Q: could you suggest me the methods to remove e-coli from community based urban water supply systems (closed channel flow)? The method which I am looking for is cost effective and having high efficency of e-coli removal. (student, Engineering college, Nepal)
Answer: We do have some information on commonly used field test kits, which might also be of use for urban water supply systems:
[1] The DelAgua kit, developed by Oxfam and the Robens Centre for Public and Environmental Health, University of Surrey, is designed to carry out five basic tests to measure the quality of drinking-water: microbiological quality, turbidity, free chlorine, total chlorine and pH. The kit is designed for use in the field, but may also be used in a laboratory or other permanent location.
More info here: http://www.rcpeh.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=107&Itemid=559
A GWA case study of the use of the DelAgua kit by CARE in Yemen was recently published in Source Bulletin: http://www.irc.nl/page/40485
[2] Wagtech International Portable Water Testing – http://www.wagtech.co.uk/ShowCat.php?catid=3 . There have kits for monitoring micro-biological and physico-chemical water quality in the field.
On their web site they claim that they have supplied kits to UNICEF and WHO.
[3] India Water Portal has a list of field kits for water quality testing available in India. Included are the water quality parameters each kit can test for, the price (if available) and the supplier’s address. There is also a link to a 2005 UNICEF evaluation of several field testing kits. http://www.indiawaterportal.org/data/kits/index.html
[4] UNICEF has used simple water testing field kit for bacteriological quality only in post-tsunami programme in Sri Lanka
See Source South Asia, http://www.irc.nl/page/38743
We would advise you to check with local WES staff from ENPHO, WHO or UNICEF for more specific information about the use of water quality testing kits in Nepal:
ENPHO, 110/25 Adarsa Marga-1, Thapagaon, New Baneshwor; Email: enpho@mail.com.np; http://www.enpho.org/
WHO – Nepal,The WHO Representative; UN Building;PO Box 108; Kathmandu; guptasmithv@searo.who.int; http://www.searo.who.int/
UNICEF – Nepal; UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia (ROSA); P.O. Box 5815; Lekhnath Marg; Kathmandu, Nepal; http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/nepal.html; rosa@unicef.org; Tel: 977-1-4417.082; Fax: 977-1-4419.479; 4418.466
You may also be interested in the WEDC publication: Water Quality Surveillance – a practical guide, by Guy Howard
3 responses so far ↓
Olivier Mills // February 9, 2009 at 4:45 pm |
I believe the question was regarding removal of ecoli (ie. biological treatment methods).
Ecoli is an indicator for fecal contamination which leads to diarrheal and other water borne diseases.
The most common low-cost treatment methods for biological treatment include slow-sand filtration and/or chlorination.
The multi-barrier approach is the best approach to drinking water treatment:
1 – source protection
2- sedimentation
3- filtration
4- disinfection
5- safe (distribution and) storage
Water Safety plans
http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/safetyplans/en/
provides more info on communal systems.
Chlorination can help avoid/limit recontamination in the distrubution system.
Ozone and UV treatment are other disinfection methods.
The WHO website is rich with content on this subject:
http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/en/
Mike // March 1, 2009 at 2:54 pm |
Just passing by.Btw, your website have great content!
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Water Test Kits // May 29, 2009 at 4:42 pm |
Making sure that your water is clean is very important. It can prevent you from getting sick from water contamination. Also it can prevent long term damage to your body. You can test yourself too.