Design of a Low Cost Water Purification System for Flood Affected Areas

Abstract

Floods are the unannounced natural disaster that destroys both the lives and the infrastructures. Last year, in July 2010 an unpredictable and huge flood struck the most part of Pakistan, especially the catchment area the River Indus, extending from the north part of the KPK province and ending at the Arabian Sea. The top five rainfall intensities recorded at Risalpur, Islamabad, Murree, Cherat and Ghari Dopatta were 415mm, 394mm, 373mm, 372mm and 346mm, respectively. The Flood-2010 affected nearly 20 million people spreading over 36 different districts of the country. Since, the water resources of the flood affected areas were totally submerged, causing highly turbidity and microbial contamination in the drinking water sources of the flood belts, therefore, this study was design to investigate water quality of the flood affected areas, and to design a water treatment filter using indigenous media. Water quality analysis of the flood affected areas of the Nowshera District in terms of physio-chemical and biological characteristics. Designing a sand filter for the drinking water purposes of the single family that should work for at least 3-4 months after flood, the main objectives of the study was to investigate the water quality of the flood affected areas, determining the optimum alum dosage for the removal of excessive turbidity and to design a low-cost water purification model, using indigenous material to reduce the turbidity and microbial contamination. Various water samples were collected from the Flood-2010 effected area of the Nowshera District. The samples were analyzed by using standard laboratory techniques as per AWWA (American Water Works Association). The objective of sampling is to collect a portion of material small enough in volume to be transported conveniently and handled in the laboratory while still accurately representing the material being sampled. This implies that the relative proportions or concentrations of all pertinent components will be the same in the samples as in the material being sampled, and that the sample will be handled in such a way that no significant changes in composition occur before the test are made