Treatment Systems for Safer Drinking Water

Description of impact

The research uses cost-effective, novel treatment methods to clean contaminants from water making it safe to drink. This research has brought much needed clean water to areas of Asia, mainly in small impoverished rural villages, where the arsenic and fluoride crisis has resulted in millions of people suffering from health complications due to consuming contaminated drinking water. This clean water will help keep people healthy, which will improve their quality of life and allow them to work and contribute to the economy. Additionally, this research has also benefited areas in Ireland where drinking water has been impacted by brominated trihalomethanes.

Who is affected

Hundreds of millions of people in Asia, particularly in India and Bangladesh, are affected by the arsenic crisis with many of them suffering from endemic arsenosis caused by long-term consumption of drinking water high in arsenic. The majority of these populations live in impoverish conditions. Fluoride contamination of water supplies in India is also a major concern as it is associated with soil degradation and has been linked to climate change. Long-term consumption of drinking water high in fluoride is responsible for endemic fluorosis. QUB has played a major role in providing safe, readily available and affordable potable water to rural villages in India affected by the arsenic and fluoride crisis. Potable water is very important for good public health, as it is a necessity for drinking and domestic use. Safer potable water can help keep people healthy so they can have a better quality of life and be able to work. Therefore, a healthier population contributes to economic growth and poverty reduction.

Narrative

Providing safe, affordable drinking water to locations affected by contaminated water supplies has been strengthened by research at QUB. Much of this work is in areas stricken by the arsenic and fluoride crisis in Asia. In collaboration with researchers from Heriot Watt University (UK) and Lehigh University (USA), a study led to improved performance of community water treatment plants installed to remove arsenic and fluoride from potable water supplies in small rural villages in India. This project successfully delivered clean water to the villages and helped increase their income stream. In collaboration with researchers from Heriot Watt University (UK) and CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, (India), a domestic and selective electrodialysis unit was established for a community desalinated potable water supply for small rural villages in India. The desalination water treatment units were successful in removing salts and fluoride from drinking water, while allowing nutritious components, such as Ca and K, to remain in the drinking water. Additionally, a project in collaboration with Northern Ireland Water, LTD (UK), developed a water supply treatment solution which removed brominated trihalomethanes (THMs) from drinking water supplied to a small coastal village in Ireland.

Impact status	Ongoing
Impact date	2013
Category of impact	Health Impact, Environmental Impact, Quality of Life Impact, Economic Impact
Impact level	Benefit