Solar Water Disinfection to Produce Safe Drinking Water: A Review of Parameters, Enhancements, and Modelling Approaches to Make SODIS Faster and Safer

Solar Water Disinfection to Produce Safe Drinking Water: A Review of Parameters, Enhancements, and Modelling Approaches to Make SODIS Faster and Safer

Publication Year:
2021
Authors:
García-Gil, Ángela; García-Muñoz, Rafael A.; McGuigan, Kevin G.; Marugán, Javier
Language:
English
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Solar water disinfection (SODIS) provides affordable clean water in resource-poor settings. This review addresses its efficiency, emphasizing the importance of container volume and material. Overestimation of solar exposure time is advised due to varied influencing factors. Accurate kinetic models considering solar intensity and water composition are essential for optimal safety.
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Resource Information

Abstract

Solar water disinfection (SODIS) is one the cheapest and most suitable treatments to produce safe drinking water at the household level in resource-poor settings. This review introduces the main parameters that influence the SODIS process and how new enhancements and modelling approaches can overcome some of the current drawbacks that limit its widespread adoption. Increasing the container volume can decrease the recontamination risk caused by handling several 2 L bottles. Using container materials other than polyethylene terephthalate (PET) significantly increases the efficiency of inactivation of viruses and protozoa. In addition, an overestimation of the solar exposure time is usually recommended since the process success is often influenced by many factors beyond the control of the SODIS-user. The development of accurate kinetic models is crucial for ensuring the production of safe drinking water. This work attempts to review the relevant knowledge about the impact of the SODIS variables and the techniques used to develop kinetic models described in the literature. In addition to the type and concentration of pathogens in the untreated water, an ideal kinetic model should consider all critical factors affecting the efficiency of the process, such as intensity, spectral distribution of the solar radiation, container-wall transmission spectra, ageing of the SODIS reactor material, and chemical composition of the water, since the substances in the water can play a critical role as radiation attenuators and/or sensitisers triggering the inactivation process.

Resource Type

Journal Article

Publication Year

2021

Author

García-Gil, Ángela; García-Muñoz, Rafael A.; McGuigan, Kevin G.; Marugán, Javier

Language

English

Specific Contaminants

Viruses, Bacteria, Protozoa, Coliphage MS2, Cryptosporidium parvum, Enterococci, Escherichia coli

University Affiliation

Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

Business Connect Takeaways

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of in-line drinking water chlorination in reducing child diarrhoea in urban Bangladesh. The study was a double-blind, cluster-randomised controlled trial that included baseline data collection, randomisation and intervention delivery, and up to 14 months of follow-up data collection.
The study found that in-line drinking water chlorination was effective in reducing child diarrhoea in urban Bangladesh. The intervention reduced the incidence of diarrhoea by 22% and the prevalence of faecal contamination by 68%. In-line chlorination was also found to be more cost-effective than other household water treatment interventions.
The World Bank Strategic Impact Evaluation Fund provided funding for this study. The study participants and field staff who participated in this study were also acknowledged

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