DEVELOPMENT OF AN APPROPRIATE LOW COST TREATMENT

TECHNOLOGY TO DISINFECT DRINKING WATER

An estimated 1.6 million people die every year from diarrheal diseases related to a
lack of access to safe drinking water. Diarrheal diseases are the sixth leading cause of
death in developing countries and are especially threatening to the
immunocompromised, the elderly, and children under five (WHO, 2002, 2009a).
Children under five comprise 90% of all mortalities associated with waterborne
diseases. There are additional millions every year who suffer serious complications
such as blindness, Hepatitis A, intestinal parasites, and malnutrition (WHO, 2009c).

The problems associated with water-related diseases are preventable. Having access
to safe drinking water improves public health and reduces the water-related disease
burden. An improved water supply could reduce diarrhea-related morbidity by an
estimated 21%, and drinking water quality improvements with point-of-use
disinfection could reduce diarrhea episodes by as much as 45% (WHO, 2009b).

Aim: Development of an Appropriate technology to disinfect drinking water for
people without access to clean water facilities

The objective of this FYP is
(1) To disinfect drinking water using low cost chemical, physiochemical, and
physical water disinfection techniques to provide a compilation, description
and evaluation of options available.
(2) To compare above said techniques in terms of efficiency, ease of operation
and cost.