What is the most cost-efficient solution for drinking water disinfection?

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As we know water disinfection (deactivation or killing of pathogenic microorganisms) is the most common issue we have to deal with these days.

What are the most adopted solutions for the water disinfection?

Does any one has any comparison for both Chemical and Physical methods?

Please share your experience, cheers.

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22 Answers

  2. You can adopt Ozonation for this concern.

  3. The most cost effective means of disinfection is the Fresnel Lens solution, the water being boiled and distilled. There is a large scale design for desalination. Details from rosjonesenvedu@hotmail.com

  4. Dosage of Bleaching powder to achieve the desired  residual chlorine is the economical and effective solution

  5. Bio-sand filter is very cheep solution for killing of pathogenic microorganisms & physical contamination, and Dy-desalination for chemical contamination but it depends upon what type of water you are treating and how much quantity of water you are planning to treat. 

  7. There are alternatives, but the most novel is the use of algae, chlorella and the genus Spirulina, are microalgae regenerate water and cleaned, due to its high chlorophyll content. Simply recycle water in a reservoir and microalgae do their job, do not forget to place a filter output

  8. Dear Jenna,

    You mention in your comment: “disinfection with chlorine is sufficient and the most cost-effective".

    Is it something you can factually substantiate, by showing cost analysis of different disinfection technologies, or is it something that you just like to say, because chlorine is the only technology you have ever worked with?

    Misha.

  9. It depends what type of water you are treating and what the goals are. If you are dealing with groundwater, simple disinfection with chlorine is sufficient and the most cost-effective. Chlorine produces a residual in the water that will persist in distribution (it is desirable to aim for 0.2 mg/L throughout distribution). Surface water involves more costly treatment that requires much more operational knowledge. If surface water quality is low turbidity, there are some low-cost filtration options, such as cartridges that you can combine with chlorine disinfection.

  10. For home filter application, silver impregnated cloth/fabrics is very efficient way of disinfection.  It can be combined with PP filter and activated carbon filter. 

  11. Eric, all below are right. It is depending on water quality, water quantity and many more factors. For me the best option is still Ozone combined with various filters. This also as at the beginning the water is not only completely disinfected but could also disinfect. Woukd you have more questions about this just contact me at rudi@rovingblue.com

  12. Dear Erich Kasten

    Low-cost ways to treat water (CHEMICAL & PHYSICAL METHODS)

    1. Ceramic filters

    Clay, sawdust and a plastic bucket can make a water filter that catches dirt and disease-causing microbes .

    2. Bone Char Filtration- Not all filters remove heavy metals or other toxins from the water, but crushed and charred animal bone can .

    3. Slow sand Filtration - Slow sand filtration has the advantage of working on an entire community’s water source, not just individual households. Practical Action put together a technical manual for slow sand filtration systems, a complete guide to their construction and maintenance . Everything but the sink portable filter. This portable filter design proposed in response to a call for better water filtration at taps in India uses chlorine, silver beads, activated charcoal and sand. Honeybee Network posed the original problem and an E4C member posted this solution. It includes a detailed guide to the specifications, materials and construction of a portable filter built from everything but the kitchen sink.

    4. Bamboo Charcoal -If cost is a bigger concern than time or convenience, the cheapest way to treat water is to leave it in a plastic bottle in the sunlight. Leave clear bottles in the sun for a few hours and the UV radiation and heat kills the microbes that cause diarrhoea and other waterborne illness. Creating charcoal from wood changes the chemical structure of the carbon molecules in a way that creates a new type of molecule. Some possibilities include: Purify drinking water , Air purification, Deodorizer.

    5. Chlorine/Ozone/H2O2/ClO2/Iodine/Chloramine -We saved the most obvious and probably the most reliable treatment method for last. Chlorine/Ozone & H2O2 can work in the community water supply to kill microbes before it enters people’s jerry cans or home water supplies

    Above Treatment discussed but when we discuss about cost then Ozone Plus residual chlorine is cheaper than UV.UV disinfection is cheaper than only chlorine disinfection in small scale treatment.

    But most low coastwise are Sr. No. 1 to 4.

    Prem Baboo


  14. Rarely is disinfection itself all that is required. If the water is suspect, it likely has pesticides, metals, and other pollutants, in addition to undesirable levels of TSS and TDS. Membrane technology is the way to go.


    Daniel Bertram

    Chief Executive Officer

    EconoPureâ„¢ Water Systems

    + 1 (619) 987-1818

    www.econopure.com

    Skype: daniel.bertram

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  16. Dear Friends,

    Our experience shows that ozone disinfection of drinking water if implemented correctly generaly cost between about $0.003-$0.005 US per 1 m3 including everything from equipment amortization to service and energy consumption.

    I belive that ozone is not only most ecologically clean and healthy method of drinking water disinfection, but the most economical one.

    On top of it, a correctly implemented ozone system runs unsupervised and does not require regular presents of people to run it.

    I would say once every 3 - 6 month visial inspection of the ozone system is all what may be needed and even that could be inexpensively automated.

    I will gladly provide to anyone interested complete technical information required for successful ozone drinking water disinfection in a most economical way.

    Misha

    1 Comment

    1. Sir,
      I agree with you, "Correct Implementation" of any Treatment Process generally reduces the CAPEX as well as OPEX of the Plant.
      However, this is still the most neglected part in the Water Treatment Plants.
      Moreover, can you please share your findings with me, as I am also planning to switch to Ozonation for Disinfection of Potable as wll as Wastewater.
      Thanking you for your given time and consideration.

  17. I work with a liquid mineral patented technology, which removes over 250 contaminants from water, rendering water: pure, oxygenated, structured, and mineralized (with over 100 ionic minerals). 5-10 drops in cup. EPA tested. Only 60 cents a day per person for a gallon of pure, spring water. Portable, effective, and economical: http://www.auroliquidgold.com/auro-gold-summary.html

    2 Comments

  18. We are making nanoclay based micro filtration candles which have holes in nano size allowing only water to seep through not the pathogens. If the water is well exposed to sunlight and then micro-filtered that gives best cheaper method for removal of pathogens (terafilwater.co.in) and watsan.in

  19. Erich, I also agree with Bruce, the type of disifection required will determine what system would be required, sand filters, GAC filters, UV & Ozone are all options. You would need to determine the present water quality to be able to investigate the best option for you.

  21. Erich, I agree with Bruce`s answer below, to many variables for a definitive answer. Depending on the quantity required, one of the most effective basic solutions is an SSF (slow sand filter) which is easy to construct and maintain. It combines many elements of more advanced methods such as biological treatment and can render water safe to drink.

  22. This is an excellent question that can only be answered with "it depends". Every water disinfectant chemical or physical like UV, has specific effectiveness on target pathogens. Some work better on certain types of microrganisms and at certain doses. The best approach is a multiple barrier approach - use more than one type of disinfectant. Can you provide any specifics on the pathogens of concern? Also affecting efficacy is the water quality, Some chemcials will interfere with certain disinfectants. I am sorry there is no single disinfectant to solve all pathogens.

    1 Comment

    1. The water sterilization unit that we take to market not only sterilizes but kills, destroy and removes bacteria and viruses in the water, providing the end-user with safe, clean drinking water at very low cost, without the addition of any Chemicals or Chlorine. There are additional options available for removing Toxic metals such as Arsenic and Mercury from any water source. We have conducted various tests in South Africa through an accredited testing laboratory. Please contact me should you require more information.