Point-of-Use Drinking Water Treatment Systems and Their Performance in Removal of Emerging Contaminants

Abstract

AbstractIn many of the developing countries, people do not have assess to clean water and clean sanitation, and consumption of contaminated water results in the spread of waterborne diseases. Unfortunately, many parts of developing countries do not have centralized water treatment facilities. Therefore, people are practicing some traditional water treatment methods in households. Point-of-use (POU) water treatment systems are one such method of household water treatment systems and are playing an important role in reaching one of the sustainable development goals that are clean water and sanitation. There are various methods available for POU water treatment, mainly the physical removal methods (Biosand filtration, membrane filtration), chemical treatment methods (chlorine disinfection, coagulation/ flocculation disinfection), and light and heat-based methods (boiling, solar disinfection, UV disinfection). All these methods have their own advantages with limitations. However, membrane-based POU water treatment has registered significant importance compared to other methods. Even in developed countries, people are using POU water treatment systems under various circumstances. In addition, in many countries, there is a growing concern about emerging contaminants in drinking water and is important to study POU water filters for the removal of emerging contaminants. Therefore, in this chapter, various types of technologies available for POU water treatment, membrane-based POU water filters, and the performance of household POU water filters in removing emerging contaminants have been discussed.KeywordsDrinking waterPathogensDiarrheaMembrane filtrationPerfluoroalkyl substancesReverse osmosis