>Magister Scientiae - MSc / To address the urgent need for safe potable water in South Africa’s rural areas, sustainable systems for water disinfection at the village-scale of operation are required.In this thesis, the development of a small-scale water chlorination system that runs on salt and solar panels is described. The system combines a membrane-based hypochlorite generator, or “membrane electrolyser”, with an automated hypochlorite dosing system.The system was designed to (i) coordinate hypochlorite production and dosing automatically in a flow-through system, and (ii) fit inline with low pressure pipelines from overhead storage tanks or raised water sources. Low cost materials were used for construction, and water-powered mechanisms were devised to control both brine supply to the electrolyser and regulation of water flow. The capacity of the system was based on the maximum daily output of the electrolyser at ~20 g of sodium hypochlorite. This was sufficient chlorinate up to 10 kL of water per day using less than 80 g of salt and less than 0.1 kW.h of electricity. The cost of the system was estimated at ~R10 000 and therefore potentially affordable for communities up to 100 people, e.g. small farms and villages.Testing of the system was carried out at a farm site in Worcester (Western Cape) using remote monitoring of current levels in the electrolyser. Operation of the system over a two month test period, dosing at ~4 mg/L, produced consistent chlorination measured as(FAC). Community participation in maintenance of the brine supply was managed and chlorinated water was made available to the community after a brief social survey was conducted. Community awareness of chlorination was minimal. No significant history of diarrhoea was reported. However, the community regularly boiled their tap water in response to turbidity increase in summer.The system was affected by turbidity increase in the local water, which caused a drop in electrolyser current and chlorine production due to particle blockage of the membrane in the electrolyser. However, turbidity at acceptable levels for chlorination was found to have no detrimental effect on the system’s performance. The system showed promise for rural implementation providing low turbidity was maintained. Therefore,groundwater sites, and surface waters with appropriate clarification systems are recommended for the system’s installation. Further testing of the system will be required to establish its long term viability in the hands of a rural community.

This diploma thesis deals with microbiological quality of hot water in a hospital in Cesky Krumlov as well as hot water piping condition with respect to Legionella. It also deals with arrangements for improving the quality of hot water in this hospital. The subject and target of this thesis are the findings of the mentioned parameters based on own observations, technical documentation and analysis of warm water performed by an accredited laboratory. The hospital in Cesky Krumlov, the construction of which began in 1909, was built in 1911 as the 'Nemocnice Císaře Františka Josefa I.' As the time went by, new buildings were built up. The hospital was renamed to 'Všeobecná veřejná nemocnice' in 1942. In the following years the hospital expanded until the current condition. Water quality and presence of Legionella is a world-wide issue, which we must fight against. The thesis is divided into two parts. First, theoretical part, which includes both general and specific knowledge about Legionella, its health risks, the environment in which it occurs, possibilities of eliminating, suitability of the material for hot water pipes, gained in professional literature and a part of the Czech legislation dealing with public health protection, the law 'No. 258/2004 Coll.' in actual version and quality of drinking water and hot water. In the second, empirical part, I focus on the situation of the hospital in Cesky Krumlov from 2009 till 2015, concerning newly built boiler room and the whole distribution system of hot water regarding Legionella. Particularly I focused on materials used for ecologisation of the gas boiler room and materials used for hot water pipes and actual state of water distribution in individual buildings of this health care facility. I mentioned the analysis of the water samples performed by an accredited laboratory with corresponding technical documentation, which concerns the water distribution system, provided by the medical facility. I used secondary data analysis to evaluate these documents. Regarding the results from 2009 to 2015 the microbiological quality of warm water doesn't meet the limits defined in the Attachment No. 3 of the above mentioned law Order 252/2004 Coll. Limit value for colony forming units of Legionella is set to maximum of 100 CFU. In most of the samples this limit was exceeded by series of units up to hundred thousands of units. The last results in 2015 prove improvement of the unfavorable situation. In that year the analysis was tested three times. First in February, where the CFU units were 'only' in hundreds, with the top value of 550 CFU in the Postacute Care ward. Second analysis was performed in June that same year. Results were acceptable. The highest value was 64 CFU. Last analysis in the hospital was performed in December. Increased concentration of Legionella was again in the Surgery building. There were established of 1400 colony forming units. There were 300 CFU in the Postacute Care ward and the limit value of 100 CFU was in the ward of Internal medicine. The answers to research questions 'How to prevent reproduction of Legionella peumophylis in the water distribution system of the hospital in Cesky Krumlov?' and 'How to ensure a sufficient amount of quality hot water in the medical facility?' are included at the end of the stated recommendations. A risk factor causing the fast reproduction of Legionella is the old water distribution system in most of the buildings and low water temperature of water leaving the boiler, which is 55°C. All mentioned results and evaluations are included in this thesis as well as attached pictures, which show the environment and situation within the Health Care Institutions.

Esta pesquisa avaliou o uso de ozônio para inativar cistos de Giardia spp. e oocistos de Cryptosporidium parvum presentes na água filtrada obtida após a utilização da tecnologia de ciclo completo com flotação (coagulação, floculação, flotação e filtração) em escala de bancada, empregando o cloreto de polialumínio – PAC – como coagulante. O método de floculação em carbonato de cálcio – FCCa, sem e com a etapa de separação imunomagnética – IMS – foi utilizado na quantificação dos protozoários. A recuperação nos ensaios de qualidade utilizando o kit Easyseed® de Giardia spp. foi de 8,4% ± 97,4% sem IMS e com IMS, com duas dissociações, o valor foi de 7,4% ± 39,7% e, com três dissociações, a recuperação alcançou 9,6% ± 34,7%, portanto, somente o ensaio com IMS e duas dissociações, não atendeu os padrões do Método 1623.1. A recuperação de Cryptosporidium parvum, obteve valor de 3,4% ± 100% em ensaio sem IMS e com IMS, o valor obtido foi de 1,0% ± 70,0% com duas dissociações e 1,8% ± 44,4% com três dissociações e nos três métodos apresentados, não houve conformidade com os critérios do Método 1623.1. Na etapa de desinfecção com ozônio, os ensaios realizados na Etapa 1, que se utilizou 5 mgO3L-1 e tempo de contato de 1 min sem IMS, as maiores inativações atingidas foram de 2,52 e 2,22 log para cistos de Giardia spp. e oocistos de Cryptosporidium parvum, respectivamente. Com o tempo de contato de 5 min, as maiores inativações foram de 2,52 e 2,92 log de cistos de Giardia spp. e oocistos de Cryptosporidium parvum, respectivamente. Na Etapa 2, com IMS, utilizando a mesma dosagem e tempo de contato de 1 min, obteve-se 2,27 e 0,21 log de inativação para cistos e oocistos, respectivamente. Comparando-se com o tempo de contato de 5 min, foram obtidos 2,9 e 2,3 log de inativação para cistos e oocistos, respectivamente. Na avaliação de custo, o método de FCCa sem IMS demonstrou ser o mais econômico em relação ao procedimento com IMS. A influência da inclusão da terceira dissociação ácida no método com IMS também foi analisada e este procedimento não resultou em diferenças estatísticas significativas nos resultados. / This research evaluated the use of ozone to inactivate Giardia spp. cysts and Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts present in the filtered water obtained after the use of the complete cycle of flotation technology (coagulation, flocculation, flotation and filtration) on a bench scale employing polyaluminium chloride - PAC as coagulant. The calcium carbonate flocculation method - FCCa, without and with immunomagnetic separation step - IMS has been used in the quantification of protozoa. The recovery in quality test using the kit Easyseed® for Giardia spp. was 8.4% ± 97.4% non-IMS and IMS with two dissociations, the value was 7.4% ±39.7% and with three dissociations, the recovery reached 9.6% ± 34,7%, so only the test with IMS and two dissociations, did not meet the standards of method 1623.1. Recovery of Cryptosporidium parvum obtained value of 3.4% ± 100% in non-IMS and IMS testing, the value obtained was 1.0% ± 70.0% with two dissociations and 1.8% ± 44.4% with three dissociations and the three methods presented, there was non-compliance with the criteria of Method 1623.1. In step disinfection with ozone, tests performed in Step 1 was used 5 mgO3L-1 and contact time of 1 min without IMS, the major inactivation achieved were 2.52 and 2.22 log for Giardia spp. cysts and Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts, respectively. With 5 minutes of contact time, the greater inactivation were 2.52 and 2.92 log for Giardia spp. cysts and Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts, respectively. In Step 2, with IMS, using the same dose and 1 min contact time, there was obtained 2.27 and 0.21 log inactivation for cysts and oocysts, respectively. Compared with the 5 min of contact time, were obtained 2.9 and 2.3 log inactivation for cysts and oocysts, respectively. In evaluating cost, the FCCa method without IMS proved to be the most economical in relation to the procedure with IMS. The influence of inclusion of the third acid dissociation method in IMS was also analyzed and this procedure did not result in statistically significant differences in the results.

Esta pesquisa avaliou o uso de ozônio para inativar cistos de Giardia spp. e oocistos de Cryptosporidium parvum presentes na água filtrada obtida após a utilização da tecnologia de ciclo completo com flotação (coagulação, floculação, flotação e filtração) em escala de bancada, empregando o cloreto de polialumínio – PAC – como coagulante. O método de floculação em carbonato de cálcio – FCCa, sem e com a etapa de separação imunomagnética – IMS – foi utilizado na quantificação dos protozoários. A recuperação nos ensaios de qualidade utilizando o kit Easyseed® de Giardia spp. foi de 8,4% ± 97,4% sem IMS e com IMS, com duas dissociações, o valor foi de 7,4% ± 39,7% e, com três dissociações, a recuperação alcançou 9,6% ± 34,7%, portanto, somente o ensaio com IMS e duas dissociações, não atendeu os padrões do Método 1623.1. A recuperação de Cryptosporidium parvum, obteve valor de 3,4% ± 100% em ensaio sem IMS e com IMS, o valor obtido foi de 1,0% ± 70,0% com duas dissociações e 1,8% ± 44,4% com três dissociações e nos três métodos apresentados, não houve conformidade com os critérios do Método 1623.1. Na etapa de desinfecção com ozônio, os ensaios realizados na Etapa 1, que se utilizou 5 mgO3L-1 e tempo de contato de 1 min sem IMS, as maiores inativações atingidas foram de 2,52 e 2,22 log para cistos de Giardia spp. e oocistos de Cryptosporidium parvum, respectivamente. Com o tempo de contato de 5 min, as maiores inativações foram de 2,52 e 2,92 log de cistos de Giardia spp. e oocistos de Cryptosporidium parvum, respectivamente. Na Etapa 2, com IMS, utilizando a mesma dosagem e tempo de contato de 1 min, obteve-se 2,27 e 0,21 log de inativação para cistos e oocistos, respectivamente. Comparando-se com o tempo de contato de 5 min, foram obtidos 2,9 e 2,3 log de inativação para cistos e oocistos, respectivamente. Na avaliação de custo, o método de FCCa sem IMS demonstrou ser o mais econômico em relação ao procedimento com IMS. A influência da inclusão da terceira dissociação ácida no método com IMS também foi analisada e este procedimento não resultou em diferenças estatísticas significativas nos resultados. / This research evaluated the use of ozone to inactivate Giardia spp. cysts and Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts present in the filtered water obtained after the use of the complete cycle of flotation technology (coagulation, flocculation, flotation and filtration) on a bench scale employing polyaluminium chloride - PAC as coagulant. The calcium carbonate flocculation method - FCCa, without and with immunomagnetic separation step - IMS has been used in the quantification of protozoa. The recovery in quality test using the kit Easyseed® for Giardia spp. was 8.4% ± 97.4% non-IMS and IMS with two dissociations, the value was 7.4% ±39.7% and with three dissociations, the recovery reached 9.6% ± 34,7%, so only the test with IMS and two dissociations, did not meet the standards of method 1623.1. Recovery of Cryptosporidium parvum obtained value of 3.4% ± 100% in non-IMS and IMS testing, the value obtained was 1.0% ± 70.0% with two dissociations and 1.8% ± 44.4% with three dissociations and the three methods presented, there was non-compliance with the criteria of Method 1623.1. In step disinfection with ozone, tests performed in Step 1 was used 5 mgO3L-1 and contact time of 1 min without IMS, the major inactivation achieved were 2.52 and 2.22 log for Giardia spp. cysts and Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts, respectively. With 5 minutes of contact time, the greater inactivation were 2.52 and 2.92 log for Giardia spp. cysts and Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts, respectively. In Step 2, with IMS, using the same dose and 1 min contact time, there was obtained 2.27 and 0.21 log inactivation for cysts and oocysts, respectively. Compared with the 5 min of contact time, were obtained 2.9 and 2.3 log inactivation for cysts and oocysts, respectively. In evaluating cost, the FCCa method without IMS proved to be the most economical in relation to the procedure with IMS. The influence of inclusion of the third acid dissociation method in IMS was also analyzed and this procedure did not result in statistically significant differences in the results.

<p>Access to potable water has been identified as a basic human right, yet it is estimated that 2.2 billion people worldwide do not have access to safely managed drinking water. Many of those without access live in regions of the world with abundant sunlight, which can be utilized both directly and indirectly to disinfect drinking water. Directly it can be used in solar water disinfection (SODIS) applications, and indirectly it can be collected by solar panels to power commercially available UV reactors. Herein, we study the potential for direct and indirect water disinfection technologies to be used and adopted in developing countries, with specific insight into their application in the Dominican Republic and Kenya.</p><p>The amount of available ambient solar UV was both measured and modelled to inform design and modelling of treatment systems, and to understand whether real-time monitoring of ambient UV is required for the operation of systems directly utilizing UV for disinfection. The model both over- and under-predicted measurements of ambient UV, and did so at inconsistent rates, most likely as a result of cloud cover. This indicates that real-time monitoring of ambient UV would most likely be needed for disinfection methods directly using solar UV for inactivation in order to ensure water was always dosed properly.</p><p>The amount of available ambient solar UV was input into a raytracing model (Photopia, LTI Optics) to simulate the amplification of solar spectral irradiance within a continuous-flow compound parabolic collector (CPC). This informed design improvements that allowed for an increase in flow rate through the system, which was supported by field testing of the reactor. Further, two commercial UV reactors, one utilizing a low-pressure (LP) lamp and the other utilizing an LED source, were tested in the lab to verify their ability to inactivate <i>S. typhimurium </i>LT2. The LP-based device outperformed the LED-based device, which was unable to achieve over 2-log₁₀ units of inactivation under any of the studied conditions.</p><p>A life cycle assessment was conducted to assess the environmental impact of the three studied UV reactors against traditional chlorination and water delivery methods. Chlorine had the lowest impact in every category under all of the studied conditions, but there have been many barriers reported on the lack of adoption of chlorine. So the next lowest impact technology was evaluated at the community scale, which was the LP reactor. Therefore, the LP reactor was installed in study communities in both the Dominican Republic and Kenya. In the Dominican Republic, the systems suffered from a lack of boots on the ground, and faced technical, social, and economic barriers to adoption. In Kenya, the project suffered from similar constraints, that did not allow for project assessment. This work not only addresses the barriers faced in both of these projects, but provides suggestions for improving similar projects in the future.</p>

Clean drinking water is a vital part of our society and a basic human right. With an ever growing population and a decreasing quality of raw water, new methods need to be introduced to keep up with the demand for clean, biostable, and sustainable production of drinking water. The aim of this study is to evaluate Håbo municipality’s increasing usage of chemicals in their water treatment process and to investigate current and future possible technologies for water treatment for Håbo to make their process more sustainable. In this study four scenarios of different cost and change of today’s water treatment plants are presented, while our overall recommendation is to build a new facility. A new plant with new treatment methods such as ultrafiltration is most in line with Håbo municipality’s vision of decreasing chemical usage and sustainability, all while maintaining the water quality. Due to Håbo’s growing population and today’s water plants running close to maximum capacity, a new facility with a larger capacity should be considered.