Arsenic removal technologies for middle- and low-income countries to achieve the SDG-3 and SDG-6 targets: A review

Abstract

• Over 230 million population are suffering from ‘As’ laced drinking water and its associated health hazards worldwide. • To achieve SDG- 3 (Good health and well-being’) and SDG-6 (Safe and clean water and sanitation) ‘As’ problem needs to be managed. • Low and middle income countries have a challenge to implement highly efficient As removal technologies. • Chemical and biological technologies, adsorption, and hybrid technologies with running cost <1 US$/m 3 can be applied in low/middle income countries. • Regular monitoring of As, community participation, research on cost effective As-removal models coupled with policy level intervention is most needed. Contamination of arsenic (As) in groundwater has increased across the world with prominence in the middle- and low-income countries. The United Nations ‘Sustainable Development Goals’ (SDG's)- ‘good health and well-being’ (SDG 3) and ‘safe and clean water and sanitation for all’ (SDG 6), cannot be achieved without monitoring and remediating ‘As’ pollution in groundwater. Over 230 million people worldwide are affected due to arsenic-contaminated drinking water. More than 200 articles discussing the ‘As’ contamination, toxicity and cost effective technology were reviewed in this study focusing on economic status of the affected nation as per World bank report. Cost budget analysis suggested that chemical oxidation followed by precipitation (0. 043-0. 076 US$/m 3 ), low cost adsorbent (0. 1 US$/m 3 ), hybrid treatment technologies (0. 15-0. 17 US$/m 3 ) and biological oxidation (0. 2 US$/m 3 ) can be applied in low income countries through community based models to mitigate the health problem related to As contamination in order to achieve SDG 3 and SDG 6 targets. This study recommends further research on budget friendly ‘As’ remediation systems and policy level interventions in the affected nations to cater safe drinking water to all.