Market Need: Conceptual Designs

The design will meet the following specifications:

1) Will reduce the turbidity of the water to between 5 and 25%.m x to y)

2) Will minimize the presence of harmful bacteria in the water.  The ideal number we want to reach is a zero percent colony count when sample is incubated in a petri dish.

The following are some conceptual designs that we have worked out:

Manual for existing water systems - The Ban Huay Mii village uses storage tanks to keep their water. When the water sits in the storage tanks, the mud, and other particulates in the water sinks to the bottom. These storage tanks are fitted with purge valves, which allow them to be emptied and cleaned. [1] One of the most significant contributors to the poor water quality is that the villagers are unaware of how to take care of their water system. Therefore it might be the best course of action to first produce a comprehensive manual for the maintenance and care of the system they currently have in place.

Slow sand filter - A slow sand filter involves running water through a compact layer of sand. This will remove many particulates and other small or large objects from the water source. This system also serves as a checkpoint to filter out bacteria contaminating the water. The sand filter has proven to work because after a few days of operation a layer of bacteria and other biological material will build up on top of the sand. This layer will trap bacteria as water cruises through it [2].  While this is an excellent, inexpensive method for cleaning water, it requires a lot of maintenance. The bacteria layer must be sifted and cleaned periodically throughout the year for the best results.

Ultraviolet water purification – UV water treatment has proven to be an effective way to purify water. This system operates by running clear water through ultraviolet light. This will kill most if not all bacteria living in a contaminated water supply. While it is a very effective purification method, it will probably be expensive to build, and maintain. The system will require power from a solar panel, which if damaged, would be difficult for the villagers to replace.

Activated Carbon Filtration - Activated carbon is another excellent method to filter out particulates and potentially harmful biological material from water. A filter containing activated carbon would work similarly to a slow sand filter, in relation to the gravity fed system where water is pored over a layer of activated charcoal and filtered out the bottom.  This substance can be made using charcoal from burned corn husks, bamboo, and wood. Because activated carbon is relatively easy to produce this may be a perfect filtration method for the Ban Huay Mii village.

Classification Tree:

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