ABSTRACT

For developing countries, the reliable delivery of microbiologically safe water to the general public has proven to be an elusive and virtually unachievable goal. This chapter describes the microbial performance of a small, portable system that uses a special poly-iodinated ion exchange resin to effect chemical disinfection of the feedwater. The system is comprised of three sections: Pretreatment; Disinfection; and Polishing. The chapter reviews the simplicity of system operation and projected economics. The portable disinfection system is designed to produce microbiologically safe drinking water from virtually any water source that contains less than 700 ppm salt. The system disinfects - it does not desalinate. The field test results give testimony to system efficacy, and the projected economics demonstrate affordability compared to many alternatives that have either been tried and failed, or have been proposed but not yet tried.