We describe a point-of-use (POU) ultraviolet (UV) disinfection technology, the UV Tube, which can be made with locally available resources around the world for under $50 US. Laboratory and field studies were conducted to characterize the UV Tube's performance when treating a flowrate of 5 L/min. Based on biological assays with MS2 coliphage, the UV Tube delivered an average fluence of 900±80 J/m2 (95% CI) in water with an absorption coefficient of 0.01 cm−1. The residence time distribution in the UV Tube was characterized as plug flow with dispersion (Peclet Number = 19.7) and a mean hydraulic residence time of 36 s. Undesirable compounds were leached or produced from UV Tubes constructed with unlined ABS, PVC, or a galvanized steel liner. Lining the PVC pipe with stainless steel, however, prevented production of regulated halogenated organics. A small field study in two rural communities in Baja California Sur demonstrated that the UV Tube reduced E. coli concentrations to less than 1/100 ml in 65 out of 70 samples. Based on these results, we conclude that the UV Tube is a promising technology for treating household drinking water at the point of use.
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Research Article|
November 01 2007
Assessment of a low-cost, point-of-use, ultraviolet water disinfection technology
Sarah A. Brownell;
Sarah A. Brownell
1Sustainable Organic Integrated Livelihoods, Berkeley, CA, USA
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Alicia R. Chakrabarti;
Alicia R. Chakrabarti
2East Bay Municipal Utility District, Oakland, CA, USA
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Forest M. Kaser;
Forest M. Kaser
3Energy and Resources Group, University of California, Berkeley, USA
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Lloyd G. Connelly;
Lloyd G. Connelly
4Department of Emergency Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
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Rachel L. Peletz;
Rachel L. Peletz
5Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology, Calgary, Canada
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Fermin Reygadas;
Fermin Reygadas
3Energy and Resources Group, University of California, Berkeley, USA
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Micah J. Lang;
Micah J. Lang
3Energy and Resources Group, University of California, Berkeley, USA
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Daniel M. Kammen;
Daniel M. Kammen
6Goldman School of Public Policy, University of California, Berkeley, USA
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Kara L. Nelson
7Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720-1710, USA
Tel: (510) 643-5023; E-mail: [email protected], www.ce.berkeley.edu/~nelson
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J Water Health (2008) 6 (1): 53–65.
Article history
Received:
November 15 2006
Accepted:
January 22 2007
Citation
Sarah A. Brownell, Alicia R. Chakrabarti, Forest M. Kaser, Lloyd G. Connelly, Rachel L. Peletz, Fermin Reygadas, Micah J. Lang, Daniel M. Kammen, Kara L. Nelson; Assessment of a low-cost, point-of-use, ultraviolet water disinfection technology. J Water Health 1 March 2008; 6 (1): 53–65. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wh.2007.015
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