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Low-cost Treatment Technologies for Small Rural Water Systems
Citation:
Patterson, C., C. Maldonado, R. Sinha, H. Minnigh, M. Crespo, AND G. Ramirez. Low-cost Treatment Technologies for Small Rural Water Systems. Small Systems Webinar Series, Cincinnati, Ohio, November 27, 2018.
Impact/Purpose:
Out of Puerto Rico’s 495 Public Water Systems, 302 are operated by communities or private entities and are considered Non-PRASA (outside the jurisdiction of the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority). In Fiscal Year 2015, Non-PRASA water systems had 1650 Safe Drinking Water Act violations in 182 systems with 136 Maximum Contaminant Level violations in 74 systems affecting a population of 39,470 people in rural Puerto Rico. Only 4% of the systems use filtration technologies, 75% of the systems report the use of some form of chlorination, but only 60% report negative bacteriological results. As a results, there exists a significantly higher potential for epidemic outbreaks of enteric diseases in Non-PRASA communities. The most immediate challenges include 1) the need for low cost filtration and disinfection systems for surface water sources, 2) water shortages during droughts, 3) the high cost of electricity and 4) the lack of money to pay for improvements.
Description:
U.S. EPA has been conducting drinking water research demonstration projects in Puerto Rico for over 10 years. Research studies have focused on low-cost water treatment technologies including bio-sand and rapid sand filters and UV disinfection systems. Projects have also highlighted options for renewable energy and water quality monitoring. The presentation will focus on results from these treatability studies and the operation and maintenance requirements of these small system treatment technologies.