Access to safe drinking water is an important health factor in many developing countries. Studies have shown that unsafe drinking water and poor sanitation practices leads to diarrheal disease, which is one of the leading causes of death of children under five in developing countries. Provision and proper use of household water filters have been shown to effectively improve health. This thesis is focused on the refinement and validation of algorithms for data collected from pressure transducer sensors that are used in household water filters (the Vestergaard Frandsen LifeStraw Family 2.0) deployed in Rwanda by the social enterprise DelAgua Health. Statistical and signal processing techniques were used to detect the use of the LifeStraw water filters and to estimate the amount of water filtered at the time of usage. An algorithm developed by Dr. Carson Wick at Georgia Institute of Technology was the baseline for the analysis of the data. The algorithm was then refined based on data collected in the SweetLab at Portland State University, which was then applied to field data. Laboratory results indicated that the mean error of the improved algorithm is 11.5% as compared with the baseline algorithm mean error of 39%. The validation of the algorithm with field data yielded a mean error of 5%. Errors may be attributed to real-world behavior of the water filter, electronic noise, ambient temperature, and variations in the approximation made to the field data. This work also presents some consideration of the algorithm applied to soft-sided water backpacks.

No description available.

This diploma thesis is engaged in problems of micropollutants removal by water treatment process. The first part aims to define single micropollutants, possibilities of their removal in laboratory and micropollutants removal on water treatment plant. In the second part, there is data evaluation of water analyses on factual water treatment plant. Also there is description and evaluation of experiment, which aims to pesticide removal from river by using filtration across granulated active carbon.

<p>This dissertation investigates the factors which affect the removal of arsenic from groundwater by adsorption and coagulation technologies, including the interactions between As and natural organic matter (NOM). Humic acid (HA) was utilised as an NOM analogue, and was shown to be capable of both complexing and oxidising As, depending upon the prevailing conditions. The arsenic removing capabilities of three iron oxide coated sands (IOCS) were investigated, including IOCSW, a waste material from a local drinking water treatment plant generated during the removal of iron and manganese. IOCSW was highly effective at removing both As(V) and As(III) from synthetic water matrices (qmax = 78.3 &micro;g As(V)/g and 99.1 &micro;g As(III)/g). The negative effects of competitive anions (phosphates, silicates and HA) on arsenic removals were not significant enough to preclude the application of IOCSW for arsenic removal during drinking water treatment. The removals of both As and NOM by coagulation and enhanced coagulation with pH correction and preoxidation were also investigated. As(V) &nbsp;was more readily removed by coagulation than As(III), so that the most efficient coagulation treatment investigated for arsenic and NOM removal applied preozonation with subsequent combined coagulation with polyaluminium chloride and ferric chloride. Different groundwaters displayed large variations in the As and NOM removal behaviours. Response surface methodology (RSM) was therefore applied to investigate &nbsp;the interactions between As and NOM during ferric chloride coagulation and optimise their combined removals. Multiple interaction effects were observed during this investigation, highlighting the importance of utilizing RSM to optimise drinking water treatment technologies.</p> / <p>Ova disertacija ispituje faktore koji utiču na uklanjanje arsena iz podzemne vode primenom adsorpcija i koagulacije, uključujući i interakcije između arsena i prirodnih organskih materija (POM). Huminska kiselina (HA) je korisćena kao model za POM, a pokazano je da može i da kompleksira i da oksiduje As, u zavisnosti od eksperimentalnih uslova. Ispitivane su mogućnosti uklanjanja arsena za tri peska obložena gvožđe oksidom (IOCS), uključujući IOCSW, koji je dobijen sa postrojenja za tretman vode za piće i potiče iz procesa uklanjanja gvožđa i mangana. IOCSW se pokazao kao visoko efikasan za uklanjanje As(V) i As(III) iz sintetičkih vodenih matriksa (q_max = 78.3 &micro;g As(V)/g i 99.1 &micro;g As(III)/g). Negativni efekti kompetirajućih jona (fosfata, silikata i HA) na uklanjanje arsena nisu bili dovoljno značajni da bi se isključila primena IOCSW za uklanjanje arsena tokom tretmana vode za piće. Zajedničko uklanjanje As i POM koagulacijom i unapređenom koagulacijom uz pode&scaron;avanje pH i kombinovanje sa oksidacionim predtretmanima je takođe ispitivano. Bolje uklanjanje koagulacijom postignuto je za As(V) u odnosu na As(III), stoga se kao najefikasniji ispitivani koagulacioni tretman pokazalo uklanjanje arsena i POM primenom predozonizacije praćene kombinovanom koagulacijom sa polialuminijum hloridom i gvožđe hloridom. Ispitivanja na različitim podzemnim vodama, pokazala su velike varijacije u pona&scaron;anju As i POM tokom tretmana. Iz tog razloga je primenjena metodologija odzivne povr&scaron;ine (RSM) u cilju ispitivanja interakcija između As i POM tokom koagulacije gvožđe hloridom i optimizacije njihovog kombinovanog uklanjanja. Sagledavanje većeg broja interakcija primenom metodologije odzivne povr&scaron;ine potvrđuje važnost njegove primene pri optimizaciji tretmana vode za piće.</p>

In my diploma thesis I focused on the issue of metals, their occurrence in drinking water sources in the Czech Republic and the possibility of their removal by water supply processes. Heavy metals degrade the quality of water resources, so more complex water treatment technologies are needed. The first part describes the metals, their properties, their significance and occurrence in water, then the possibility of removing metals using water supply processes. In the practical part of the diploma thesis I performed a laboratory experiment to remove iron, manganese and nickel by adsorption on selected filter materials, which are Filtrasorb F100, Filtrasorb F 400, Bayoxide E33 and GEH. The experiment was used to compare the effectiveness of selected sorption materials.

No description available.

No description available.

<p>Over 750 million people, 80% of whom live in rural communities, lack access to improved water sources. Even where an improved water source is easily accessible, recontamination and/or inadequate infrastructure may make it unsafe for human consumption. A lack of safe water leads to elevated rates of waterborne diseases and can exacerbate cycles of poverty by forcing individuals to miss school and work and to travel greater distances to secure better-quality water. Households in rural and remote communities may thus choose to use point-of-use treatment as a means of gaining greater control over their water quality and the health of their families. The BioSand Filter (BSF) is one such technology: it is an intermittently-operated household-scale slow sand filter currently used in over 70 nations around the world.</p> <p>This thesis situates point-of-use water treatment, and specifically the BSF, within the context of the relationship between water and health and the continuum of technologies used for water treatment. From this foundation, it presents the methodology and results of a study carried out to inform best-practices around BSF use by: (a) examining the effects on BSF media and filtration performance of physical disturbances that may commonly occur in the field; and (b) assessing whether the biological community within BSFs promotes nitrification that could produce elevated nitrate/nitrite levels.</p> <p>Results demonstrated that disturbing the filters through moving and side impacts caused marked sand compaction and decreased flow rates for plastic (Hydraid) BSFs. Although these decreased flow rates may contribute to user frustration and disuse, they were not associated with reduced filtration performance. Nitrate and nitrite concentrations were well below WHO guidelines for all samples, but changes in nitrogen speciation suggested that nitrification was mediated by the biological community within the filters. Recommendations for practitioners and for future research are discussed in light of these findings.</p> / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

Um grande desafio da atualidade é a crescente ocorrência, em ambientes aquáticos, de cianobactérias potencialmente tóxicas capazes de produzir cianotoxinas como a microcistina. Estratégias de controle de florações incluem a aplicação de algicidas. No entanto, esses produtos podem resultar na liberação de toxinas, que podem não ser removidas da água pelos processos convencionais de tratamento, sendo necessária uma etapa adicional como a adsorção com carvão ativado granular (CAG). A presente pesquisa avaliou com embasamento estatístico o efeito de cinco diferentes algicidas (à base de diuron, carbonato de sódio, polímero catiônico, sulfato de cobre e peróxido de hidrogênio), aplicados em três concentrações distintas, sobre a Microcystis aeruginosa, analisando-se a densidade celular, o biovolume, a concentração de potássio e de microcistina-LR extracelular/intracelular. Além disso, foram investigadas as implicações que esses produtos tiveram sobre a adsorção em dois CAGs, por meio de isotermas e modelos cinéticos. Todos os algicidas afetaram a integridade das células, resultando na liberação de microcistina. O último dia experimental (dia 7) foi o que apresentou maior concentração de microcistina extracelular, em que, em alguns casos, houve aumento de 10 vezes da concentração final de microcistina extracelular em relação à concentração inicial. O potencial de liberação de microcistina extracelular ocorreu na seguinte ordem de algicidas: polímero catiônico > sulfato de cobre > peróxido de hidrogênio > carbonato de sódio > diuron. Os algicidas também alteraram o comportamento de adsorção (de monocamada para multicamada), bem como pioraram os ajustes cinéticos. Além disso, enquanto o polímero catiônico praticamente triplicou a capacidade adsortiva dos carvões, o sulfato de cobre e o peróxido de hidrogênio pioraram o desempenho de ambos. Os algicidas possuem modos diferentes de ação e geraram consequências distintas para os indicadores avaliados, além de alterar a adsorção. Isso pode indicar a necessidade de se considerar a presença desses produtos na elaboração de projetos de estações de tratamento de água (ETAs). / A major challenge nowadays is the increasing occurrence in aquatic environments of potentially toxic cyanobacteria capable of producing cyanotoxins such as microcystin. Bloom control strategies include application of algaecides. However, these products may result in toxins release, which may not be removed from water by conventional treatment processes, requiring an additional step such as adsorption with granular activated carbon (GAC). The present study evaluated, using statistical methods, the effect of five different algaecides (diuron, sodium carbonate, cationic polymer, copper sulfate and hydrogen peroxide), applied on Microcystis aeruginosa in three different concentrations. We analyzed cell density, biovolume, potassium concentration and extracellular/intracellular microcystin-LR concentration. In addition, we investigated the implications these products had on two GACs adsorption, through isotherms and kinetic models. All algaecides affected cell integrity, resulting in microcystin release. The last experimental day (day 7) was the one that presented the highest extracellular microcystin concentration, in which, in some cases, there was a 10 times increase in the final extracellular microcystin concentration in relation to the initial concentration. The extracellular microcystin release potential occurred in the following order of algaecides: cationic polymer > copper sulfate > hydrogen peroxide > sodium carbonate > diuron. Algaecides also modified adsorption behavior (from monolayer to multilayer), as well as worsened kinetic adjustments. Furthermore, while cationic polymer almost tripled carbons adsorptive capacity, copper sulfate and hydrogen peroxide worsened the performance of both. Algaecides present different modes of action and caused distinct consequences for the evaluated indicator, besides modifying adsorption process. This may indicate the need to consider the presence of these products in water treatment plants (WTPs) designs.

A presença de resíduos de fármacos em águas superficiais e de abastecimento público tem preocupado a comunidade científica devido principalmente à sua persistência na água e aos efeitos adversos causados à comunidade aquática e aos possíveis riscos à saúde humana. Dentre os fármacos comumente identificados em águas de abastecimento público, encontram-se os anti-inflamatórios, como o diclofenaco (DCF), um dos fármacos mais consumidos no Brasil e no mundo. Nesse contexto, o presente trabalho, teve como objetivo principal estudar a eficiência das etapas de tratamento de água em ciclo completo (coagulação, floculação, sedimentação, filtração em areia e desinfecção com cloro) com e sem pré-oxidação com cloro e com dióxido de cloro e adsorção em carvão ativado granular (CAG) na remoção de DCF. Também foram determinados os trialometanos (THM) e identificados os principais subprodutos do DCF formados na oxidação com cloro e dióxido de cloro. Para a determinação do DCF nas amostras de água antes e após as etapas de tratamento de água foram desenvolvidos e validados métodos analíticos de extração em fase sólida (SPE) e cromatográfico por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (HPLC) com detecção no ultravioleta (UV). A validação do método foi feita de acordo com a resolução n&ordm; 899 de 2003 da Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (ANVISA), considerando os requisitos para métodos bioanalíticos. Os procedimentos analíticos empregados foram efetivos e confiáveis para a identificação e quantificação do DCF nas amostras de água antes e após os processos de tratamento de água. Os ensaios de tratamento de água foram feitos em equipamento de reatores estáticos (jarteste) e filtros de escala laboratorial empregando-se água de poço artesiano não clorada preparada com substâncias húmicas aquáticas (SHA) para conferir cor verdadeira de 20 uH, caulinita para conferir turbidez de 70 uT e fortificada com 1 mg L-1 de DCF. Os resultados indicaram que as etapas de coagulação com sulfato de alumínio, floculação, sedimentação e filtração em areia não removeram o DCF. Nas etapas de préoxidação com cloro e dióxido de cloro e de pós-cloração houve remoção parcial do DCF, porém verificou-se a formação de subprodutos provenientes da oxidação do DCF. Dentre os THM, foi quantificado apenas o clorofórmio na etapa de pré-oxidação com cloro. Em geral, os resultados indicaram que o dióxido de cloro foi mais eficiente na redução do DCF e formou menos subprodutos. Entretanto, o tratamento em ciclo completo seguido da adsorção em CAG foi eficiente na remoção de DCF, com remoção maior que 99,7%. Os subprodutos formados na oxidação com cloro e dióxido identificados por cromatografia líquida acoplada a espectrometria de massas em série (LC-MS/MS) consistiram na descaboxilação/hidroxilação e substituição aromática de átomos de hidrogênio por cloro. Os subprodutos identificados na oxidação com cloro apresentaram as seguintes fórmulas moleculares: C14H11</subCl2NO3, C13H10Cl3N e C14H10Cl3NO2. Com o dióxido de cloro foi identificado o subproduto de fórmula molecular igual a C14H11Cl2NO3. / The presence of pharmaceutical residues in surface waters and in drinking water supply has concerned the scientific community, mainly in which regards their persistence in water, adverse effects on the aquatic community and possible risks to human health. Antiinflammatory drugs, as diclofenac (DCF), are among those drugs commonly identified in drinking water supply. In this context, the main objective of this study was to assess the efficiency of the different stages of the conventional drinking water treatment (coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, sand filtration and chlorine disinfection) with and without preoxidation with chlorine and chlorine dioxide and adsorption on granular activated carbon (GAC) in the removal of DCF. The trihalomethanes (THMs) were also determined and the main by-products of DCF formed by oxidation with chlorine dioxide and chlorine were identified. For the DCF determination in water samples before and after water treatment stages analytical methods of solid phase extraction (SPE) and chromatographic method by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with detection in the ultraviolet (UV) were developed and validated. The method validation was based on Resolution n&ordm; 899 of the 2003 of the Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA), considering the requirements for bioanalytical methods. The analytical procedures used were effective and reliable for the identification and quantification of DCF in the water samples before and after the water treatment stages. The water treatment tests were carried out in jar test equipment and filters on laboratory scale employing non chlorinated water of artesian well prepared with aquatic humic substances (AHS) to yield 20 uH true color, kaolin turbidity of 70 NTU and DCF concentration of 1 mg L-1. The results indicated that the stages of coagulation with aluminum sulphate, flocculation, sedimentation and filtration sand did not remove DCF. In the stages of pre-oxidation with chlorine and chlorine dioxide and chlorine disinfection the DCF was partially removed, however by-products were formed from the DCF oxidation. Among the THMs, only chloroform was quantified in the pre-oxidation with chlorine. In general, the results showed that chlorine dioxide was more effective to reduce the DCF and fewer by-products were formed. Nevertheless, the complete cycle treatment followed by GAC adsorption was effective to remove DCF (&gt; 99.7%. removal). The by-products of the oxidation of DCF with chlorine and chlorine dioxide identified by liquid chromatography coupled tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) consisted in the descaboxylation/hydroxylation and aromatic substitution of hydrogen atoms by chlorine. The compounds identified in the oxidation with chlorine showed the following molecular formulas: C14H11</subCl2NO3, C13H10Cl3N e C14H10Cl3NO2. The by-product identified using chlorine dioxide was C14H11Cl2NO3.