Using Distributed Solar for Treatment of Drinking Water in Developing Countries

Authors

Saria Bukhary, University of Nevada, Las vegasFollow
Jennifer Weidhaas, University of Utah Salt Lake CityFollow
Kamran Ansari, Mehran University of Engineering and TechnologyFollow
Rasool Bux Mahar, Mehran University of Engineering and TechnologyFollow
Christine Pomeroy, University of Utah Salt Lake CityFollow
James A. VanDerslice, University of Utah Salt Lake CityFollow
Steve Burian, University of Utah Salt Lake CityFollow
Sajjad Ahmad, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

5-21-2017

Publisher

World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2017

Publisher Location

Sacramento, California

First page number:

264

Last page number:

276

Abstract

Unsafe drinking water is a major cause of disease in developing countries. Lack of adequate water treatment and delivery infrastructure, high operational costs and poor maintenance are some of the factors contributing to the problem. Many developing countries also have large population clusters in cities and inadequate sanitation services, which increase the risk of water- borne disease outbreak. Incorporating renewable energy sources for treatment and distribution of potable water may be the key to developing sustainable water supply systems to reduce water- borne diseases in developing countries. This study focused on evaluating the potential of using distributed solar for a 4.5 million gallons per day (MGD) existing drinking water treatment plant (DWTP), located in Sindh, Pakistan. The DWTP utilized a conventional treatment train, consisting of coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection processes to treat water obtained from the Indus River. The DWTP was sized by designing the various unit processes involved and then the energy consumption associated with each unit process was determined. The results showed that the energy consumption was largest for the flash and rapid mixers. Existing land holdings were sufficient for the deployment of solar photovoltaics (PV) which was successfully incorporated into the design of the DWTP.

Disciplines

Civil and Environmental Engineering | Water Resource Management

Repository Citation

Bukhary, S., Weidhaas, J., Ansari, K., Mahar, R. B., Pomeroy, C., VanDerslice, J. A., Burian, S., Ahmad, S. (2017). Using Distributed Solar for Treatment of Drinking Water in Developing Countries. 264-276. Sacramento, California: World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2017.