart-size servings of water using one set of four lithium batteries. UV water purification systems are designed for use in clear water. For treating cloudy or murky water, use a coffee filter or SteriPEN pre-filter. The SteriPEN emergency model retails for $60.
    • Katadyn Gravidyn and Ceradyn Drip Filters
      Drip filters are one of the slowest water purification methods, however, they have several major benefits. Gravity-fed drip filters are popular with international aid groups and disaster relief programs because they are extremely reliable and contain no moving parts. Legendary Doulton ceramic filters reduce radioactive particles and eliminate pathogens. The Gravidyn and Ceradyn systems contain three ceramic cartridges for a filtration capacity of 40,000 gallons. The Gravidyn cartridges include a secondary carbon filter that reduces chemical particles and improves taste. However, carbon has a short life, so filters need to be replaced every six months. The Ceradyn filters have a longer life because they do not use carbon. Katadyn‘s large capacity drip filters have two separate 3.5 gallon tanks that can produce enough water for a group of six. Gravidyn and Ceradyn drip filters retail for between $220 and $250.
    • Katadyn Combi Counter-Top and Bottle Filter
      The award-winning Katadyn Combi pump filter can produce enough water for groups of four people. The Combi filter includes replaceable activated carbon and a ceramic filter cartridge that removes pathogens, chemicals, and radioactive particles larger than .2 microns. The Combi is designed to attach directly to standard water bottles with a special bottle adapter. The pump filter can also be hooked to the tap for home or RV use. Katadyn’s Combi water filter has a capacity of 13,000 gallons and retails for approximately $160.

    Whichever option you choose, it’s important to include the water purification system in an organized and well-labeled emergency kit that will be easy to find. Whether you’re a solo backpacker, a casual day hiker or a suburban homeowner, water purification systems are an invaluable tool for catastrophic situations. Emergency purification systems are the best way to prepare for the unexpected and ensure there will always be clean water for you and your family.

  19. I think that a ater treatment plant integrated by MF + RO is the best solutions. You need a small plant. The plant should also be integrated with an electrical generator. I have designed some of this type plants

     

  20. For more than 30 years, delivering millions of gallons, millions of liters and helping lives around the globe- WorldWater and Solar technologies has been deploying mobile water purification units powered by solar energy. From suit-case sized to larger MobileMaxPure, we pump from 200 gallons, 700 liters to 30,000 gallons, 110,000 liters per day for emergency needs with our mobile units. We can pump much larger pumps to 600 horse power with our technology. Capabilities for hundreds of thousands of liters/ gallons being produced in Puerto Rico with our units now. Fresh water purification or Reverse Osmosis, depending on needs.

    We do this in about 30 countries worldwide.  

    Costs are from < USD$ 0.01 cent per gallon, or @ 4 liters over a 4 or 5 year period. 

    DavidH@worldwatersolar.com     www.worldwatersolar.com  +1 267 454 1562 

  21. Addendum: if you have more time, you can construct a wetlands.

    We have had the experience of a wetland on the roof (!) of a building in Germany. All water from showers and toilets (!) was running through. At the end of the approx. 15 m wetlands the water has a high drinking quality, outperforming the German standards for drinking water.

  22. The lowest low-cost system: for a population of 2.000 @ 3 l of water per person per day you must clean 6.000 l of water.

    The following could be done with buckets, cans or with drums.

    1. Gravel filter: fill vessel with gravel, let the water go in from the top, take the water out from the bottom.

    2. Sand filter: same as step 1. If you put the vessel from step one higher than the sand filter, you need no pump.

    After 100 l (approximation) you should back-flush both filters. Discard the back-flush water.

    3. Put the water in empty, transparent PP bottles and expose to sun for 6 hours (recommendation of WHO). Also suitable are glas containers/flasks or PP bags.

    In case, there is no sun, you need an UV flow through debacterisation (could be manufactured with low cost by yourself).

    Attention: this method cleans and sterilizes only slightly dirty water. It removes not oil or potentially hazardous chemicals.

    1 Comment

  25. In an emergency situation it will still depend whether there is any access to water and of what source. Usually I would recommend a point of use system such as a water filter. We work with a company called basic water needs: basicwaterneeds.com . You can also do this in combination with drilling a borehole/ setting up a waterpump for example. Again, I do not know what the exact situation or the region or country is. Good luck. Mark