Factors Influencing the Household Water Treatment Adoption in Rural Areas in Developing Countries

Introduction: Activated carbon filtration (AC) is effective in reducing certain organic chemicals and chlorine in water. It can also reduce the quantity of lead in water although most lead-reducing systems use another filter medium in addition to carbon. Water is passed through granular or block carbon material to reduce toxic compounds as well as harmless taste- and odor-producing chemicals. This fact sheet discusses the principles and processes of typical activated carbon filtration systems.

This paper aims at analyzing the drinking water issue in the Mediterranean region, highlighting the principal problems and the appropriate technologies applicable in the different countries. The countries of this area are characterized by a huge variety from social, cultural, economic and environmental point of view. In particular, water distribution is inhomogeneous between the North, East, and South; even the type of water sources and the related quantity and quality problems differ country by country. Potable water comes from brackish and seawater, surface water, groundwater and water reservoirs with each source face different issues. The main problem of brackish and seawater for example is the high salinity and the contamination by disinfection byproducts, in addition to the microbiological and chemical contamination due to human activities that characterize also other surface water sources. Groundwater is also affected by human activity and it is not exempted from salinity because of the water intrusion. Moreover, water reservoirs are often contaminated by seasonal algal blooms. Technologies applied for drinking water treatment vary country by country. The paper presents the main treatment processes associated with the main water pollutants, according to the Mediterranean region. Case studies of drinking water treatment plants are also analyzed, presenting alternative technologies appropriate for specific contexts, among others. The characteristics of each specific context should be carefully analyzed in order to develop the most appropriate technologies; high-end technologies for drinking water treatment may not be applied equally to all countries or communities of the Mediterranean region.

Big data analysis for water supply and sanitation is important for ensuring urban viability. Our research is devoted to studying the methodology for analyzing big data of the water supply and sanitation systems. Based on a review of scientific publications and their analysis, a model for analyzing large data was proposed. It comprises information sources, data collection and storage platforms with indication of parameters for the programming model, runtime and storage environment, as well as data analysis and processing.

This is an introduction to water treatment systems and technology. It is not a design manual or an exhaustive treatise. It is intended for engineers who are not regularly involved in water treatment projects, but who are interested in learning some of the basics involved. Criteria to be followed in determining the necessity for and the extent of treatment are discussed here, as are procedures applicable to the planning of water treatment projects.