SMALL-SCALE WATER TREATMENT SYSTEM
M. B. Barroca1, G. T. Caballero2, A. P. Escarpe3, B. B. Jomuad4, J. A. T. Matunding5, A. J. J.
Pereyra6
Electronics Engineering Department, Central Philippine University, Iloilo City, Philippines
Abstract- This study aims to create an
equipment that can convert dirty water
to potable water through chemical
process, it was automated and the
parameters were controlled
throughout. This was to ensure that
bacteria brought by human intervention
were avoided. Philippines suffers from
lack of potable drinking water for its
citizens aside from that typhoons and
earthquakes are rampant. Such
disasters displaced people thus there
are scarcity of basic commodities. The
group came up with the solution to
develop a small-scale water treatment
system that treat water chemically and
convert it to potable water. With its
mobility the device can easily be
transported. Since chemical process
had proved to be effective in removal
of harmful bacteria, the device had
utilized the use of alum, lime and
chlorine. Hence, the device is a small-
scale water purification system that can
effectively convert dirty water to
drinkable water. This study was an
amalgamation of chemical and electronic
knowledge to bring a solution to
water scarcity.
Keywords- Small-scale, water
treatment, lime, alum, chlorine,
potable water
I. Background
Philippines is composed of 7,641
islands, with it comes hundreds of
kilometers of coastal shores but even when
it is surrounded by bodies of water, the
access of the Filipinos to a clean source of
water is still a prevalent problem in the
country. A research conducted by water.org
shows that out of the 104 million Filipinos,
nine million rely on unsafe and
unsustainable water source. In the 2015
research of the ASEAN Integrated Water
Resources Management (IWRM) shows
that 55 Filipinos die every day due to water
related diseases. In 2017, a cholera
outbreak was reported in Central Visayas
(by outbreaknewstoday.com). These
problems are attributed to lack of access of
the citizens to potable water thus increasing
the risk of exposing them to such diseases.
Philippines being located in the
Pacific Ring of Fire mean that earthquakes
and volcanic eruptions are rampant in the
country. Volcanic eruptions displaced a lot
of households and at the same time
damages a lot of properties leading to poor
access to basic commodities such as food
and water.
With all these recent disasters and
calamities that plague the country, it is our
responsibility as a fellow Filipino to bring
solutions to such problems to alleviate the
suffering of our fellow Filipino citizen. With
the amalgamation of electronics, electrical,
mechanical and chemical knowledge the
group came up to develop the Small-scale
Water Treatment System (SWaTS).
SWaTS is a device used to convert
dirty water to potable water. This utilized the
chemical process with the use of alum, lime
and chlorine. Alum, to coagulate the solid
particles present in the water. Lime, to
 increase the pH level of the water. Chlorine,
to kill the bacteria. Attached to the device
were sensors that allowed the system to
control each stage namely, Turbidity sensor,
pH sensor, and ORP sensor. The device
was equipped with a touch screen LCD
display, this served as the user-interface
where the operator could control the system
operation and at the same time see the
sensor reading, it utilized the arduino mega
to be its control system. SWaTS, is
designed to be potable with the goal of
being mobile in order for it to be easily
transported from one place to another.
However, the device could not detect heavy
metals present in the water and at the same
time could not desalinate water.
This study, aimed to develop a
device to bring water to far-flung
communities and disaster stricken places is
effective in bringing clean water to be Figure 2: The Flowchart of the system
consumed by citizens who lack access to it.
potable water providing clean water for
II. METHODOLOGY those people who need it the most.

Small-scale water treatment system

or SWaTS was used to convert dirty to
clean water and makes it fit for
consumption. It attached the system are
sensors namely, turbidity, pH and ORP
sensors. These sensors controlled the
elements within the water to make it
potable. The system utilized the Arduino
mega as the system’s control unit. Attached
to the system is a touchscreen liquid crystal
display (LCD) where the sensor readings
are reflected and serves as the user
interface where the user can control the
operation of the system. SWaTS is an
effective device in converting dirty water to
Testing and Evaluation Procedure
System testing involved two different
aspects. One aspect depended on the
functionality and effectivity of the entire
arrangement of parts taking a shot at the
framework. Another viewpoint was the
correlation of the water quality when it has
gone through the gadget, which approved
the effectivity of the structure in changing
over water.
Functionality Testing
Table 1. Table of Functionality

Functionality
OPERATION STATUS YES NO
1.Coagulation Did the
using alum
Aluminum solution 
Sulfate pour into the
tank?
Figure 1: The Block Diagram of the System
 Did the human 
motor stir interference
the water 
solution
continuously Table 2. Table of Effectivity
at a given
Effectivity Table
time?
Did the Controlled Standard Range Laboratory Results Result
Property Value set in
water the
proceed to  system
the next Trial 1 Trial 2

tank? Total 500mg/l 0 NTU 4mg/l 1mg/l Passed

2.Water Did the lime Suspended
Solids
Softening solution (TSS)
Using pour into the 
Coliform 1.1 0 <1.1 <1.1 Passed
Hydrated tank? MPN/100ml MPN/100ml MPN/100ml
pH 6.5-8.5 7.2-7.8 7.72 7.59 Passed
Lime Did the Chloride 250mg/l None 820 mg/l 697 mg/l Failed
motor stir Alkalinity 120mg/l None 2200 mg/l 2200 mg/l Failed
the water  Standard Value based on Water Quality Index for
the Assessment of Water Quality
solution
continuously
at a given
time?
Did the III. Results
water
proceed to  Calibration of pH sensors
the
The calibration of sensor involves
chlorination
the use of a pH meter that is being used for
tank?
checking of pools and drinking water. The
3. Did the pH meter involves a buffer solution that is
Chlorinator dissolved in distilled water. The probe of the
Chlorination drip chlorine 
sensor or pH meter is then submerged into
solution? the water to calibrate the sensor reading.
Did the The pH meter’s is reading is compared to
water settle the sensor to test whether the sensors has
for a given  the same reading. This is to verify that the
time? pH sensor is calibrated properly.

Table 3: pH Calibration and Testing

PH TESTING
4.Activated Did the
Test run pH pH %
water pass sensor meter ERROR
Carbon through 
1 7.74 7.6 1.8421
slowly into
the filter? 2 7.14 7.0 2.0000
5. Device Did the 3 10.67 10.5 1.6190
device run
without any
Table 3 shows the reading of both pH
sensor and the pH meter submerged in
different water. The result indicates that the
values are accurate, and the highest Sample
code Results of Analysis* Rema
percent error is only two percent. rks
Total Fecal HPC
Coliform Coliform (CFU/
Table 4: Results for Battery Operation (MPN/10 (MPN/10 ml)
0ml) 0ml)
PASSED
Power Consumed by the system using wet < 1.1 < 1.1 0
cell
Run Time 50 A Battery PNS
DW < 1.1 < 1.1 < 500
1st 2hrs 10 mins Battery was drained 2017
DOH
2nd 2hrs 17 mins Battery was drained AO
3rd 2hrs 9mins Battery was drained 2017
-
0010

Table 5: Over-all time consumed during the Ru

n Time Comment
system run 7hrs Alum is at 20%
1st 13min increase
4hrs Alum is at 84%
2nd 47mins increase
5hrs Alum is at 84%
3rd 34mins increase
Note: The system was plugged to a power
source when this was carried out.

Table 6. Bacteria Test of Raw Water

Sample
Results of Analysis* Remar
code
ks
Table 6 shows that the result for bacteria
test of the raw water failed.
Total Fecal HPC
Coliform Coliform (CFU/
(MPN/10 (MPN/10 ml) Table 7. Bacteria Test of Filtered Water
0ml) 0ml)
Table 7 shows that after the water has been
>8.0 > 8.0 430 FAILED
filtered the bacteria result passed.
PNSD
W < 1.1 < 1.1 < 500 Results on Physical Properties Controlled
2017
DOH
AO
Table 8. Physical Property Result
2017
– Water Laboratory Results on the
0010 Physical Properties Controlled
Laboratory
Time consumed during the system run Property Results Result
 Standa
rd
Value Trial
300mg/ 352 In
Alkalinity l mg/L range
250mg/ 658 Not in
Chloride l mg/L range
In
pH 6.5-8.5 8.04 range
Total
Suspended 500mg/ In
Solids l 7ppm range
Standard Value based on Water Quality Index
for the Assessment of Water Quality &
Philippine National Standards
Table 8 shows that the alkalinity and
chloride results were not achieved based on
the standard value for drinking water. On
the other hand, the pH and the TSS (Total
Suspended Solids) were in range based on
the standard.
Effectivity Test

Table 9. Effectivity Table Figure 3: The Small-scale water

treatment system
pH
Rando Meter
m Reeadin Laborator IV. Discussion
Sample g y Results % error
1.0709504 Solenoid Dispensing/Alum dispensing
1 7.47 7.39 7
The tank has been filled with 500 ml
2 7.36 7.39 0.4076087 of solution; it has been drained until the tank
Ave % 0.7392795 is empty. With it, the tank is timed how fast
error 8 it dispenses 1 teaspoon of the alum
solution. The mean time was 16 seconds;
Table 9 shows the effectivity test of the pH therefore, for the tank to give a 125.12 mg
Sensor. The group took a random sample solution of alum, it needs 32 seconds.
during the system run. The group noted the
last value showed by the pH sensor and
compared it to the laboratory results. It was pH Reading
seen that it was below the 5% allocated With the use of pH meter, the pH
percentage error. Therefore, the system is sensor has been calibrated. Results are
effective in its pH reading. then verified with the physical chemistry
results from the Water Laboratory Clinic.

ORP Reading
The ORP reading is based on the
range suggested by intelgadgets.com. The
smaller the ORP would mean chlorine
presence is negligible that it is safe to be
consumed. The ORP or oxidation-reduction
potential would be verified by the laboratory
results conducted in the Water Laboratory
Clinic.
Turbidity
Turbidity or the amount or presence
of the suspended matter in the water; it was
calibrated through dipping the sensor in
clean water. Very clear water would have a
voltage reading of around 4.10 volts, this
has become the basis of clean water in our
system. The presence of suspended matter
would be verified by the total suspended
solid (TSS) results of the water produced by
the Water Laboratory Clinic.
Mobility
The system was mounted with
rollers so it can easily be transported from
one place to another. It also has an inverter
so a battery can be used to run the system,
perfect to be used by local communities
affected by typhoons or communities which
does not have access to potable water.
SWaTS in its construction encountered
several problems. First, with the sensors,
the sensors that was used in the system
was in a way fragile, therefore it was easily
broken during the testing and gathering of
results. The team handled every sensor with
care in order for the sensors not to be easily
broken, affecting the result gathering in the
process. We have also noticed that the
turbidity sensor can easily be triggered by
the sunlight, therefore we make an
assumption that it is best for the system to
be run indoors. Backwashing is also vital for
the system in order for the bacteria not to
contaminate the system.
V. Conclusion
Water, one of the essential
commodities for a person's daily life, access
to clean water is a right of every Filipino
citizen, whether they live in barrios, cities or
affected by natural calamities. Scarcity of
clean water is rampant in developing
countries like ours, and that is the problem
that this project wants to address. SWaTS
or Small-scale water treatment system was
able to meet the objectives and works
perfectly as planned. The system achieved
the idea to convert dirty water to potable
water through the amalgamation of
electronics, mechanical and chemical
engineering knowledge. Electronics, by
controlling the sensors and programming
the control system of the device.
Mechanical, when the skeletal system was
constructed and laying out the plumbing
system. Chemical, through the addition of
chemical solutions that are vital for the
purification process. All of these enables the
group to create a system that gave an
excellent result. The device can produce
water that is fit to be used by households for
their daily consumption. The output was
tested in the water laboratory for affirmation
that the water output is indeed free from
bacteria. The results show that the system
has negligible or zero amount of bacteria,
thus making the system effective in
converting dirty water to potable water.
To wrap it all up, this miniaturizes
water treatment system was proven to be
functional through its functionality,
effectivity, and mobility tests. Functionality
test shows that the system's sensors,
solenoids, motor, and user interface works
accordingly. Effectivity test shows that the
system was effective in converting dirty
water to potable water guaranteed by the
results of the water laboratory. Lastly, the
mobility test, the system runs through the
use of a battery. Therefore, it can be used
by LGU's for disaster areas that have no
access to clean water and lacks electricity
all at the same time. SWaTS is an effective
system to be used by communities, local
government unit, and consumers who have
the difficulty to access clean water.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We wholeheartedly thank the following
people for their support throughout duration
of the study:
The Caballero family for accommodating REFERENCES
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made the project construction worthwhile.
We thank Him for giving us the knowledge,
good health, strength and for providing us
the financial stability that we need as we
work on this project. Truly through faith and
prayers we were able to create a prototype
that seemed impossible, possible. To Him
we gave Him all the glory and honor. Soli
Deo Gloria.