Rainwater treatment: an approach for drinking water provision to indigenous people in Ecuadorian Amazon

Abstract

This study is about the use of naturally occurring filtering materials for rainwater treatment for drinking water proposal. Crushed gravel, ceramic spheres from natural clays, silica sand and natural zeolite were used as filtering materials. The mineralogical composition of filtering materials was determined, being the illite and mordenite the major components of ceramic spheres and natural zeolite, respectively. Naturally occurring materials were simultaneous evaluated on two configuration of pilot plant systems (biofilters) for rainwater treatment. Three columns were arranged in series with unstratified flooded beds. The first stage was packed using crushed gravel. The second stage was packed using ceramic spheres. The third stage was packed with silica sand for the first plant and a natural zeolite was used for the second pilot plant system. Finally, a last stage of ultraviolet disinfection was incorporated. The trial period was 90 days, and it was evaluated the removal of Fe+2 and Mn+2, total coliforms, faecal coliforms and Escherichia col (E. coli). The rainwater treatment system using natural zeolite provided better results than the one using silica sand at third stage. The concentration of Fe+2 and Mn+2 was below the maximum permissible limits within 45 days. The efficiency of the treatment systems was optimal within 45 days, after the efficiency decreased progressively. Then, it is an attractive proposal for rural areas in developing countries for single-family water treatment systems.