Annotated Bibliography: Portable Water Purification Systems

By Bhargavi Chevva

Michalowicz, J., & Duda, R. (2005). Analysis of Chlorophenols, Chlorocatechols, Chlorinated Methoxyphenols and Monoterpenes in Communal Sewage of LODZ and in the Ner River in 1999-2000 [Electronic Version]. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 164, 205-222.

This reference gives the ways in which water can be purified using the degradation of certain harmful substances in it. Although the experiment itself was not a success, this idea could be very valuable for portable water purification systems if only we could get the substances to degrade faster.

Masunaga, T., Sato K., Zennami T., Fujii S., & Wakatsuki, T. (2003). Direct Treatment of Polluted River Water by the Multi-Soil-Layering Method [Electronic Version]. Journal of Water and Environmental Technology, 1, 97-104

This reference gives a very practical way to treat polluted river water. Due to the nature of the disaster, the river water will be polluted by a number of things and since soil is easily available, all that needs to be done is engineering an appropriate and specific method for this particular two countries.

El-Masry, M., Sadek, O., Mekhemer, W. (2004). Purification of Raw Surface Water Using Electro-Coagulation Method [Electronic Version]. Water, Soil & Air Pollution, 158, 373-385.

This reference uses another method called electro-coagulation, which releases aluminum ions through electrodes that will allow it to precipitate the suspended (and therefore, undesired) matter. The result was a reduction of water turbidity by 90%.

(2002). Remote Monitoring System Gives Control to Secluded Communities [Electronic Version]. Water Engineering & Management, 149, 28.

This reference focuses on the Eco-Nomad, a system that integrates a water treatment system, power generator, and a septic system all within one portable container. It also produces heat and power simultaneously, using technologies such as a co-generator. This would be helpful to develop a portable water system for use in the two countries.

Stricklan, J. (1998). South Pole Station provides water challenges [Electronic Version]. Water Engineering & Management, 145, 14-16.

Using water conservation and fuel efficiency as design objectives, this reference tells the story of building a water purification system. Although this is not portable by any means, it does provide with potable water.

(1998). Technology Focus [Electronic Version]. Water Engineering & Management, 145, 29-34.

This article describes several equipments and products available for water treatment and supply from different companies. This should be kept in mind for future purposes.

(2003). Upgrading Portable Water Storage Facilities [Electronic Version]. Water Engineering & Management, 2003, 15l.

This reference points out storage as an important aspect of having portable water purification systems. Water can be treated for purification or it can be stored for a long time – whichever is feasible and practical for the situation at hand.

Lahlous, M. (2000). Membrane Filtration As an Alternative [Electronic Version]. Water Engineering & Management, 2000, 147, 12-17.

This reference compares the processes of microfiltration and ultrafiltration. It also recognizes how microfiltration can be better for portable water purification – which is what we are looking for in this situation.

Horman, A., R. Rimhanen-Finne, & Maunula, L. (2004). Evaluation of the purification capacity of nine portable, small-scale water purification devices [Electronic Version]. Water Science & Technology, 2004, 179-183.

This reference analyzes nine difference devices for water purification and actually analyzes what type of elements work the best. This information is necessary to look back at when trying to design a specific method that would work for the situation presented.

Negishi, N., He, F., et al. (2005). Wave-guide type photoreactor for water purification [Electronic Version]. Competes Rendus Chimie, 2005, 9.

This article is interesting in that it raises a particularly interesting aspect of water purificiation(i.e., by using waves and physics rather than simple chemical processes). However, it might be a little hard to implement this physically (due to the restriction of portability), but the basic idea itself is good to keep in mind when engineering a portable water purification system.

Huicochea, A., Siquerios, J., Romero, R.J. (2004). Portable water purification system integrated to a heat transformer [Electronic Version]. Desalination, 165, 385-391.

Although the water from the tsunami will have a lot of other pollutants in it, desalination is also one of the things that need to be taken care of before the water can become potable. This is why this article becomes helpful in describing an incredibly efficient product that combines the water purification system with a heat pump that absorbs low quality energy and works quite efficiently.

Ward, J. (2003). A plastic solar water purifier with high output [Electronic Version]. Solar Energy, 75, 433-437.

This extremely informative article is really helpful because it concerns a similar situation like ours. The author wanted to make a purification system that was right for third world countries that used solar power. Of course, this will not work as the sole machine since back-ups are necessary.

PV water purifiers to Thailand [Electronic Vesion]. Refocus, 4, 2003, 20.

This article also outlines the solar powered water purification system but will get rid of any pathogens from any source of water. Thus, this will be perfect for our situation which will include all kinds of waste in the water, with out goal being to make the water potable.

Pervov, A., et al. (2000). RO and NF membrane systems for drinking water production and their maintenance techniques. Desalination, 132, 315-321.

A study on determining the success of membrane treatment techniques to meet the quality water standards of the World Health Organization(WHO). This technique is basically based on simultaneous rejection of “all types of ionic and molecular water species by semi permeable polymeric membranes”. This method is better than conventional treatment techniques.

Tay, J.H., et al. (1996). Vacuum desalination for water purification using waste heat. Desalination, 106, 131-135.

Introducing a process called vacuum desalination, this article describes the process of vaporizing water at a lower temperature when it is subjected to vacuum pressure. This is the same concept as normal heating of water, but if it uses waste heat from the solar water purifying system, the two machines would work efficiently.

Naranjo, J. E., et al. (1997). Evaluation of a portable water purification system for the removal of enteric pathogens. Water Science and Technology, 35, 55-58.

The system described in the article is iodinated and was evaluated for the ability to remove certain pathogens. It is necessary to study this analysis and note down the processes that work and those that don’t.

U.S. Army Operations Concept for Portable Water Support (1996, November 6). Retrieved September 21, 2005 from the world wide web: https://134.11.61.26/CD8/Publications/TRADOC%5CTRADOC%20Pam%%CTRADOC%20Pam$20525-32%2019961101.pdf

This is essentially a pamphlet describing the viable methods of purifying into potable water using portable methods. Not only does it include plans explaining the system but also plans to implement the ideas.

Khaydarov, R.R., et al. (2003). Energy Effective Method of Water and Air Purification from Bacteria. Proceedings of the Firm International Conference on Environmental Research and Assessment, 164-170.

The innovative idea of using combinations of concentrations of metal to kill pathogens was examined in this article. It was found that different concentrations had a detectable effect on the disinfection process of water.

EarthTrends Country Profiles (2003). Population, Health, and Human Well-Being – Micronesia, Fed States. Retrieved September 21, 2005 from world wide web: http://earthtrends.wri.org/pdg_library/country_profiles/Pop-cou-583.pdf

This quick statistics page shows where the water sources are in the country that we are concerned about. Moreover, it shows the population distribution in the island in which we would need to be concerned about the most and send the purification systems there in accordance with the sources of water.

Improved Drinking Water. Retrieved September 21, 2005 from world wide web: http://www.wssinfo.org/pdf/country/Peru_wat_02.pdf

This article outlines the basic information about the drinking water, with respect to the urban and rural population. We need to know about the drinking water(or what used to be drinking water after a tsunami) and its resources to be able to recognize the water sources for the system of portable water purification.