A presente tese trata do desenvolvimento de uma língua eletrônica (LE) e da avaliação de seu uso na detecção de 2-metilisoborneol (MIB), geosmina (GEO) e isoborneol (ISO) em amostras de água. A água abastecida à região metropolitana de São Paulo provém de mananciais, os quais estão sujeitos à ploriferação de algas (eutrofização). Muitas delas podem ser tóxicas e ainda produzir compostos, como MIB e GEO, substâncias reconhecidas por provocar gosto e odor desagradáveis na água que consumimos. De fato, a presença de MIB e GEO na água é uma das maiores fontes de reclamação por parte dos consumidores junto à companhia de saneamento e abastecimento de São Paulo (SABESP). Apesar disso, ainda não existem tecnologias que possam ser aplicadas para a detecção in locu dessas substâncias. A LE usada nesta tese foi baseada em um arranjo de sensores químicos não-específicos, formados por microeletrodos interdigitados de ouro recobertos com filmes poliméricos nanoestruturados depositados pela técnica de automontagem e interrogados sob regime de corrente alternada. A calibração da LE foi realizada com soluções de concentração determinada de GEO, MIB e ISO preparadas em água destilada, mineral e de torneira. Foram avaliadas tanto soluções individuais contendo um único contaminante, quanto misturas contendo MIB e GEO. A resposta elétrica dos sensores (medidas de capacitância), foram interpretadas por análise das componentes principais (PCA) e por lógica Fuzzy, com as quais a LE consegue discriminar as diversas amostras com relativa facilidade e confiabilidade. Dentre as principais observações dessa investigação, notou-se que a LE desenvolvida consegue detectar MIB e GEO em amostras de água reais em concentrações tão baixas quanto 20 ng L-1. Os gráficos de PCA mostram a separação das amostras em clusters relativamente pequenos, bem separados e sem sobreposição. A LE é capaz de identificar de forma direta, a partir de variações na primeira componente principal, variações na razão molar nGEO/nMIB em misturas de MIB e GEO. Em um caso mais próximo da realidade, a LE consegue discriminar com relativa facilidade, amostras de água fornecidas pela SABESP, coletadas do sistema Guarapiranga antes e após a estação de tratamento. As taxas de acerto da LE usando os controladores Fuzzy desenvolvidos são próximas de 100% para a maioria das amostras. A menor taxa de acerto (93,33%) ocorreu com as amostras preparadas em água de torneira. Adicionalmente, nenhuma amostra de água pura foi classificada como contendo algum contaminante, ou seja, não houve falsos positivos. Conclui-se, portanto que a LE desenvolvida, tanto em termos de sensores quanto de análise de dados, apresenta potencial para monitoramento de MIB e GEO nos reservatórios de água, fornecendo em tempo real e in loco informações sobre a qualidade da água provinda da estação de tratamento. A tese também apresenta alguns resultados da preparação de filmes poliméricos com impressão molecular para aplicação em sensores específicos, obtidos durante o estágio na Universidade Autônoma de Barcelona. / Water from São Paulo metropolitan area comes from water reservoirs, which are prone to algae bloom (eutrophication). These algae can be toxic and produce compounds, such as geosmin (GEO) and 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) that give unpleasant taste and odour to the water supplied to consumers. In fact, their presence in water is one of the major complains of consumers to São Paulo\'s water company (SABESP). Despite that, technologies that can be applied for monitoring these substances in real time and in locu are still not available. In this sense, the present thesis work has focused on the development of an electronic tongue system (ET) and evaluate its performance on detecting MIB, GEO and isoborneol (ISO) in water samples. The ET is based on an array of non-specific chemical sensors, which are made of gold interdigitated microelectrodes covered with nanostructured polymeric films deposited via the layer-by-layer technique and interrogated in alternate current regime. The ET calibration was conducted by analyzing distilled, mineral and tap water samples tainted with known concentrations of MIB, GEO and ISO. The samples were solutions with a single tainting compound and solutions containing MIB and GEO mixed together. The sensors\' electrical response (capacitance measurements) was interpreted by principal component analysis (PCA) and Fuzzy logic. Among the main features of this work, the present ET presents a detection limit of about 20 ng L-1 for both tainting compounds. The ET can also discriminate with great easiness and confiability individual and mixture samples. PCA plots show that samples are grouped into relatively small and well-separeted clusters (no overlapping). The ET is also capable of detect, based on changes on the first principal component, changes in the nGEO/nMIB molar ratio of mixed samples. Also, the ET can discriminate with great easiness, water samples supplied by SABESP, collected at Guarapiranga\'s reservoir, before and after the water treatment plant. The influence of the water type on the sensors\' response has little significance when the Fuzzy controller is employed. The ET with the Fuzzy controller presents an excellent performance with very low error rates: 0.25% (distilled water), 5% (mineral water) and 6.66% (tap water). Besides that, Fuzzy logic results can be displayed in simpler plots which ensures easier readings of hit and error rates of the ET. Also, the numeric values (compound concentration) can be replaced by linguistic variables such as proper and improper. Finally, it can be concluded that the ET developed herein, when considering sensor and data analysis, shows a great potential for monitoring MIB and GEO in water reservoirs, providing in real time and in locu information about water quality in treatment stations. This thesis also presents the study on the assembly of molecularly imprinted polymeric films to be used in specific chemical sensors, carried out during the internship at the Universidade Autonoma de Barcelona.

The water privatization project in Buenos Aires, Argentina between 1993 and 2006 serves as the main case study in this investigation. The study begins by introducing background information on neo-liberalism and free market capitalism and their role in promoting private sector participation in the water supply and sanitation (WSS) services industry. A comparative case study analysis of the Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Dolphin Coast, and United Kingdom case studies has revealed that there are some key similarities between the case studies. In the conclusion, the key similarities are analyzed to make broader implications about the nature of private sector participation in the WSS services industry.

En la actualidad, la cobertura de agua potable en el país aún es insuficiente, sobre todo en las zonas rurales del país; de manera similar este problema se presenta en las zonas periurbanas de Lima. Tal como en La Rinconada de Pamplona Alta que se encuentra ubicada en el distrito San Juan de Miraflores, el cual no cuenta con servicio básico de agua potable, el abastecimiento de este recurso se realiza mediante camiones cisterna y son almacenados en tanques, bidones, baldes, etc. Es por ello, que la presente investigación plantea una propuesta de diseño del sistema de abastecimiento de agua potable para la zona de estudio, para lo cual se toma en consideración que el caudal requerido será brindado por SEDAPAL. Debido a que la topografía de la zona de estudio presenta pendientes pronunciadas es necesario utilizar válvulas reductoras de presión, cuya localización se realiza a través de la aplicación del Algoritmo Genético Multiobjetivo, el cual en su codificación incluye el uso del Epanet Programmer’s Toolkit, que viene a ser una biblioteca dinámica (DLL) de funciones que permite a los programadores personalizar el motor de cálculo de EPANET para sus necesidades específicas. En ese sentido, el método utilizado plantea una propuesta de mejora en el proceso de diseño del sistema de abastecimiento de agua potable en La Rinconada de Pamplona Alta del distrito de San Juan de Miraflores. Para lo cual, se utilizó el programa EPANET en la simulación y cálculo hidráulico de la red de distribución por ser un programa de comprobada eficacia y de uso libre. Por otro lado, el resultado del análisis hidráulico de los proyectos de agua potable que se realizan en el país tanto por métodos manuales iterativos o con ayuda de programas de simulación, muchas veces no cumplen con las exigencias del rango de presiones admisibles establecido por el Reglamento Nacional de Edificaciones, lo cual se traduce por un lado en costos de cumplir programas de mantenimiento que suplan estas deficiencias y por otro lado posibles roturas de tuberías o fugas de agua debido a altas presiones. Es por ello que se busca cumplir con los requisitos exigidos por las normas de diseño y a la vez brindar una adecuada presión de servicio, para lo cual se hace uso del Algoritmo Genético Multiobjetivo en el diseño de la red para la zona de estudio, lo cual conllevaría a un ahorro en los costos de operación y mantenimiento. Finalmente el diseño propuesto para el sistema de abastecimiento de agua potable en La Rinconada de Pamplona Alta está conformado por el reservorio RAP-1 que abastece mediante una línea de aducción a cuatro zonas de presión y el reservorio RRP-3 que abastece por otra línea de aducción a tres zonas de presión debido a que la topografía presenta desniveles considerables. Adicionalmente, con el uso de un subprograma incluido en el Algoritmo Genético Multiobjetivo se logró asignar los caudales de demanda de manera automática en todos los nodos de la red de distribución contribuyendo a la mejora en el proceso de diseño mediante el programa EPANET. / At present, the coverage of drinking water in the country is still insufficient, especially in rural areas of the country; similarly, this problem occurs in the peri-urban areas of Lima. Such as the La Rinconada area of Pamplona Alta which is located in the San Juan de Miraflores district that does not have a basic potable water service, the supply of this resource is done by tank trucks and stored in tanks, drums, buckets, etc. It is for this reason that the present investigation proposes a design proposal for the potable water supply system for the study area, for which it is taken into consideration that the required flow will be provided by SEDAPAL. Because the topography of the study area presents steep slopes, it is necessary to use pressure reducing valves, which are localized through the application of the Multiobjective Genetic Algorithm, which in its coding includes the use of the Epanet Programmer's Toolkit, which comes to be a dynamic library (DLL) of functions that allows programmers to customize the EPANET calculation engine for their specific needs. In this sense, the method used proposes a proposal for improvement in the design process of the potable water supply system in La Rinconada de Pamplona Alta in the district of San Juan de Miraflores. For which, the EPANET program was used in the simulation and hydraulic calculation of the distribution network as it is a program of proven effectiveness and free use. On the other hand, the result of the hydraulic analysis of drinking water projects carried out in the country either by iterative manual methods or with the help of simulation programs, often does not meet the requirements of the range of admissible pressures established by the Regulation. National Building, which translates on the one hand in costs of carrying out maintenance programs that supply these deficiencies and on the other hand possible pipe breaks or water leaks due to high pressures. That is why it seeks to meet the requirements of the design standards and at the same time provide adequate service pressure, for which the Multiobjective Genetic Algorithm is used in the design of the network for the study area, which it would lead to savings in operation and maintenance costs. Finally, the proposed design for the drinking water supply system in La Rinconada de Pamplona Alta is made up of the RAP-1 reservoir that supplies four pressure zones through an adduction line and the RRP-3 reservoir that supplies another line of water. adduction to three pressure zones because the topography presents considerable differences in level. Additionally, with the use of a subprogram included in the Multiobjective Genetic Algorithm, it was possible to assign the demand flows automatically in all nodes of the distribution network contributing to the improvement in the design process through the EPANET program. / Tesis

Excess Fluoride in drinking water is a cause for concern in several countries in the world. Various techniques have been developed to mitigate the harmful effects of fluoride. In the present work, a combined alum and activated alumina (AA) process has been investigated. Tap water with sodium fluoride dissolved in it to produce a solution having a fluoride concentration of 5 mg/L was used as the feed. It was found that pretreatment with alum extends the time required for the regeneration of the AA column. The volume of water treated increased by 89% compared to AA process alone. Though the regeneration of the AA column has been well documented, subtle issues have ot been reported. The disposal of regeneration effluent is a concern in adsorption-based processes. This study aims to examine some of the issues involved in the regeneration of the AA column such as disposal of effluent, and the quantity of acid and alkali required. The regeneration effluent from the combined process, which had a fluoride concentration of 10-16 mg/L was treated in a solar still. The distillate from the still had a fluoride concentration of 2-3 mg/L, which is much lower than the concentration of the regeneration effluent. The cost of treatment decreased with each regeneration cycle and after four regenerations the cost was Rs 0.5/L of treated water. The volume of water treated after four regenerations was 307 L/Kg of AA. Studies were also done using field water from Banavara, Hassan district, Karnataka, which had a fluoride concentration of 3,0-3.5 mg/L. The combined process successfully produced treated water having an acceptable fluoride concentration. After one regeneration cycle, the operating cost was Rs. 1/L of treated water. Studies have also been conducted on a point-of-use water filter containing a bed of AA pellets. The filter was provided by an organization called TIDE. The present results appear to suggest that a column with a smaller diameter than the TIDE filter has a better removal capacity. Ceramic candles are widely used for water filtration as they are readily available and inexpensive. Hence they are suitable for household water treatment purposes. In the present work, ceramic candles have been impregnated with nano-size alumina and nano-size magnesium oxide and tested for their defluoridation capacity. The nanoparticles were generated in situ in the pores of the candle by solution combustion synthesis. It has been found the candle impregnated with nano-size magnesium oxide has a higher defluoridation capacity than nano-size alumina. Estimation of the particle size in the samples of treated water did not give conclusive evidence for the presence or absence of nanoparticles. The volume of water treated was low and the cost of treatment was high (Rs. 12/L for the candle impregnated with MgO). Hence such candles are unsuitable for defluoridation. Batch adsorption has been employed to measure the adsorption capacity of adsorbents. A model to capture the overall picture of the batch adsorption process, obtaining the kinetic and transport parameters involved has been developed. The mathematical model takes into account external mass transfer resistance, intraparticle diffusion, adsorption, and desorption. The equilibrium adsorption data was fitted using the Langmuir isotherm. The governing equations were solved using a finite difference technique known as the Laasonen method. The parameters were estimated by fitting two sets of data using a MATLAB function. The values estimated suggest that the adsorption process may not be diffusion-limited, in contrast to the assumption commonly used in the literature. The estimated parameter values were used to predict the concentration profiles for the other data sets. It was found that predicted and measured profiles agreed reasonably well.

abstract: Understanding how microorganisms adapt and respond to the microgravity environment of spaceflight is important for the function and integrity of onboard life support systems, astronaut health and mission success. Microbial contamination of spacecraft Environmental Life Support Systems (ECLSS), including the potable water system, are well documented and have caused major disruption to spaceflight missions. The potable water system on the International Space Station (ISS) uses recycled wastewater purified by multiple processes so it is safe for astronaut consumption and personal hygiene. However, despite stringent antimicrobial treatments, multiple bacterial species and biofilms have been recovered from this potable water system. This finding raises concern for crew health risks, vehicle operations and ECLSS system integrity during exploration missions. These concerns are further heightened given that 1) potential pathogens have been isolated from the ISS potable water system, 2) the immune response of astronauts is blunted during spaceflight, 3) spaceflight induces unexpected alterations in microbial responses, including growth and biofilm formation, antimicrobial resistance, stress responses, and virulence, and 4) different microbial phenotypes are often observed between reductionistic pure cultures as compared to more complex multispecies co-cultures, the latter of which are more representative of natural environmental conditions. To advance the understanding of the impact of microgravity on microbial responses that could negatively impact spacecraft ECLSS systems and crew health, this study characterized a range of phenotypic profiles in both pure and co-cultures of bacterial isolates collected from the ISS potable water system between 2009 and 2014. Microbial responses profiled included population dynamics, resistance to silver, biofilm formation, and in vitro colonization of intestinal epithelial cells. Growth characteristics and antibiotic sensitivities for bacterial strains were evaluated to develop selective and/or differential media that allow for isolation of a pure culture from co-cultures, which was critical for the success of this study. Bacterial co-culture experiments were performed using dynamic Rotating Wall Vessel (RWV) bioreactors under spaceflight analogue (Low Shear Modeled Microgravity/LSMMG) and control conditions. These experiments indicated changes in fluid shear have minimal impact on strain recovery. The antimicrobial efficacy of silver on both sessile co-cultures, grown on 316L stainless steel coupons, and planktonic co-cultures showed that silver did not uniformly reduce the recovery of all strains; however, it had a stronger antimicrobial effect on biofilm cultures than planktonic cultures. The impact of silver on the ability of RWV cultured planktonic and biofilm bacterial co-cultures to colonize human intestinal epithelial cells showed that, those strains which were impacted by silver treatment, often increased adherence to the monolayer. Results from these studies provide insight into the dynamics of polymicrobial community interactions, biofilm formation and survival mechanisms of ISS potable water isolates, with potential application for future design of ECLSS systems for sustainable human space exploration. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Molecular and Cellular Biology 2019

Cette thèse s’intéresse au problème du renouvellement des infrastructures des services de distribution d’eau potable. Nous observons aujourd’hui dans les pays développés qu’une grande partie des canalisations atteint un état d’obsolescence avancé.  La principale conséquence de cette obsolescence est l’apparition de fuites importantes. L’eau perdue dans ces fuites entraîne des pertes économiques liées au gaspillage des ressources investies dans la production d’eau potable, une baisse de qualité de l’eau et des pertes financière. Dans cette thèse j’explore les raisons pour lesquelles le taux de renouvellement des réseaux de distribution d’eau est si faible comparé aux besoins manifestes. Cette thèse est composée de trois chapitres. Dans le premier chapitre, je présente un modèle statique de minimisation des coûts pour obtenir un indice de qualité qui est « cost-efficient ». Cet indice est défini comme une proportion des canalisations de « bonne qualité » par rapport à la longueur totale du réseau. La solution optimale dépend de l’arbitrage entre le coût des pertes en eau par rapport au coût des canalisations de bonne qualité. Lorsque des économies d’échelle liées à la densité du réseau existent, comme dans les services urbains, les pertes en eau représentent un coût important et la réduction des pertes en eau par une augmentation de la qualité du réseau est une solution bénéfique pour les services d’eau. Cependant, nous montrons que les services d’eau dans les milieux ruraux font face à de plus grandes difficultés, à la fois pour pouvoir assurer une réduction des pertes en eau et pour répercuter le coût de renouvellement dans les prix.Dans le deuxième chapitre, je présente un modèle de « optimal switching time » qui étudie la date optimale de renouvellement des infrastructures déterminée à partir d’un modèle de maximisation des profits des services d’eau. Dans ce modèle, nous analysons le choix entre la réhabilitation et le remplacement des canalisations. Cela signifie que les services d’eau peuvent choisir une option moins coûteuse caractérisée par la réhabilitation des vielles canalisations ou le remplacement immédiat qui entraîne un coût nettement supérieur. Les résultats nous montrent que le remplacement direct est un choix plus raisonnable puisque les gains associés à la réduction temporaire des pertes en eau et au prolongement de la durée de vie des canalisations ne compensent pas le coût supplémentaire associé à la réhabilitation. Ceci est particulièrement visible dans le cas des services d’eau en milieux urbain.Dans le troisième chapitre, je présente une étude empirique concernant le taux de remplacement des canalisations dans les services d’eau en France. Les résultats nous montrent que les taux de remplacement sont en moyenne plus élevés dans les services gérés par des régies qu’en affermage. Ceci peut s’expliquer par le fait que les services en régie sont majoritairement présents dans les services de petites tailles. Par conséquent, des taux de remplacement élevés sont souvent associés à des réseaux de petite taille (faible kilométrage de canalisations). De plus, dans les petits services ruraux, les travaux de remplacement sont souvent réalisés en parallèle d’autres travaux. Néanmoins nous observons également dans les services de grande taille des taux de remplacement plus élevés dans les services en régie que dans les services en affermage. Ceci peut s’expliquer par une différence d’objectif défini par les services en régie et les services en affermage : les services en affermage ne sont pas responsables du renouvellement des canalisations à moins que ceci soit spécifié dans leurs contrats. De plus, nos résultats montrent que même s’il existe un effet négatif de la taille des services sur les taux de remplacement, dans les très grandes villes, les taux de remplacement sont plus élevés. Ceci est cohérent avec les résultats théoriques obtenus dans les deux premiers chapitres. / This dissertation focuses on the issue of water infrastructure renewal in potable water distribution networks. I investigate the reasons why water infrastructure in certain water utilities are not renewed. This dissertation is divided into three chapters. The first chapter is based on theoretical models that solve for the optimal water main network quality index. The second chapter studies the optimal timing of water mains replacement. And finally, the third chapter is based on an empirical study on the factors that influence the water main replacement rates in French utilities.In the first chapter I present a static cost minimisation model to solve for the cost-efficient water main quality index. This quality index is defined as the proportion of ``new" mains (which we denote as ''good quality mains'') to the total length of mains. The solution depends on the arbitrage between the cost of water loss and the cost of good quality mains. Where economies of network density are present such as urban utilities, water loss represents a cost burden to the water utility; hence water loss reduction (high network quality) is beneficial. Furthermore, we show that rural utilities face the largest difficulty in achieving both water loss reduction and cost recovery of network renewal.In the second chapter I present a two-stage optimal switching timing model that solves for the profit-maximising timing of water mains replacement. This model considers the option between rehabilitation and replacement. Water utilities may be inclined to rehabilitate old mains to extend their longevity since rehabilitation costs are much lower than replacement costs. We show that it is beneficial for the utilities to replace mains that are already obsolete than to rehabilitate since the generated benefit from temporary water loss reduction and the postponement of replacement is not worth the cost of rehabilitation. This is particularly noticeable in large urban utilities that face large costs of water loss.In the third chapter, I present an empirical study on the water mains replacement rates observed in French water utilities. The empirical results based on cross sectional data show that publicly operated utilities on average have higher replacement rates than outsourced utilities. This is because most of the public utilities have short total network length (very high replacement rates are associated with small network length). Moreover, small rural networks tend to conduct replacement of mains alongside other roadworks. However results also show that public utilities have higher replacement rates over outsourced ones in very large urban utilities. This result reflects the difference of priorities defined by in-house operated utilities and outsourced utilities. This difference does not imply that outsource utilities neglect network renewal; instead it reveals the nature of the structure of outsourced utilities. The responsibility of outsourced utilities are defined in the contract signed with the local authority. If network renewal is not specified, there is no incentive for replacing mains. Moreover, in practice, outsourced utilities often manifest higher prices which are accompanied by higher water quality. Furthermore, the results show that the size of the network has a large impact on replacement rates. The longer the length, the proportion of replaced mains are smaller; however, for very large utilities the negative effect disappears. The results show that replacement rates are indeed greater in very large urban utilities. This result is coherent with the theoretical models presented in the first chapter that shows the urgent need for high network quality in large urban utilities.

A model for the prediction of color release from a pilot distribution system was created in 2003 by Imran. This model allows prediction of the release of color from aged cast iron and galvanized steel pipes as a function of water quality and hydraulic residence time. Color was used as a surrogate measurement for iron, which exhibited a strong linear correlation. An anomaly of this model was an absence of a term to account for pH, due to the influent water being well stabilized. A new study was completed to evaluate the effectiveness of corrosion inhibitors against traditional adjustment. Two control lines were supplied with nearly same water qualities, one at pH close to pHs and one at pH well above pHs. The resulting data showed that effluent iron values were typically greater in the line with lower pH. The non-linear color model by Imran shows good agreement when the LSI was largely positive, but underpredicted the color release from the lower LSI line. A modification to the Larson Ratio proposed by Imran was able to give a reasonable agreement to the data at lower LSI values. LSI showed no definite relation to iron release, although a visual trend of higher LSI mitigating iron release can be seen. An iron flux model was also developed on the same pilot system by Mutoti. This model was based on a steady state mass balance of iron in a pipe. The constants for the model were empirically derived from experiments at different hydraulic conditions with a constant water quality. Experiments were assumed to reach steady state at 3 pipe volumes due to the near constant effluent turbidity achieved at this point. The model proposes that the iron flux under laminar flow conditions is constant, while the iron flux is linearly related to the Reynolds Number under turbulent conditions. This model incorporates the color release models developed by Imran to calculate flux values from different water qualities. A limited number of experiments were performed in the current study using desalinated and ground water sources at Reynolds Numbers ranging from 50 to 200. The results of these limited experiments showed that the iron flux for cast iron pipe was approximately one-half of the predicted values from Mutoti. This discrepancy may be caused by the more extensive flushing of the pipes performed on the current experiments which allowed attainment of a true steady state. Model changes were proposed to distinguish between near stagnant flow and the upper laminar region, with the upper laminar region showing a slight linear increase. Predictions using the galvanized flux model were not accurate due to an inferior color release model that was developed for galvanized pipes. The model exhibits a high dependence on sulfate concentrations, but concentrations of sulfates in the current experiments were low. This led to low predicted flux values when the actual data showed otherwise. A new galvanized model was developed from a combination of data from the original and current experiments. The predicted flux values using the new model showed great improvement over the old model, but the new model database was limited and the resulting model was not able to be independently tested.

Gambia is the smallest country on the African mainland, surrounded by Senegal on all it's borders except the coastal one. Gambia faces a pressing issue with water supply shortages, along with more than one third of the world’s population. The aim of this study is to propose a system that will solve water supply shortage through a local water supply system. The method mainly consisted of a literature review, aimed to provide an overview of the subject as well as to highlight existing gaps within today’s research about rainwater harvesting systems. Furthermore, a case study was used to determine the best way to design the rainwater harvesting system. The results of the study are showcased through a tank and pipe system, where water is collected on the roof of the residential homes and stored in a polyethylene tank on the ground. The results from the survey, asking questions related to the inhabitants’ water usage habits, were analyzed and represented through a table. In Brikama rainwater can be used for laundry, cooking and watering plants. The positive effects it brings include, but are not limited to, reduction of soil erosion, restoring the ground water cycle, as well as making people become more self-sufficient. In this study, a system for Brikama can be optimized by using Solvatten technology in combination with conventional rainwater harvesting methods. The tank volume suggested by Mun and Han (2011) is a feasible premiss, however it can not be directly applied to Gambian rainwater conditions as there are differing presumptions between the reference country Korea, and Gambia. Additionally, the validity of the study is affected as the reference studies suggest using computer simulations, as well as computer models as a basis for the operational and input data. / Gambia är det minsta landet på det afrikanska fastlandet, omgivet av Senegal på alla dess gränser utom den kustnära. Gambia står inför ett akut problem med vattenbrist, tillsammans med mer än en tredjedel av världens befolkning. Syftet med denna studie är att föreslå ett system som löser problematiken med vattenförsörjning genom ett lokalt vattenförsörjningssystem. Metoden bestod huvudsakligen av en litteraturöversikt, som syftade till att ge en överblick över ämnet samt att lyfta fram befintliga luckor inom dagens forskning om system för uppsamling av regnvatten. Dessutom användes en fallstudie för att bestämma det bästa sättet att designa systemet för uppsamling av regnvatten. Resultatet av studien visas genom ett tank- och rörsystem, där vatten samlas upp på taket av bostadshusen och lagras i en polyetentank på marken. Resultatet från undersökningen, med frågor relaterade till invånarnas vattenanvändningsvanor, analyserades och representerades genom en tabell. I Brikama kan regnvatten användas för tvätt, matlagning och vattning av växter. De positiva effekter det medför inkluderar, men är inte begränsade till, minskning av jorderosion, återställande av grundvattnets kretslopp, samt att få människor att bli mer självförsörjande. I denna studie kan ett system för Brikama optimeras genom att använda Solvatten-teknik i kombination med konventionella metoder för uppsamling av regnvatten. Tankvolymen som föreslagits av Mun och Han (2011) är en genomförbar premiss, men den kan inte tillämpas direkt på gambiska regnvattenförhållanden eftersom det finns olika antaganden mellan referenslandet Korea och Gambia. Dessutom påverkas studiens validitet eftersom referensstudierna föreslår att man använder datorsimuleringar, samt datormodeller som underlag för drift- och indata.

El asunto de la escasez de agua bebible es un asunto que en nuestros tiempos cobra cada vez mayor importancia, ya que cada vez somos más personas en el globo y hay menos agua potable disponible, consecuente a ello son frecuentes las investigaciones y los avances tecnológicos que se dan para resolver este problema, y entre estos avances se encuentra la desalinización solar, que se presenta como una alternativa muy prometedora para los lugares sin muchos medios económicos y alejados de las ciudades o de un suministro local. El presente trabajo tiene por finalidad diseñar un desalinizador solar que sea apto para suplir las necesidades de agua potable de las familias presentes en la caleta de Chérrepe, provincia de Chepén, departamento de La libertad, para lo cual se determinarán las necesidades hídricas de la población, se ejecutará un análisis del potencial solar térmico del lugar, después se procederá a diseñar y validar el sistema de desalinización solar y finalmente se realizara un análisis de costos. / The issue of the shortage of drinking water is an issue that in our times is becoming increasingly important, since there are more and more people on the globe and there is less drinking water available, consequently, research and technological advances are frequent. They are given to solve this problem, and among these advances is solar desalination, which is presented as a very promising alternative for places without many economic means and far from cities or a local supply. The purpose of this work is to design a solar desalinator that is suitable to meet the drinking water needs of the families present in the cove of Chérrepe, province of Chepén, department of La Libertad, for which the water needs of the population will be determined. , an analysis of the solar thermal potential of the place will be carried out, then the solar desalination system will be designed and validated and finally a cost analysis will be carried out.

This diploma thesis deals with rainwater harvesting system in the company premises and the design of plumbing system in the newly built training center and storage hall. The new standard EN 16941-1 is described in the teoretical part. This standard deals with the use of rainwater. The experimental part solves the measurement of the non-potable water in this area. In the practical part, the acquired information is applied to the newly built object in the company premises. A project is created in the form of a technical report and drawing documentation for the use of rainwater and plumbing system.