Water and Sanitation

Discussion Stream Notes

Generally the most pressing immediate requirement for refugees is water. Thus, establishing a safe water supply was the first objective the Water & Sanitation Group identified. Arguably, water is the most important ongoing need as well. The first two projects represent the importance of a clean water supply. The third represents a "recycling" of water. Part of the water challenge is that most refugee settlement locations don't have a significant water supply, so it must be trucked in. What is generally trucked in isn't that cleanÛjust sucked from a nearby town or pond.

1. Mobile Emergency Relief Water Treatment System

The technology already exists to manufacture portable treatment systems that can provide immediate, safe water supply from almost any source. Using their knowledge of available technology, the Water & Sanitation Group partially designed a water treatment system. It's essentially a Îbackpack' (like a large CamelbackTM, but with mechanicals thrown on to the back of a truck (like a camper shell). It would be made sturdy enough to be thrown out of a C130, etc. It treats the water as it is pumped into the tank. As envisioned, their system would provide an alternative to chlorination. Also, it would work with any 12-volt power sourceÛa very small power need. It cleans the water to a point of health w/o chlorine, which might have cultural implications or just not be used.

As designed, group members estimated their device could treat one ton of water per hour, remove sediments, pathogens, heavy metals, organics, and nitrates, and would require only minimal operator training.

2. 'Slow' Sand Filters

A longer-term supply of safe water is critical to camp stability. The Group felt that its second most important project should be a longer-term treatment system. The group believes this can be done by upgrading existing UNHCR sand filters with low-power ultra-violet disinfection technology. This non-chemical method would be superior as a "sustainable" solution. The upgraded Sand Filters envisioned by the group would require an estimated 60 watts for disinfecting 15 liters per minute (about 1 ton per hour), and would be adequate for 1,000 persons at 20 liters per day. Such Sand Filters do not require a pressurized water supply, and they work in conjunction with existing UNHCR sand filters.

3. Reed/Wetland Wastewater Treatment

Since wastewater is unavoidable, it might as well be used for something. The group envisioned using wastewater for agricultural irrigation. It would first be run through a reed bed/wetland system for treatment, before being applied to crops and trees.

The capital costs of creating such systems are extremely low, and the results are already proven (currently, there are more than 5,000 systems in operation worldwide).