Exploring cost, environmental impacts, and efficacy of point-of-use water disinfection technologies
Location
Poster Session 2 (Henderson Library)
Session Format
Poster Presentation
Your Campus
Statesboro Campus- Henderson Library, April 20th
Academic Unit
Department of Civil Engineering and Construction
Research Area Topic:
Engineering and Material Sciences - Civil
Co-Presenters and Faculty Mentors or Advisors
Bright Carl Elijah
Dr. Stetson Rowles
Abstract
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 785 million people lack access to basic drinking water facilities, and 144 million people rely on surface water which are commonly contaminated with microbes. Point-of-use (POU) water disinfection technologies can be adopted to target this problem by treating water at the household level; however, navigating which POU technology might be the best alternative for a given water source or location can be difficult. While a number of conventual POU technologies exist (e.g., chlorination), new emerging POU technologies (e.g., some using nanotechnology) have been coined by developers to be lower cost with higher treatment capacity. It is unclear if these claims are substantiated and how novel technologies stack up against conventual ones in terms of cost, environmental impacts, and disinfection efficacy. In this research, we compare POU technologies using quantitative sustainable design methods to assess conventional and novel POU treatment technologies (i.e., chlorination versus silver nanoparticle enabled ceramic water filters). This study leverages the Python package of QSDsan to complete technoeconomic analysis (TEA), life cycle assessment (LCA), and disinfection efficacy over the lifetime of several technologies. Study results can potentially inform decision makers, non-profit organizations, and future research on sustainable approaches to safe drinking water through POU technologies.
Program Description
Globally, 2.1 billion people lack access to safely managed water. To address this lack of access, point of use (POU) water disinfection technologies can be quickly adopted to improve water accessibility at the household level. Relative sustainability in terms of costs, environmental impacts, and disinfection capabilities of these POU technologies remains unclear over their lifetime. The objective of this research is to compare conventional and novel POU technologies using Quantitative Sustainable Design (QSD) methods. Complete technoeconomic analysis (TEA) for costs, life cycle assessment (LCA) for environmental impacts, and disinfection efficacy.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Presentation Type and Release Option
Presentation (File Not Available for Download)
Start Date
4-20-2022 1:30 PM
End Date
4-20-2022 3:00 PM
Recommended Citation
Elijah, Bright C., "Exploring cost, environmental impacts, and efficacy of point-of-use water disinfection technologies" (2022). GS4 Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium. 77.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/research_symposium/2022/2022/77
Exploring cost, environmental impacts, and efficacy of point-of-use water disinfection technologies
Poster Session 2 (Henderson Library)
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 785 million people lack access to basic drinking water facilities, and 144 million people rely on surface water which are commonly contaminated with microbes. Point-of-use (POU) water disinfection technologies can be adopted to target this problem by treating water at the household level; however, navigating which POU technology might be the best alternative for a given water source or location can be difficult. While a number of conventual POU technologies exist (e.g., chlorination), new emerging POU technologies (e.g., some using nanotechnology) have been coined by developers to be lower cost with higher treatment capacity. It is unclear if these claims are substantiated and how novel technologies stack up against conventual ones in terms of cost, environmental impacts, and disinfection efficacy. In this research, we compare POU technologies using quantitative sustainable design methods to assess conventional and novel POU treatment technologies (i.e., chlorination versus silver nanoparticle enabled ceramic water filters). This study leverages the Python package of QSDsan to complete technoeconomic analysis (TEA), life cycle assessment (LCA), and disinfection efficacy over the lifetime of several technologies. Study results can potentially inform decision makers, non-profit organizations, and future research on sustainable approaches to safe drinking water through POU technologies.
