Innovative Cleaning Technologies for Production of Drinking Water during Flooding Episodes (A-WATER)

project summary

Clean freshwater is a resource indispensable to all life and it is needed in large quantities for almost any human activity. Climate, freshwater, biophysical and socio-economic systems are interconnected in complex ways, so a change in one of these systems induces a change in another. Many studies have shown that climate change induces freshwater pollution and also, that it will cause increases in salinity when sea levels rise. Hence, activities to stimulate protection of water resources, sustainable use of freshwaters including water re-use are very urgent. In addition to regulative measures to facilitate sustainable water use, research on adaptive technology, energy optimization in water treatment systems, water recycling and reuse of water are important aspects of future water handling and management. The paradox during natural flooding disasters is that although a large area is flooded and covered by water, there is no clean water available. During such periods many diseases are likely to develop as diarrhea, typhoid, and skin problems due to lack of clean water. In Vietnam, many areas still do not have regular water supply systems but obtain drinking water from local wells. In other cases communities have water supply systems, but these systems are disabled or destroyed during flooding disasters. Unfortunately, it takes long time to re-launch these systems after a flooding, and it also has substantially costs. Hence, the current solution to temporarily produce water for drinking and cooking during a flooding disaster is to add alum for coagulation and precipitation of pollutans followed by disinfection by chloroamine. This is expensive, and the waters produced are not healthy and may contain pollutants even after treatment. Thus, producing and supply with freshwater during flood and post-flood periods are of special importance.