Potable Water Supply Research Articles

Household water treatment practice and associated factors in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The provision of potable water is crucial to ensuring the health and dignity of individuals. In many developing countries, including Ethiopia, waterborne disease has become a major public health problem. There is a significant gap in accessing comprehensive national-wide evidence on Household Water Treatment (HWT) practices and associated factors in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aims to assess the pooled HWT practice and associated factors in Ethiopia. A comprehensive search of published studies before October 15, 2022, was identified using databases and other sources. Data were extracted using Microsoft Excel, and analysis was performed using STATA 14/SE software. A random-effects model was used to estimate the pooled proportion of HWT practices and the odds ratio of associated factors. The funnel plot and Egger's regression test were used to assess publication bias, and I2 test statistics was used to assess heterogeneity. Duval and Tweedie's "trim and fill" method was performed to adjust the pooled estimate. A subgroup analysis was also conducted to identify the sources of heterogeneity. In this study, a total of 708 articles were retrieved, and 16 eligible studies were included. The pooled proportion of HWT practice in Ethiopia was found to be 21% (95% CI: 17-24). Having a formal education (OR: 2.42, 95% CI (2.11-2.74)), being male (OR: 1.32, 95% CI (1.13-1.51)), owning radio (OR: 1.33, 95% CI (1.18-1.47)), having a higher income (OR: 1.73, 95% CI (1.41-2.04)), unimproved water source (OR: 1.71, 95% CI (1.41-2.01)), fetching water at more frequently (OR: 3.31, 95% CI (1.99-4.64)), dipping methods of water drawing (OR: 2.08, 95% CI (1.66-2.51)), and taken training of water treatment (OR: 2.15, 95% CI (1.55-2.75)) were all found to be associated with HWT practice. Based on the findings of this study, the pooled proportion of HWT practice in Ethiopia was found to be one-fifth, which indicated that it was significantly low. Therefore, the authors recommend that households could better receive adequate information about HWT practices through strengthened health education and intensive training on HWT.

Benchmarks of production for atmospheric water generators in the United States

Atmospheric Water Generators (AWG) extract water from the air using one of three available technologies: refrigeration, sorption, and fog harvesting. In this research, we analyze two refrigeration-based devices and one sorption-based device and their efficacy in providing supplemental water supply across the United States. An AWG can supply potable water to remote and austere locations where clean drinking water might otherwise be unavailable. With increasing water scarcity globally, particularly in historically arid climates, new methods that can draw from an estimated 13,000 km3 in the atmosphere using an AWG becomes important and, potentially, viable. However, due to climatological and technological constraints, not all regions in the world would see the same water production from an AWG as production is driven by high relative humidity and temperature. This climatological reliance also subjects them to dramatic changes in performance depending on the season. By using previously established hydrologic performance indicators (reliability, resilience, and vulnerability) and weather data for the United States, we determine the year-round efficiency metrics of three AWGs. By evaluating three different devices and mapping the efficiency across the United States, this research determines the regional efficacy, as a function of water production, in adopting AWG technology to supplement potable water supply. This study provides important insights into the performance of AWGs with high spatial resolution through comparison of multiple devices. The results indicate minimal viability for a large portion of the United States. However, we highlight the potential for the device to supply water for a remote military installation in Hawaii.

Salient ingredients for direct water reclamation from treated municipal wastewater for potable reuse: Diepsloot Township case study

Across the world population growth, expansion of economic activities and climate change have become a concern for future water supply. To address the issue, many countries are investigating strategies to augment current water supplies. Water reclamation has been identified as a plausible sustainable solution to meet potable water supply demand, in turn achieving SDG 6.3. This study identifies some of the critical success factors for consideration of municipal waste water reclamation. This was undertaken in the growing township of Diepsloot, in Johannesburg (South Africa). Diepsloot is densely populated with over 350,000 people as recorded in 2022. As a result, water shortages are common due to insufficient bulk water facilities to supply the area. A direct potable water reclamation plant from treated municipal wastewater has been proposed to augment the water supply. Aqueous Material Balance (AqMB)®, a process modelling simulator software for water treatment processes to predict water quality and quantity, was used to design and simulate the water reclamation plant process. Our findings show that, the quantity and quality of water, as well as the choice of treatment technology are key. The simulations treatment process proposed here-in indicated successful removal of the contaminants to acceptable SANS 241:2015 drinking water standards. The variation in seasonal feed data did not show any difference in the performance of the proposed process. Furthermore, the plant has the potential to provide 109 L/day of clean water per person for a population of 350,000. Therefore, direct potable water reclamation shows great potential to augment current water supply to support growing populations where natural water sources are scarce.

Electricity, Transportation, and Water Provision of 100% Renewable Energy for Remote Areas

The integration of variable renewable energy sources in islands has become crucial in reducing their dependency on imported fossil fuels. This study aimed to assess the energy transition of an island towards a 100% renewable energy system for power generation, inland transport, and potable water provision. Linking various fossil-fuel-consuming sectors, such as transport and potable water supply systems, may strongly assist in reducing the possible mismatch between renewable energy source production and demand and contribute to fulfilling other system requirements. The use of energy storage technologies is vital and unlike traditional power systems; as the number of components in the system increases, their proper capacity needs to be accurately determined. This work employs a multi-objective optimization assessment using a modified NSGA-II algorithm to depict the energy transition for Porto Santo Island. To evaluate the solutions, we considered the main criteria of energy cost, avoided environmental impacts (CO2-equivalent emissions) of the proposed system, and loss of power supply. The Pareto front contains various solutions under different system configurations. Results indicate that full inland transport electrification (introducing 3000 EVs) can account for 18% of the avoided CO2 emissions of the island while sharing 28–40% of the up-front cost of the system, depending on the proposed system’s components. The EV’s costs incorporate subsidies and their battery replacement. Another interesting finding from the optimization process is that the solution with the highest avoided CO2 emissions involves keeping a diesel generator for supplying 4% of the island’s total demand and using an underwater compressed air energy storage with a capacity of 280 MWh. This suggests that adding more installed wind turbines or PV panels may not necessarily contribute to reducing the emissions of the entire system.

Removal of Manganese and Iron from Groundwater by using Chlorination and Rapid Sand Filtration: A Case Study

The average groundwater extraction from Murunkan well field, Mannar, is around 3.4 MCM/year, and it was triggered by extensive development projects and resettlements that took place in the last decade. Manganese and Iron variations in Murunkan groundwater reported during some periods created various operational and aesthetic issues in the potable water supply. This study is focused on treating iron and manganese in groundwater using chlorination and Rapid Sand Filtration (RSF) techniques. Pebble layers, height of 205 mm with the particle sizes ranging from 2-25 mm, were filled at the bottom of RSF model filter. Filter media, height of 700 mm with 0.45 mm effective size (D10) and a uniformity coefficient (Cu) of 1.33, was placed above the pebble layers. The filter was operated continuously for 15 days, and influent and effluent water samples were collected from 15 trials. Filter backwashing was performed after every two trials to maintain a consistent filtration rate. Raw water pH values ranged from 6.74 – 7.48. Chlorine solution (1.08-1.26 ppm) was added at the inlet point, and a 2.88 m water column was maintained, allowing adequate mixing and oxidation time. The results revealed that average removals of iron and manganese as 60% and 73%, respectively, while maximum removals of 93% and 91% were observed for iron and manganese, respectively.

Rewards, risks and responsible deployment of artificial intelligence in water systems

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly proposed to address deficiencies across water systems, which currently leave about 25% of the global population without clean water, about 50% without sanitation services and about 30% without hygiene facilities. AI is poised to enhance supply insights, catchment management and emergency response, improve treatment plant and distribution network design, operation and maintenance, and advance service availability, demand management and water justice. However, proliferation of this nascent technology could trigger serious and unexpected problems, including system-wide compromise owing to design errors, malfunction and cyberattacks as well as exposures to cascading socio-ecological, water–energy–food nexus and coupled critical infrastructure failures. In response, we make three recommendations for safe and responsible deployment of AI across potable water supply and sewage disposal systems: address gaps in foundational infrastructure and digital literacy; establish institutional, software and hardware mechanisms for trustworthy AI; and prioritize applications based on our proposed systematic benefit and risk assessment framework. In this Perspective, the authors survey potential water-system-wide benefits of AI applications from catchments to end-users and then highlight potential systemic barriers, direct risks and exposures to cascading failures, which may prove catastrophic for communities. In response, they make three recommendations for safe and responsible deployment of AI across potable water supply and sewage disposal systems.

Assessing Challenges of Potable Water Supply, Demand and Enhancing Sustainability

This paper presents the challenges of water supply demand and enhancing water sustainability in rural areas. Data collected from field observation, regional water offices and officials, questionnaires and community responses were conducted. Data from the selected districts of the study area was discussed and analyzed. Two hundred seventeen water supply points (one hundred thirty hand-dug wells, thirty-five rope pumps, forty-eight spring development, and five shallow wells) are constructed in the study area. Among these water points, one hundred ninety-four were functional during the study time, and twenty-three were non-functional. Developed spring and rope pumps account for 22.11% and 16.12% of the total, respectively. In contrast, the hand-dug well and shallow wells as a source of water account for 59.9 % and 2.3%, respectively. The communities in the study area also use rivers and unprotected springs as water sources. This study found that the water supply in the study area is far less adequate for multiple reasons. The rural water supply system fails due to inappropriate design and underestimating population growth while designing water supply by considering only the existing population. The social and economic importance of providing a potable water supply is widely recognized. The study elicited why water supply systems have become inadequate in the area. This study may be helpful to have sufficient information before launching significant investments in rural water supply works.

A Critical Review of the Global Use and Context of Trucked Water as a Potable Water Supply

A Critical Review of the Global Use and Context of Trucked Water as a Potable Water Supply

Relations between personal exposure to elevated concentrations of arsenic in water and soil and blood arsenic levels amongst people living in rural areas in Limpopo, South Africa

Exposure to arsenic even at low levels can lead to adverse health outcomes, however, there is a paucity of research from South Africa in relation to human exposure to arsenic. We investigated long-term exposure of residents in Limpopo province, South Africa, in a cross-sectional study by analysing water, soil and blood arsenic concentrations from two arsenic-exposed (high and medium–low exposure) villages and one non-exposed (control) village. There were statistically significant differences in the distribution of arsenic in water, soil and blood amongst the three sites. The median drinking water arsenic concentration in the high-exposure village was 1.75 µg/L (range = 0.02 to 81.30 µg/L), 0.45 µg/L (range = 0.100 to 6.00 µg/L) in the medium- / low-exposure village and 0.15 µg/L (range = < limit of detection (LOD) to 29.30 µg/L) in the control site. The median soil arsenic concentration in the high-exposure village was 23.91 mg/kg (range = < LOD to 92.10 mg/kg) whilst arsenic concentrations were below the limit of detection in all soil samples collected from the medium-/low-exposure and control villages. In the high-exposure village, the median blood arsenic concentration was 1.6 µg/L (range = 0.7 to 4.2 µg/L); 0.90 µg/L (range = < LOD to 2.5 µg/L) in the medium-/low-exposure village and 0.6 µg/L (range = < LOD to 3.3 µg/L) in the control village. Significant percentages of drinking water, soil and blood samples from the exposed sites were above the internationally recommended guidelines (namely, 10 µg/L, 20 mg/kg and 1 µg/L, respectively). Majority of participants (86%) relied on borehole water for drinking and there was a significant positive correlation between arsenic in blood and borehole water (p-value = 0.031). There was also a statistically significant correlation between arsenic concentrations in participants’ blood and soil samples collected from gardens (p-value = 0.051). Univariate quantile regression found that blood arsenic concentrations increased by 0.034 µg/L (95% CI = 0.02–0.05) for each one unit increase in water arsenic concentrations (p < 0.001). After adjusting for age, water source and homegrown vegetable consumption in multivariate quantile regression, participants from the high-exposure site had significantly higher blood concentrations than those in the control site (coefficient: 1.00; 95% CI = 0.25–1.74; p-value = 0.009) demonstrating that blood arsenic is a good biomarker of arsenic exposure. Our findings also provide new evidence for South Africa on the association between drinking water and arsenic exposure, emphasising the need for the provision of potable water for human consumption in areas with high environmental arsenic concentrations.

Hydrogeochemical processes and groundwater evolution in complex volcanic highlands and alluvio-lacustrine deposits (Upper Blue Nile), Ethiopia.

Lake Tana basin encompasses a wide regional volcanic aquifer system, in the northwestern highlands of Ethiopia. It has significant water resource potential for water supply and irrigation purposes. The objective of this study was to assess the physiochemical characteristics of the surface water-groundwater and investigate the processes controlling groundwater chemistry. A total of 273 water samples were collected from different water points for major ions and stable isotope analysis, representing different physiographic and hydrogeologic regions. Multivariate statistical, graphical methods, saturation and speciation modelling were used jointly to characterize water chemistry and to define hydrogeochemical processes. The Piper plots in combination with cluster analysis and isotope hydrological data indicate that, generally, the groundwater chemistry of the basin can be classified into (1) low TDS Ca-HCO3, Ca-Mg-HCO3, and Ca-Na-Mg-HCO3 type water which is relatively enriched in δ18O-δ2H and depleted in δ13C. These are recharge waters, which are characterized by low rock-water interaction; (2) brackish Mg-Na-Ca-HCO3 type water which is relatively depleted in δ18O-δ2H and enriched in δ13C; and (3) low TDS Na-(Ca)-HCO3 and Na-HCO3 type water which varies from less to more depleted in δ18O-δ2H and is characterized by relatively enriched δ13C. The cross-plots of the major cations vs. HCO3- and stability diagrams show that the primary processes controlling the groundwater evolution in the Lake Tana basin are alumino-silicate weathering and dissolution. Studying the hydrogeochemical characteristics of a complex geologic system with integrated approach helps to understand the complex groundwater flow system and flow dynamics, which in turn helps for proper groundwater utilization and future management.

The influence of passive wedge-wire screen aperture and flow velocity on juvenile European eel exclusion, impingement and passage

The European eel (Anguilla anguilla) is a critically endangered catadromous fish. The decline has partly been attributed to water management infrastructure that abstract water from rivers for potable and industrial water supply, irrigation, hydroelectric power generation and flood defence; eels can be impinged on weedscreens and trashracks and entrained in pumps and turbines. The Eel Regulations (England and Wales) 2009 stipulates measures are required to provide safe (upstream and downstream) passage of eels past such hazardous intakes. Preventing impingement and entrainment of upstream migrating (glass eel and elver) and river-resident (yellow) juvenile eels at hazardous intakes may require fine-mesh aperture screens and low approach velocities due to eels' small size and relatively poor swimming capacity but quantitative evidence is lacking. Here, passive wedge-wire screen aperture (1, 2, 3 and 5 mm) and depth-averaged flow velocities (0, 0.1, 0.15 and 0.2 m·s−1) both influenced the fate (i.e., impingement or passage) and behaviour (i.e., migratory separation or behavioural avoidance) of two size classes of juvenile eels (60–80 mm glass eels and 100–160 mm elvers) in an experimental flume. One and 2 mm aperture screens were required to physically exclude 60–80 mm and 100–160 mm, respectively. Up to 90% and 100% of the 60–80 mm and 100–160-mm size class eels were impinged at 0.2 m·s−1 depth-averaged flow velocity, which also positively influence number of screen contacts per eel and time to eel fate (from first contact). A small proportion of 60–80 mm eels (9.2%) did not approach the screen due to migratory separation (i.e., positive rheotaxis) and eels narrower than the screen aperture did not always pass through the screen, and thus other biological or hydraulic processes may also influence screen passage. It is hoped that these findings help improve screening guidance for regulators, key stakeholders and water abstraction managers to further improve protective measures required for critically endangered eels.

Ecological and geochemical aspects of interlayer water use for potable water supply of urban population: a case study in the Dnieper–Donetsk aquifer system, Ukraine

Ecological and geochemical aspects of interlayer water use for potable water supply of urban population: a case study in the Dnieper–Donetsk aquifer system, Ukraine

Accessibility to Potable Water Supply and Satisfaction in Lokoja, Kogi State-Nigeria

This study examines household accessibility to domestic water supply in Lokoja, North Central Nigeria. Both primary and secondary data were obtained for this research. A systematic random sampling technique was adopted to gather relevant information from two hundred and ten households on their sources of water supply, frequency of trips to water collection points and their perception of quality of domestic water available to them. Relevant information was obtained from archival materials. Tables were employed to analyse the socio-economic composition of the respondents and the sources of water supply in their neighbourhoods. Likerts scale model was used to evaluate the perception of satisfaction on quality and adequacy of domestic water supply in the city. Analysis of Variance was also used to determine the level of satisfaction on the quantity and quality of domestic water supply across various residential areas in Lokoja. Pearson Product Moment Correlation was used to determine the strength of the relationship between domestic water supply on the one hand and income level, education profile and residential characteristics of households on the other hand. Findings reveal that more than 70% of households residing at Zango Daji and Army Barracks areas rely on borehole for their regular water supply. Well water and water from vendors are the principal sources of water for residents of Felele area and these constituted 48.1% and 25.9% respectively. Approximately 100%, 57.7% and 34.6% of urban households that reside at Old Poly Quarters, Lokongoma Phase 1 &amp; 11 and Kabawa areas respectively indicated that they rely on irregular and unpredictable public tap water supply provided by the Kogi State Water Management Board.Urban households perceived and rated the availability and quality of domestic water supply as dissatisfied. There was a positive correlation between sources of domestic water supply and urban households income level as well as education profile, which was statistically significant (r = .196, n = 189, p = .01) and (r = .282, n = 189, p = .01). The study recommends the provision of potable water to urban households in order to reduce the vulnerability of urban residents to water borne diseases in Lokoja and environs.

Micronutrient Mineral and Nutrient Content of Volcanic Soils and Creeks from the Montserrat Soufriere Hills Volcano. Nature’s Fertilizer: Mineral Nutrient Content of Volcanic Soils

Agricultural soils and potable water supplies provide a major source of minerals known to be essential for plant and animal health. After several hundred years of relative quiescence, the Soufriere Hills Volcano of Montserrat roared back to life in 1995 through 1997, wreaking severe havoc and severe damage to the geography and ecosystems and serious immediate and chronic health risks to the remaining inhabitants of the Island. The pyroclastic ash flow reached temperatures of 1500 °F and progressed down the hillsides at speeds of 80 mph, causing incineration and virtual destruction of everything in its path, while the gaseous and particulate laden plume reached altitudes of 7 miles (10.7 km), impacting air quality and aircraft navigation in the region. A total of 19 individuals became entrapped in the lava flow, and perished quickly as a direct result of the volcanic eruption. Volcanic soils derive from deeper layers of the earths surfaces and are notoriously rich in mineral nutrients representative of those deep mineral deposits. While virtually all combustible objects in the path of the raging ash flow become incinerated within minutes, the aftermath of the eruptions delivers the mineral rich constituents over a wide swath of the surrounding geography often reaching miles from the volcanic origin. Soils and consumable water sources are well known to provide a reliable community source of essential minerals in human nutrition, and in their chronic absence, numerous pathologic sequela may develop. To determine the mineral content of surrounding surface soils, samples of surface ash layers and nearby creeks were obtained from 7 regions and 3 free-flowing creeks and subjected mineral analysis. The surface ash specimens contained abundant amounts of the nutrients Iron, Calcium, Sodium, Magnesium, Sulfur, and non-nutrient Aluminum, intermediate amounts of potassium, Phosphorous, and Manganese, and small amounts of Boron, Copper and Zinc. Creek water runoff originating from higher elevations was consistently acidic with a healthy mean pH of 5.1, and contained smaller proportions of the same minerals, reflective of their relative effective solubility in the acidic water. Thus, the volcanic ash flow while devastating to the environment and public health in the immediate aftermath, provided numerous minerals important to plant and animal nutrition and to human health and health water sources which contributed to the longer-term reinstitution of edible plants and to the recovery of the vibrant lush greenery of the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean.

Conceptual Design of a Compact Water Purification Unit Using Reed Bed Filtration

One of the most widespread global challenges is the insufficient provision of potable water, which affects individuals across diverse geographical regions. It is anticipated that issues related to water scarcity and quality will escalate in tandem with the expanding human population and the rapid pace of global development. Water sources are massively polluted hence, not safe for drinking nor irrigation. As a consequence, it is very important to have a water purification treatment plant to provide good water quality. Given the pressing need to ensure universal access to safe and clean drinking water, this investigation aims to engineer a compact and space-efficient apparatus that can expeditiously produce purified water. The proposed system seeks to optimize water purification performance while minimizing spatial requirements and operational duration. Its size is minimized by combining the three processes: coagulation, flocculation, and clarification together in one tank. Following to the aforementioned reservoir, an integrated natural system is employed to reduce the usage of chemicals and establish an ecologically sustainable platform. A hydraulic study is conducted to obtain the dimensioning of the several units which can be later scaled according to the flowrate. The latter was assumed in this study to be 2 L/s, then the compact unit can serve up to 800 persons by scaling the model and adjusting it.

Sustainable application of tubular photosynthesis microbial desalination cell for simultaneous desalination of seawater for potable water supply associated with sewage treatment and energy recovery

A sustainable approach for simultaneous desalination of actual seawater for potable water supply, and bioelectrochemical treatment of sewage associated with power generation was evaluated in a tubular photosynthesis desalination microbial fuel cell (PDMC) continually operated for 180 days. Anion exchange membrane (AEM) was used to separate the bioanode and desalination compartments, whereby, and cation exchange membrane (CEM) was used to separate the desalination and biocathode compartments. Mixed bacterial species and mixed microalgae were utilized for inoculation of the bioanode and biocathode, respectively. The results revealed that maximum and average desalination efficiencies of saline seawater fed to the desalination compartment were 80 ± 1 % and 72 ± 1.2 %, respectively. Maximum and average removal efficiencies of the sewage organic content in the anodic compartment were up to 99.3 ± 0.5 % and 91.0 ± 0.8 %, respectively associated with maximum power output of 430.7 ± 0.7 mW/m3. In spite of the heavy growth of the mixed bacterial species and microalgae as well, no fouling of AEM and CEM was observed during the entire period of operation. Kinetic study demonstrated that Blackman model described well the bacterial growth. Dense and healthy growth of biofilm and the microalgae in the anodic and cathodic compartments, respectively were clearly observed during the operation period. The promising outcomes of this investigation demonstrated that the suggested approach is a potential sustainable option for simultaneous desalination of saline seawater for potable water supply, biotreatment of sewage, and power generation.

Analyzing Water Conservation Techniques and Sustainable Irrigation Practices to Ensure the Availability of Clean Water for Future Generations

To keep ecosystems functioning, keep people alive, and propel social and economic progress, there must be access to clean water. The quantity and quality of freshwater resources are under jeopardy due to growing water scarcity, pollution, and climate change. In light of these issues, one of the most important things we can do to protect the supply of potable water for generations to come is to implement sustainable irrigation practices and water conservation measures. In light of the impending water crisis, this introduction lays the groundwork for an in-depth examination of sustainable irrigation practices and water conservation methods, discussing their significance, obstacles, and consequences. In light of increasing environmental challenges and water demands, it is critical to take immediate and decisive action to safeguard and responsibly manage water supplies. In light of changing environmental, social, and economic dynamics, this analysis aims to shed light on how to achieve water security and resilience by examining the concepts, innovations, and practical implementations of sustainable irrigation and water conservation. The main aim of this study is to analyze water conservation techniques &amp; strategies of sustainable irrigation practices to provide insight for ensuring availability of clean water for future generations.

Experimental Evaluation of Tubular Flocculator Implemented in the Field for Drinking Water Supply: Application in the Developing World

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of a large-scale Horizontal Tubular Flocculator (HTF) as an easy-to-implement technology for potable water provision compared to the efficiency of a traditional baffle flocculator. The HTF was built with a 4-inch diameter PVC pipe and coupled to a sedimentation and filtration process. Experimental tests were performed using lengths of 68.4 m and 97.6 m for the HTF. These lengths were combined with raw water flow rates of 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, and 2 L/s and five turbidity ranges &lt;10 NTU, 10–20 NTU, 21–50 NTU, 51–100 NTU, &gt;100 NTU, giving a total of 100 tests for one year. Jar tests were performed to determine the optimal dose of aluminum sulfate used as a coagulant. Hydraulic characteristics such as time of retention (TR) and velocity gradient (G) were evaluated; likewise, plug flow, dead volume, and short-circuit ratios were determined by tracer tests using the Wolf–Resnick model. The average results determined a removal of 98.8% of turbidity and 99.93% of color. The TR varied between 4.62 and 36.97 min and G varied between 6.15 and 109.62 s−1. The results showed that HTF can be useful as a flocculation unit in a purification system.

Techno-Economic Assessment of PV Power Systems to Power a Drinking Water Treatment Plant for an On-Grid Small Rural Community

This paper shows the technical–economic assessment of two power systems based on renewable electricity to cover the energy consumption requirements of a drinking water treatment plant in the town of Pile, Ecuador, with a planning horizon of 15 years. A stand-alone and a grid-connected solar PV system were proposed to power this plant, which was designed considering the maximum daily potable water supply condition. This plant operated under two scenarios: (1) 12 h during daylight hours and (2) 24 h. Both schedules were proposed to assess the impact of PV power systems on plant operation. We modeled and optimized a total of four scenarios, where each scenario consisted of one of the proposed PV power systems and the plant with one of its operating schedules. Homer Pro software was used to size and find an optimal solution in each scenario, considering the net present cost (NPC) as the main criterion for optimization. The results showed that the change in the plant operation schedule significantly influenced the parameters of each scenario, such as component sizing, electricity production, initial capital, NPC, and electricity purchase/sale capacity from the plant as a grid power service user to the electric utility company.

The development of tourism in the Historical Silver Mine and the groundwater management system in Tarnowskie Góry - a case study of mining heritage tourism

This article presents the values of the Silesian mining heritage in the context of accessibility of the Zabytkowa Kopalnia Srebra (Historical Silver Mine) in the Tarnowskie Góry. Simultaneously, this is the largest, best-preserved and accessible historicallead-silver mine in Poland with its unique, integrated historical groundwater management system of drainage adits and a potable water supply network. In this area, industrial heritage is now becoming a precious touristic and cultural value in and of itself. The scope of the article includes the characterization of all objects added to the UNESCO World Heritage List, the description of ground and underground tourist trails and the history of their accessibility. Not all underground workings have been included into the tourist trail, due to their preservation conditions, accessibility and mine safety measures. The paper also presentsa multi-faceted evaluation of the accessibility to all objects of mining heritage, including sites that are currently inaccessible, but still have the potential for tourism development.