Thailand Water
Information
Seeking to improve the water quality of a water filtering system in Thailand
Members: 36
Latest Activity: 22 hours ago
Brief Summary
This project seeks to improve the water quality supplied by a water filtering and purification system to villagers in Tha Mai Ruak, Thailand. The water system is composed of three PVC pipes containing layers of different sizes of gravel and sand, manganese, carbon and ion exchange resin. Whilst the water has passed the standard test for chemical content, further improvement is needed to improve the bacterial content by finding ways to eliminate harmful bacteria, such as E. coli, in the drinking water.
Geographical Area
A village consisting of approximately 200 households in the Tha Mai Ruak municipality district, located in Phetchaburi Province, about 300 kilometers from Bangkok, Thailand.
Nature of the Problem
The problem currently faced by the villagers is their access to clean potable water, as the only water source available is the Phetchaburi River located near the community. The water which is pumped from the river is however muddy and dirty causing the people to experience frequent episodes of diarrhea and other water borne diseases.
Nature of Opportunity
A solution to this problem can provide approximately 200 households with access to cleaner drinking water, reduce the spread of water borne diseases and improve personal hygiene in Thailand. A solution to this problem can also have implications for other communities across the world with similar geographical circumstances and water quality issues.
Current Water Filtering System
Structure. The water filtering system consists of three PVC tubes containing layers of different sizes of gravel and sand, manganese, carbon (from burnt coconut meal) and ion exchange resin. Water is pumped directly from the Phetchaburi River into a water tank situated on high ground in order to create sufficient water pressure. The water then flows down from the tank through three tubes. The first PVC tube contains different sizes of sand (from rough to fine). The second tube contains manganese (to remove rust) and carbon (for filtering microscopic particles and removing unpleasant smell and taste). The last tube contains ion-exchange resin to reduce the water hardness, and to remove hard metal ions. The filtered water can be collected by villagers at this location.
Testing. The water samples from the Tha Mai Ruak municipality district passed the standard test for chemical content by the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority of Thailand in March 2009. However, further improvement in terms of bacterial content need to be made.
Relevant Scientific Participation
Science for Humanity currently requires volunteers with expertise in water quality, water purification and treatment, epidemiology, biology, chemistry, sanitation and engineering to tackle this problem. Join the Thailand Water project if you would like to get involved.
Relevant Documents
Project Definition Form Thailand
Thailand Water Pipe Design
Thailand Water Test Results.xls
This project seeks to improve the water quality supplied by a water filtering and purification system to villagers in Tha Mai Ruak, Thailand. The water system is composed of three PVC pipes containing layers of different sizes of gravel and sand, manganese, carbon and ion exchange resin. Whilst the water has passed the standard test for chemical content, further improvement is needed to improve the bacterial content by finding ways to eliminate harmful bacteria, such as E. coli, in the drinking water.
Geographical Area
A village consisting of approximately 200 households in the Tha Mai Ruak municipality district, located in Phetchaburi Province, about 300 kilometers from Bangkok, Thailand.
Nature of the Problem
The problem currently faced by the villagers is their access to clean potable water, as the only water source available is the Phetchaburi River located near the community. The water which is pumped from the river is however muddy and dirty causing the people to experience frequent episodes of diarrhea and other water borne diseases.
Nature of Opportunity
A solution to this problem can provide approximately 200 households with access to cleaner drinking water, reduce the spread of water borne diseases and improve personal hygiene in Thailand. A solution to this problem can also have implications for other communities across the world with similar geographical circumstances and water quality issues.
Current Water Filtering System
Structure. The water filtering system consists of three PVC tubes containing layers of different sizes of gravel and sand, manganese, carbon (from burnt coconut meal) and ion exchange resin. Water is pumped directly from the Phetchaburi River into a water tank situated on high ground in order to create sufficient water pressure. The water then flows down from the tank through three tubes. The first PVC tube contains different sizes of sand (from rough to fine). The second tube contains manganese (to remove rust) and carbon (for filtering microscopic particles and removing unpleasant smell and taste). The last tube contains ion-exchange resin to reduce the water hardness, and to remove hard metal ions. The filtered water can be collected by villagers at this location.
Testing. The water samples from the Tha Mai Ruak municipality district passed the standard test for chemical content by the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority of Thailand in March 2009. However, further improvement in terms of bacterial content need to be made.
Relevant Scientific Participation
Science for Humanity currently requires volunteers with expertise in water quality, water purification and treatment, epidemiology, biology, chemistry, sanitation and engineering to tackle this problem. Join the Thailand Water project if you would like to get involved.
Relevant Documents
Project Definition Form Thailand
Thailand Water Pipe Design
Thailand Water Test Results.xls
Discussion Forum
water problem in Thailand 22 Replies
Started by Marianela Araya-Quesada. Last reply by WuTangc Jul. 28, 2009.
Comment Wall
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Comment by Anu Devi, Projects on November 10, 2009 at 9:33am -
Hi Rafael,
Yes, we are still considering chlorination column but before that Pao is trying to get some analysis completed. We have identified a few researchers in Thailand who might be able to visit the village to observe the situation and to provide input. But before we consider the potential solutions further, we need to determine how much chlorine is in the water, the retention time and levels of E.Coli. Once we have this data then we are arrange another meeting to discuss the treatment options.
Thanks,
Anu
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Comment by Rafael Vargas on November 9, 2009 at 10:58pm -
Hi, here are some factors to consider before using slow sand filtration, and other information as well:
http://www.biosandfilter.org/biosandfilter/index.php/item/273
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Comment by Rafael Vargas on November 9, 2009 at 9:36pm
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Hello, Many thanks for the links Michael, they have good info. I will also try to watch the film.
Thank you Anu for your idea, I think slow sand filters are a very good option of all the posibilities. I will read more about this and get back to you. Are you still considering the addition of a chlorination column?
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Comment by Anu Devi, Projects on November 9, 2009 at 9:43am
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Hello members,
Just recently I was speaking with Dr. Kristof Bostoen about our Thailand Water Project and their WASHCost project. He recommended using slow sand filters to remove E.Coli from the water filtering and purification system build by the Pao and his team in Thailand. Dr. Bostoen thinks that slow sand filters are efficient, but unfortunately, not used as widely, and that it might be labour intensive, but would be a cheaper option.
What do you think?
My best,
Anu
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Comment by Michael S. Mitchell on November 7, 2009 at 5:00pm -
Check out the movie for the Academy Awards this year, "FLOW" http://www.flowthefilm.com/filmmakers
Also check out: http://www.thewatergeeks.com/About-WaterGeeks-sp-2.html
Soon all the world water will be controlled by the non thirsty if we do not watch it. The world must come together and make a declaration of water rights for all humanity or it will be sold to the highest bidder and kept for black mailing us all. The movie flow is of great importance to all of us as well as climate change. To own a jvc 100 video camera and a macPro computer to make documentaries is the tool of allowing the most brains to obtain data in the world. It is every human beings duty to try and win an oscar now to help humanity make it ever more propitious for humanity.
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Comment by Michael S. Mitchell on November 7, 2009 at 5:20am
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The little wonder does 160 gallons to 200 gallons a day, if you have 2 or three of these then if one breaks the others are going, they work on sun, wind and are many boats all over the world now. Excuse my spelling some times i hate to proof read. I think and tink. :-) it's the thought contexts that count, for give me. The little wonder is the name of this water maker for boats use the most.
This would give you with 3 of them, about 600 gallons a day for 200 houses or about 3 gallons per house hold for drinking. Maybe you need 6 of these, but to have more stops from having all your eggs in one basket. The high pressure pumps go out some times etc. they do work or people die on boats, so serious.
http://www.villagemarine.com/lw.ph.html
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Comment by Michael S. Mitchell on November 7, 2009 at 5:10am
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I have met a person that works for this company, they seem very cool to work with honest and experienced. They were at a seminar at West Marine as boat store, you can go to west marine as well and ask them to give you a unit to advertise a non-profit right off to help you or go straight to this company in Ca.
http://www.villagemarine.com/all.products.ph.html
It seems like it is more than it is, you do have to clean these machines and they work best without sandy water. They make water cleaner than any city water any where this is for sure from my data. You need to figure how many gallons per day you need and get the size machine for this service standard.
They work so well that a boat going to sea for months, will not hold water to get rid of the weight, this is trust if you ask me that it will work. cheers... :-)
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Comment by Rafael Vargas on November 7, 2009 at 12:44am
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Hello, I read your message Michael, thank you for your ideas. I have read a little about water makers and I think the are a great option, and some even have the option of UV and ozone treatment. My only concern is that local materials are being used in the pipe system, and maybe using a water maker would be difficult for them to maintain.
Anyways I want to ask if you could let me know some manufacturers you know and I would like to help with contacting and trying to obtain one of those.
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Comment by Anu Devi, Projects on November 5, 2009 at 11:31am
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Connecting with Researchers
Over the past month, Science for Humanity has been connecting with researchers in the area of water science to get involved with our Thailand Water project. We have been looking for scientists who can help our Project Leader (Pao) to conduct analysis of the water samples to determine the chlorine and E. Coli content in order to understand the current water contamination situation better as well as to use this information to make informed decisions about water treatment options that will be suitable for the villagers.
Science for Humanity has linked the Pao with various researchers from the University of Mahidol in Thailand and from Italy who have provided their advice and pointed us to other researchers who can contribute their skills and knowledge to this case. To date, Dr. Voranuch Wangsupachart, Dr. Prapin Tharnpoophasiam and Dr. Mentore Vaccari have taken an interest in the Thailand Project along with Miss. Marianela Araya-Quesada who has been involved in this project from its launch. In the following months, Pao will be speaking with these researchers to help them understand the major water issues experienced by the villagers in Tha Mai Ruak as well as to determine if these researchers can identify potential solutions.
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Comment by Michael S. Mitchell on August 26, 2009 at 1:50am
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The boating industry has solar cell driven water makers from salt water. It cleans and forces the unwanted out of the wanted. The filter needs to be cleaned once every 6 months. windmill and solar cell driven. possible option. Thailand has a lot of water every where as well as one of the only places that copper and tin are found together on the ground already by nature making bell like rocks that ring when hit. The bell rocks are metal like stone age by nature.
Very interesting. The small balls made of bamboo are small geodesic domes that are very interesting, one of the oldest toys known to anyone. When i was there once i took a water taxi, what an adventure, you wait in a little canoe and then the big boat comes by and you get on. Traveling is mainly by water where I was at. cheers! Go to Lin and Larry Parday boating people extraordinary. Go to there site and ask them about the boating water makers, they are the best for boating in the world. Lived on a 29 foot voyaging boat for 27 years went around the world like 3 times already. check out their site for water. The water makers are the way to go, if people do not steal them.
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