Sustainable and Cost Effective

Water Solutions For The

Devikulam Community In
Tamil Nadu, India

Executive Summary
The aim of the project is to build a low cost, sustainable and effective water
purification system for the residents of Devikulam. It is to be built from locally
available materials that would be easy to assemble, maintain and designed to
improve the quality of water and therefore the quality of life of the residents.
The scope of the project is aimed at individual households within the village. The
purification system is to fit on the ground outside or on a bench or table top inside
the home. With the village having running water through taps to the houses the
design is made to purify on average 20 litres of water per day for drinking and
washing purposes.
With the majority of households in Devikulam below the poverty line the design had
to be cost effective and relatively cheap to produce but not compromise the overall
effectiveness of the system. It was also considered how readily available materials
were and how easy to assemble it was.
The design is based on a copper coil system to reduce the levels of bacteria in the
water through a leeching effect, whereby the copper breaks down the bacteria on a
molecular level while keeping the copper levels low enough for human consumption.
The process takes roughly 12 hours to complete at room temperature. The copper
coil is suspended inside the water container and is secured by fishing line. It is then
followed by a charcoal and sand filtration system to remove sediment and any other
contaminants.
The final design of the system also incorporates rocks to slow the flow of water,
therefore reducing channel building in the sand. Cotton is used to avoid
contamination by the activated carbon and sand moving through the filter screens. A
wooden stand held a 20 litre water container. PVC piping and screen filters were
used to build the body of the filter. Taps are also implemented to control the flow
from the storage container to the filter and from the filter to the outlet.
Business sponsorship to build the prototype of the system was secured which
allowed the total cost of the prototype to not exceed $100. On a large scale the
system could be produced effectively for less using local materials.

Page | I

GROUP TIMELINE
It was tough at first trying to decide as a group which of the many topics we were
going to try and tackle. In the end we decided that safe drinking water is one of the
core problems facing humanity. Estimates show on average approximately 14,000
people die every day from water contamination related diseases worldwide and
around 1,000 Indian children die of diarrheal sickness daily. (Wignall, K. 2008).
We put our heads together and started to try and think of a basic and cost-effective
solution to this problem. It occurred to us quite quickly that there are many solutions
to this problem but most were costly avenues and required high levels of expertise to
implement. We would like to give special thanks to Greg Hanson from Aqua Sun
International for helping us with our initial research into solar pumps and how to build
a portable pump / purifier. It was found to be too costly and our aim shifted to
something non-powered that could be used in a single household scale but his help
in our initial research was invaluable.
We initially looked at solar water disinfection but decided that this could not be
implemented on a big enough scale for a town. We then looked at large scale
pumping and purification but the costs involved made it unrealistic. As much as we
would like to make a report with an exorbitant imaginary budget and the idea and
principles be great on paper, we hope our report may one day have some real world
application and assist a community. Daniel did quite a bit of research into charcoal
filtration but we quickly found out that charcoal filtration does not kill salmonella in
water. We all agreed that charcoal filtration was definitely a good start and could
somehow be implemented into the final design. We also had an in-depth group
discussion about suitable storage of the water.
When we started background research into the towns economic situation we were
shocked to learn that the average wage in this town was approximately $425
Australian dollars per year. It was clear to us from this point that any thoughts or
ideas we came up with had to be cost effective in all aspects from manufacture to
implementation and maintenance. None of us could imagine trying to survive on
those wages or conditions. It was starting to hit home with our group just how

Page | II

thankful we should be and how we take many things for granted that are needed
elsewhere.
After a few weeks of research we had a breakthrough in finding some information in
relation to using copper to kill salmonella. After looking into the information we
decided that this is the way our group wanted to go and we all felt a lot better once
we had a direction to go in. We went through many different ideas before setting on
copper and we will explain them all further in our report and why we didnt choose
those ideas over this one. We have all enjoyed doing this report and learning about
the problems facing the people in Devikulam and we hope our end result reflects
this.
By the start of the mid-semester break we had a clear focus and had already begun
basic drawings of our prototype. The aim was to build a standalone, non-powered
water purifier with a water reservoir on top of the system with a submerged copper
coil inside. When the water was stored in the container overnight any salmonella and
E.coli bacteria would be killed. In the morning the water was to be emptied out into a
jug or storage container for general use. Once the tap was turned the water
funnelled down from the reservoir through a filter system consisting of different
layers; large rocks, small rocks, sand, activated carbon, small rocks and large rocks.
A cotton filter was also to be used to stop any particles from the activated carbon
from sifting through. A magnetic filter was also considered on the end.
During the holidays Daniel and Ben started on the final design of the prototype
including estimating costs, maintenance and life cycle assessments and all other
aspects of the water filter in relation to how it would be used and how long it would
last in Devikulam. Meanwhile Joseph and Claire worked on the final bit of research
and preparing parts of the report.
By the end of the mid semester break all research was completed and typed up and
the initial designs of the prototype and estimated cost had all been completed. This
was an exciting time for the group as we realised all our work was coming together
and we could end up designing and manufacturing a product that could help people
in another country live a better life. Six weeks ago none of us could have known the
kind of contribution to this town we would have through this challenge.

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In the first couple of weeks back the group secured sponsorship for the development
of a prototype from a local business which reduced the cost involved. Ben was
mainly responsible for this and we were all excited that work was about to begin on
building the prototype. Before the semester break an email had been sent to CSIRO
to see if we could obtain a water sample that would be similar to that in Devikulam so
we could test our purifier to see if it actually worked. A few emails have been sent
back and forth with CSIRO since so we are all hoping that the plan for them to test
our samples comes to fruition.
CSIRO told us that a similar water sample to that of Devikulam might be found by
taking samples from the blue lake in Mount Gambier. We are hoping that if we can
get the report and prototype finished in time we may have time to take a road trip up
to Mount Gambier to take a few samples and run them through our filter.
By end of week 8 we have the first stage of the prototype built and the majority of the
report written up. We are starting to put together the executive summary and working
on our individual reflections of the project. We are hoping that by the end of week 9
we will have the first draft copy of the report finished and ready to be proof read and
edited. We are leaving things like the figures and tables editing and changing from
numerical to author date right until the very end when everything else is completed.
The team is excited about almost being at the end of this challenge. We have learnt
much as a team and we feel that we will learn more in the weeks to come leading up
to the handing in of our final report. We had a lot to change after we got the revised
copy of the interim chapter back. Quite a few things in the report had to be altered
and we were grateful that Ahn and Kate took the time to give us the feedback we
needed to help us finish this report properly. See chart below for distribution of work.

Research into
Purification Solutions

Claire

Prototype Design

Joseph
Ben

Prototype Building

Daniel

Typing of Report
0%

50%

100%

Page | IV

SELF REFLECTIONS
Joseph Bramley - I thoroughly enjoyed partaking in the EWB challenge 2011, Even
though it is drawing to a close in the coming weeks i believe that I have learned so
much from it. It has truly been an eye opening experience learning about the
different hardships faced by the residents in Devikulam on a day to day basis. It
reaffirms to me just how lucky we are to live in Australia and it just goes to show that
things in our lives that we take for granted such as clean water, a roof over our head,
employment or unemployment benefits. Its things like these that we as a people just
expect to be given and have access to without any regards for just how lucky we are
to have it. When billions of others around the world do not have access to such basic
things that makes the quality of life so much better, Its almost a travesty to think us
as a nation and as a people sit idly by while people starve to death and die of water
diseases (by the thousands) purely because they cant afford a decent filtration
system. Personally I think the world needs to wake up and stop judging everyone by
the borders of their country or the colour of their skin or the accent they have. People
are people and until all the countries unite as one I fear that problems and
challenges faced by billions of people every day in 3rd world countries will just
continue if not get worse as the population increases.
I feel the biggest obstacle for me I faced during this challenge was when I was doing
a lot of the research into the town of Devikulam itself. Just seeing all the problems
that they were facing and not just that town but the people in India as a whole, some
research pointed to the fact that there were over 3000 Indian children dying every
day from malnutrition and over 1000 children a day from diarrhoeal disease. This
was a real eye opener for me I never realised the problems over in India were this
bad.
Working as a team in the project really made it the experience that it was. When you
are first thrown together as a group of strangers and given this problem to write a
report on it is a bit nerve racking. But we gelled as a team and focused on the
problem we had at hand, we worked well together and helped each other out and
pushed each other to achieve the best that we could, given the chance to do this
project again I would not choose to work with any other team.

Page | V

There is only one aspect of the project I wish I could change. Time, We were never
rushed to get our report finished or meat any of the deadlines for the project,
however as we are building the prototype we designed for our report it would have
been good to have enough time to find water samples matching Devikulams and
actually have time to test our prototype so we could include the findings in our report.
There were many rewarding parts of the challenge experience, from learning about
different cultures and the problems they face on a day to day basis, to being given
the opportunity to one day maybe help the people in our report by having our ideas
brought to fruition. Even the looks of dare I say pride on Ahns and Kates faces
when they saw that our team was really embracing the project and taking leaps and
bounds to complete a report worthy of the EWB challenge, Without their help none of
our work could have been possible and for that we as a team are truly grateful. It is
hard to sum up in this reflection what the most enjoyable part of the challenge was,
as the challenge is not over yet and if our teams report happens to be one of the
ones chosen to be implemented in Devikulam then there will be plenty of exciting
and rewarding experiences to come. Thank you to everyone for allowing myself and
my team to be able to take part in this years challenge. It is an experience none of
us will forget in a hurry.

Daniel Davies - The past weeks have been swift and very interesting. I have learnt
many things and my understanding of what an engineer must know, fathom and
deliver has been clarified somewhat. It hasnt been an easy task, this EWB
challenge, but it hasnt been hard either. I found the challenge most enlightening,
opened my eyes in a sense to see how people in this poverty stricken village of
Devikulam have to live. Knowing something as simple as water is so difficult for the
people to access really made me feel like it is a privilege to be able to take it for
granted.
Myself as an individual found it really easy to concoct a design for our filtration
system, I found it a strength of mine to be able to process my thoughts into drawings
and sketches. I believe I struggled somewhat in transferring our researched material
into some of my ideas for designs, but eventually, as a team, we all stuck our heads
together and made it work.
Page | VI

Communication as a group was something we could have improved on, and I, well, I
think, should have been a little more outspoken with some things, it was a case of
our group warming to each other though, as it was only 10 weeks ago where we
were all strangers. Being thrown into a group with people I have never met before,
and knowing Id be working with them as a team to hopefully achieve a high
distinction grade was daunting.
As of where our group is now, I am happy that our team has worked so hard, Im
just glad to have been teamed up with such motivated, academic people.
Claire Bandy - The largest obstacle in my mind was the shear amount of paper work
that needed to be completed as well as building the prototype, we didnt have a
problem with this as we have Joe writer extraordinaire who did a lot of the footwork.
The project itself looks very big and intimidating particularly for first year students
such as myself who have only their lives previous to university to work with. Luckily
our group other than myself are all mature aged students who have a lot more in the
way of knowledge than me to at least have something to go with.
Working with this team makes me realise the amount of passion that some people
have for projects and aims. Also I now know that using Facebook to communicate
with for this project does not suit me at all I would rather using email rather than a
social network that I use a tool for connecting with my loved ones who all live far
away. Facebook should be a reward mixing the idea of pleasure and work does not
work for me.
Working with my group was the best part of working on this project and the research
on the Horse Radish tree. My group is mostly a lot of fun to work with, we joke
around and do our work and discuss issues with our work, its great I have learned a
lot about the world not just from my research but from my peers. The work on the
Horseradish tree has been fascinating; Im unsure why it isnt marketed here in
Australia as a solution against chorine for thoughts who are worried about the health
issues associated with chlorine.

Page | VII

Ben Kirss The largest challenges I faced were working with the group to manage
my time for each section of the report and coping with the concept that people in
other countries suffer so much from lack of resources that we take for granted every
day.
Working as a team made each section of the report progress smoothly as everyone
was able to contribute and brainstorm to form better ideas which may have been
missed if we worked individually. It also helped to know that I didnt have to rely only
on my own knowledge and strengths to produce a report of this magnitude.
Were we to do this again the thing I would like to change most is having more time
as I feel we could have contributed even more to the community in India with more of
an opportunity. I would also change the executive summary hand in date to the same
as the report hand in date as it would have made it easier to summarise the key
points and information required for the summary once all the information had been
collated.
The most enjoyable part of this project was making new friends and improving the
lifestyle of a community in another country while increasing my own knowledge base.
I feel privileged to have been a part of this challenge and to have been able to
contribute to the overall wellbeing of people in another country.

Page | VIII

TABLE OF CONTENTS

- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY..................................................................................... I
- GROUP TIMELINE.............................................................................................. II
- SELF REFELCTIONS.........................................................................................

IV

SECTION A INTRODUCTION

1.0 BACKGROUND OF DEVIKULAM....................................................................

1.1 ENVIRONMENTAL PARAMETERS....................................................... 2

1.2 ECONOMIC STANDING OF THE VILLAGE..........................................

2.0 OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE.............................................................................

SECTION B IDEATION AND SELECTION OF DESIGN

3.0 WATER SOURCE OPTIONS...........................................................................

3.1 PONDS...................................................................................................

3.2 BORE WATER.......................................................................................

3.3 RAINWATER..........................................................................................

3.4 WATER SUMMARY...............................................................................

4.0 WATER TREATMENT OPTIONS....................................................................

4.1 FILTRATION........................................................................................... 6
4.1.1 ACTIVATED CARBON FILTRATION........................................

4.1.2 SLOW SAND FILTRATION.......................................................

4.1.3 ULTRA-VIOLET DISINFECTION..............................................

4.1.4 CHLORINE................................................................................

11

4.1.5 SOLAR WATER DISINFECTION..............................................

11

4.1.6 MORINGA OLEIFERA WATER PURIFICATION......................

13

4.1.7 COPPER COIL WATER PURIFICATION.................................. 15

4.1.8 MAGNETIC FILTRATION.......................................................... 16
4.1.9 STONE FILTRATION................................................................

17

5.0 WATER PUMP OPTIONS................................................................................

17

6.0 WATER TREATMENT SELECTION................................................................

18

SECTION C DESIGN

7.0 PROPOSED SYSTEM DESIGN....................................................................... 19

7.1 INTRODUCTION...................................................................................

25

7.2 ASSUMPTIONS....................................................................................

25

7.3 PROPOSAL........................................................................................... 25
7.4 ADVANTAGES OF THE PROPOSED SYSTEM................................... 28
7.5 CONCLUSION....................................................................................... 28
8.0 CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE.................................. 29
8.1 MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION.................................................... 29
8.2 OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE...................................................... 29
8.2.1 OPERATION............................................................................

30

8.2.2 MAINTENANCE.................................................................... 30
9.0 LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT (LCA).................................................................

31

9.1 WATER USAGE BREAKDOWN............................................................

31

9.2 IMPROVEMENT ANALYSIS..................................................................

32

9.2.1 FUTURE RECOMMENDATIONS.............................................. 32

SECTION D SUSTAINABILITY AND DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

10.0 SOCIAL IMPACT............................................................................................ 33

10.1 JOB OPPORTUNITIES........................................................................

33

10.2 COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT............................................................. 33

10.3 ETHICS................................................................................................

34

11.0 EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS.................................................. 34

12.0 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT..........................................................................

34

13.0 ECONOMICAL IMPACT.................................................................................

34

13.1 CONSTRUCTION COSTS...................................................................

35

13.2 RUNNING COSTS...............................................................................

36

13.3 COST ANALYSIS EVALUATION.........................................................

36

SECTION E CONCLUSIONS, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND REFERENCES

14.0 CONCLUSION................................................................................................ 36
15.0 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS...........................................................................

37

16.0 TABLE OF FIGURES.....................................................................................

38

APPENDIX 1..........................................................................................................

39

APENDIX 1A..........................................................................................................

40

1.0

BACKGROUND OF DEVIKULAM

The word Devikulam means goddess of the pond. It is split into two separate words
and Devi means Goddess and Kulam means pond. The village name is also
described locally as meaning Village blessed by God. The town is named after the
lotus pond which is located in the centre of the village. The pond was once used as a
source of drinking water but is now more commonly used for bathing, washing cattle
and swimming. There are a total of 358 people (86 families) living in Devikulam. The
average family size within the town is four to seven people and the houses are
mostly hut-style homes with cement or mud floors, walls made from mud or bricks
and the roofs are either thatched or made from palm leaves. Houses generally have
thatched bathrooms without a toilet. The main occupation in the town is farming and
agricultural labour. The language spoken is Tamil and the most common religion is
Hindu. The ground water level in Devikulam is quite high but there are growing
concerns in the region about increasing salinity and its effects on drinking water,
Much of the land in Devikulam was spoiled after the 2004 tsunami as salt water
contamination occurred in the region via a local backwater (Buzza, N. 2009).. See
figure 1.1 for location

Figure 1.1

Page | - 2 -

1.1

ENVIRONMENTAL PARAMETERS

The climate of Tamil Nadu is mostly tropical with little variation between summer
and winter temperatures. Between April and June is the hottest period with the
temperature reaching approximately 40C and November to February is the coolest
months with temperatures of approximately 20C. In the north east of Tamil Nadu
where Devikulam is located the monsoonal rains come between October and
December. The Average Rainfall in Tamil Nadu is between 635mm and 1905mm.
(Renaissance, T. 2009)

1.2

ECONOMIC STANDING OF THE VILLAGE

Devikulam is a relatively poor town, paid employment in Devikulam generally occurs

on an irregular basis. Fig 1.2 the poverty conditions in this town.

Figure 1.2
The average yearly income in Devikulam is 19,474 rupees (Buzza, N. 2008).
($424.65 Australian Dollars). Any system that is built must be inexpensive to buy and
maintain and household size. Without external funding and resources any plans and
system would fail due to insufficient funds and resources to be able to build such a
system. Even if funding was secured to build a large scale water purifier in
Devikulam on-going running costs and maintenance would make it unsustainable.

Page | - 3 -

2.0

OBJECTIVE AND SCOPE

The objective is to provide clean and purified drinking water to the residents in
Devikulam. The aim is to remove salmonella and other bacteria and impurities from
the water for drinking and general domestic purposes; the scope is to implement the
design to be used in households across the town on an individual household scale
and for the project to be a cost effective and sustainable way to combat the water
problems faced by the people in Devikulam on a day to day basis. It is estimated that
20 litres of water is required per household per day (see appendix A for assumptions
and calculations.) This is a copy of the decision matrix that was implemented in the
initial plans of the project. (See Fig 2.1)

EWB
Challenge

Cooking

Poisonous
gasses

potential to
change cooking
habits or fuel

Water

heavey
metals and
bacteria

UV light
disinfection

solar
lights

use of
copper

Activated
Carbon

Chlorine

filter
rocks

sand

metal

use
Medisonal
plants

Horse
Radish
Tree

matrial

Figure 2.1

Page | - 4 -

3.0

WATER SOURCE OPTIONS

Devikulam has three water source options. They collect their water from the bores
located in the town, the pond that the town is built around or taps in their homes. See
Fig. 3.1 for a map of the town layout and water source options (EWB website, 2011)

Figure 3.1

3.1

PONDS

Devikulam is built around the larger of the two ponds. According to an online report,
In recent years the town has stopped using the pond as a water source as it is now
more commonly used as a bathing place for both human and cattle and also
swimming (Buzza, N. 2008). This report has not been verified. Due to the lack of
any further information, the decision was made to obtain the water solely from the
bores located in Devikulam.

Page | - 5 -

3.2

BORES

Devikulam has fourteen bores located in and around the town.(See Fig. 3.1) It is
unclear whether or not some or all of these are tapped. There are only two water test
results for bores in Devikulam. (Refer Appendix 1) The aim of the project was to
obtain water from these bores, either directly from the bores or through the taps in
their homes. It seemed the most viable option as the residents of Devikulam already
have working taps in their houses that feed the water from the main tank (bore fed)
into their homes. So if there was a cheap, effective and sustainable way to
implement the plans of this report into the lives of the residents without putting too
much strain on their daily routine then this would be advantageous for the whole
community.

3.3

RAINWATER

As discussed in section 1.1 monsoonal rainfalls in Devikulam have a varying yearly

average rainfall with the averages ranging from 635mm to 1905mm (Renaissance, T.
2009) In comparison the gap between the two averages is the equivalent of 2.17
years of Adelaides yearly rainfall average.(ABS 2011) Devikulam does not have
adequate dams in place or water catchment plants, it is very important to reduce
water wastage from the bores and also save water from the bores until such time as
a proper facility to harvest rainwater is in place.

3.4

WATER SUMMARY

In summary, sourcing the water from the bores was selected as the best option to
provide a safe, inexpensive and effective source for the water entering the filtration
system. In years to come if the town returns to using the pond as a water source it is
hoped the device that was designed for the bore water could also be used in filtration
of the pond water. It was decided that if the information about the pond use as cattle
water and bathing purposes was correct that it would not be a suitable choice for
water sourcing.

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4.0

WATER TREATMENT OPTIONS

There are many water treatment options available; some are quite costly to
implement. With the average yearly income in Devikulam being $424.65 Australian
dollars, a low cost solution had to be found. Many solar / carbon filtration pump
systems on the market would be suitable to provide safe drinking water, however at
$5,000 to $10,000 dollars a system it would be a waste of time to investigate further
and write a report on such a setup knowing it would cost on average 20-25 years of
someones salary to buy such a system. It was put forward to not only find viable and
sustainable water filtration solutions but also to research with the mindset that once it
was completed an effective prototype could be built with limited funds that may one
day be implemented and used in households in Devikulam.

4.1

FILTRATION

Filtration is something that the residents of Devikulam desperately need in their

water. From the results of water quality tests on bore 1 it shows the water is saline
and has traces of Salmonella and E. coli. (EWB 2011) (See Appendix 1)
The results show that filtration is required on some level to help to remove the
bacteria and other impurities from the water. The test results of the water quality test
on bore 2 have similar results. (EWB 2011) (See Appendix 1A)
With these results in mind we started to look across the vast range of options to see
what kind of cost effective solucctions could be found and how best to meet the
towns-peoples needs and budget, and how to come up with an effective solution
that would bring into consideration all the aspects that this problem has.

Page | - 7 -

4.1.1

ACTIVATED CARBON FILTRATION

Activated carbon is a very effective filtering material. Activated carbon acts like a
sponge, drawing contaminants out of liquids and gasses. The filter works by trapping
the contaminants on the surface of the exposed carbon molecules (See Fig. 4.1)
Adsorption does not create a chemical reaction between the carbon and the
contaminants. However, oxygen and hydrogen atoms clinging to the surface of the
carbon molecules may cause some chemical reactions during the filtering process.
(Bjorg, M. 2010).
The disadvantage to carbon filtering is that the effectiveness of the filtration process
is dependent on the quality of the carbon, pore size and surface areas. The size of
contaminants to be removed from the water must be directly proportionate to the
pore size of the activated carbon.
The strength of the carbon is also very important as it needs to be able to withstand
the pressures on it created by the filtration process. This process is most effective
when the water has high levels of contaminants. Some of the other factors that can
affect the process are length of time the contaminants remain inside the filter (flow
rate), temperature, pressure and humidity. The effectiveness of this filtration process
decreases as the pore sites and bonding sites start to fill with contaminants. When
this occurs the carbon has to be re-activated or replaced. Carbon is readily available
in places like Devikulam as it is surrounded by forest. Turning charcoal into carbon
can be a difficult process but with the right training programs this could become a
very cost effective solution for water filtration in Devikulam. A company in the United
Kingdom ships activated carbon; you can buy it in 5kg lots for 39.95 (Company
2008). roughly $60-65 Australian dollars.

Figure 4.1

Page | - 8 -

4.1.2

SLOW SAND FILTRATION

Sand Filtration is a common choice in many developing countries as it is cheap and

sand is readily available in most places around the world. Unlike most water filters
sand filters use a biological process to clean the water. They are non-pressurized
systems and they do not require chemicals or electricity to operate. Unlike the
majority of other water filters that produce water on demand sand filters produce
water at a slow, constant flow. They are usually used in conjunction with water tanks
for peak usage. [9]
Sand filters are typically 1-2 metres deep and can be rectangular or cylindrical and
are used primarily to treat surface water. The length and breadth of the tanks are
determined by the flow rate desired by the builders of the filter. See Fig. 4.2
Some of the advantages of sand filtration are that they require little or no mechanical
power, chemicals or replaceable parts and only require periodic maintenance. Due to
their simple design they are often created in DIY projects in developing countries to
aid the poor. These filters are also recognized by such organisations as the WHO
(World Health Organisation), the United States EPA (Environmental Protection
Agency) and the United Nations, as being superior technology for the treatment of
surface water. The World Health Organisation states that "Under suitable
circumstances, slow sand filtration may be not only the cheapest and simplest but
also the most efficient method of water treatment (Huismans, L. 1974).

Figure 4.2
Page | - 9 -

This method of filtration covers a few aspects of the design criteria however a sand
filter by itself is not a viable option in the town of Devikulam due to the size of the
filter required to be effective without any other forms of filtration. With this said if the
sand filter was used in conjunction with other types of filtration it could be an
effective aspect to any filter system.

4.1.3

ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT DISINFECTION

Ultraviolet light disinfection is a chemical free way of killing microorganisms or

rendering them harmless. These microorganisms can range from bacteria and
viruses to algae and protozoa.
UV Disinfection has been used in many different areas ranging from air and water
purification and many other disinfection and sterilization options. One of the many
advantages of UV Disinfection is that it can disinfect a large amount of water much
faster than chlorine, without the retention tanks and harmful chemicals. UV treatment
systems are also very cost effective.
Another advantage of UV disinfection is how environmentally friendly it is. There are
no dangerous chemicals to handle or to store. It is a universally accepted system for
portable and non-portable water systems. It has fairly low initial setup costs and has
relatively low operating expenses compared to the similar technologies such as
ozone and chlorine. It has an immediate treatment process with no need for holding
tanks. It has relatively easy installation (If a pre-setup unit is purchased), two water
connections and a power connection.
In essence the treatment process is quite complex. Ultraviolet is one energy region
of the electromagnetic spectrum, this lies between the x-ray region and the visible
region. UV itself lies in the ranges of 200 nanometres (nm) and 390 nanometres.
Optimum UV germicidal action occurs at exactly 260nm. (Technologies, T. 2009)

Page | - 10 -

Since the natural germicidal UV from the sun is screened out by the earths
atmosphere, another way must be found of procuring UV light. This is accomplished
through the conversion of electrical energy in a low pressure mercury vapour hard
glass quartz lamp (See Fig. 4.3) Electrons flow through the ionized mercury vapour
between the electrodes of the lamp, which then creates the UV light.
As UV light penetrates through the cell wall and cytoplasm membrane, it causes a
molecular rearrangement of the microorganism's DNA, which prevents it from
reproducing. If the cell cannot reproduce, it is considered dead.
UV Light is a chemical free way of helping to produce the clean drinking water that
Devikulam needs, however the initial setup costs and power requirements for such a
unit make it a non-sustainable solution for the town.

Figure 4.3

Page | - 11 -

4.1.4

CHRLORINE

Chlorine has the potential to develop problems very easily. An under dose of
Chlorine tablets means that there will be the potential for water bacteria to still exist
while an overdose of the tablets results in a water that tastes terrible, can make
people sick and will not be cost effective. Liquid chlorine is more dangerous with the
potential to burn through the skin. As well as this it has been reported that constant
use of chlorine causes cancer. (AQUA-SAFE 2009).
To limit the dangers to the people of Devikulam it was decided that it would be a far
safer option to avoid the use of chlorine.

4.1.5

SOLAR LIGHT DISINFECTION

Solar light disinfection also known as SODIS is an effective and low cost method of
disinfecting water. It requires water to be stored in plastic PET bottles. The bottles
are then to be placed in direct sunlight for 6 hours or 2 days if conditions are cloudy
(See Fig. 4.4) Exposure to the sunlight has been shown to deactivate diarrhoea
causing organisms in polluted drinking waters. The effects of the solar radiation
contribute to the deactivation of pathogenic organisms (SODIS 2010).

Figure 4.4

Page | - 12 -

If the water is highly turbid; the cloudiness or haziness of a fluid caused by

individual particles, it requires the use of another filter either pre or post SODIS
treatment.
This type of water treatment is only common in individual houses. It involves a few
risk factors such as the water needing to be left in the sun for the correct amount of
time. The age of the bottles greatly reduces the effectiveness of the treatment as a
scratched bottle will reduce the effects of solar light on the water and the regrowth of
bacteria. Once removed from sunlight remaining bacteria may reproduce in the dark.
However that can be combatted by adding 10 parts per million of hydrogen peroxide
and that is effective at preventing the regrowth of wild salmonella while remaining
well within acceptable consumption levels for humans (Sciacca F, Rengifo-Herrera
JA, Wth J, Pulgarin C (2010).
The WHO (World Health Organisation) and Red Cross both believe this to be a
viable option for water treatment for developing countries. However it was not
selected to be implemented into the project because of the huge range of varying
factors from damaged bottles to left in or out of the sunlight for too long. The aim is
to find something more sustainable and effective for the people of Devikulam and the
idea of solar light purification just involved too many differentiating factors that could
make it ineffective or compromise the integrity of the end product.

Page | - 13 -

4.1.6

MORINGA OLEIFERA WATER PURIFICATION

Researching into the benefits of this tree was certainly quite interesting. The Moringa
Oleifera has been named the most useful tree in the world according to Michael Lea,
a researcher at Clearinghouse, which is a Canadian organisation dedicated to
investigating and implementing low-cost water purification technologies.

Using 100-200 crushed seeds from the Moringa Oleifera tree per litre it is possible to
reduce bacteria in previously untreated water from anywhere between 90% and
99.99%. This could help drastically reduce the incidence of waterborne diseases in
the developing world.

Even though it has significant water purification potential the plant also has many
other advantages to it. The 10 meter tall tree is extremely drought resistant, it yields
lighting oils, soil fertiliser as well as nutritious food in the form of its pods, leaves,
seeds and flowers. Indians refer to the plants pods as munga, saragwa or saragwe.
They use these pods in a variety of curry dishes and to prepare a variety of sambar.
The horseradish tree is renowned for its nutritional values particularly in its protein
calcium iron and vitamin C levels, Moringa preparations have been cited in the
scientific literature as having antibiotic, antitrypanosomal, hypotensive,
antispasmodic, antiulcer, anti-inflammatory, hypocholesterolemic, and
hypoglycaemic activities (Fahey J, 2009)

The pods are used in water purification by crushing the seeds into powder and using
the powder as a water-soluble extract in suspension. This results in a natural
effective agent for highly turbid and untreated pathogenic surface water. As well as
improving its drinking qualities, this technique reduces the waters turbidity
(cloudiness) making the result just as much aesthetically pleasing as it does make it
microbiologically more acceptable for human consumption.

Page | - 14 -

"This technique does not represent a total solution to the threat of waterborne
disease," concluded Lea. "However, given that the cultivation and use of the Moringa
tree can bring benefits in the shape of nutrition and income Claire is awesome as
well as of far purer water, there is the possibility that thousands of 21st century
families could find themselves liberated from what should now be universally seen
as19th century causes of death and disease. This is an amazing prospect, and one
in which a huge amount of human potential could be released. This is particularly
mind-boggling when you think it might all come down to one incredibly useful tree."

Millions of people in India alone rely on untreated surface water for their daily water
needs every day. It was decided not to incorporate this miracle plant into our overall
design for the project due to the intense amount of work it would take to gather the
seeds, as it would take 3000 seeds per day for our system and even the most
mature seed pods only give up to 12 seeds. Alternatively they could buy the seeds
in, but 1000 seeds can cost from about $51 to $175 Australian dollars, not a very
cost effective solution. The use of this plant across many different areas and aspects
might seem like a helpful addition to any town in a developing country and as an
addition to purified water out of the current system for the sick the young and the
elderly. (Lea M 2010)
Moringa Oleifera has the potential to be used in Devikulam as the plant is best suited
to subtropical and tropical climates. This goes hand in hand with the need for dry
sandy soil presuming Devikulam is close to the ocean due to the tsunami damage
to the water Devikulam has the potential to have sandy soil which suits the tree best.

Page | - 15 -

4.1.7

COPPER COIL WATER PURIFICATION

Copper Coil water purification has many benefits. The first evidence that was found
of research into this kind of purification was conducted in Bangalore, India. They ran
tests to determine whether storing water over night in copper pots or any type of
water storage device with copper coils inside them would stop or reduce the growth
of Escherichia coli and Salmonella Typhi. After water was left in the devices for a
period of 16 hours the water stored in the copper pots did not have any form of
bacterial growth, however bacteria in the water stored in the normal glass bottle grew
at an astonishing 30 times the previous amount. (See Fig. 4.5) Preethi Sudhaa, K. O.
S., S.R. Prasadb and Padma Venkatasubramaniana (2009).
The amount of copper that leeched into the water after being stored in the copper
pots was well within the limits safe for human consumption that are stipulated by the
WHO (World Health Organisation). The study done by S.R. Prasad at the
Department of Microbiology, Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College clearly substantiates
the ancient claim by Ayurvedic texts that water stored in copper vessels can promote
health. AYURVEDA (2007). Used in conjunction with other types of water purification
in the system may result in a safe and effective unit for use in a single household.

Figure 4.5
Page | - 16 -

4.1.8

MAGNETIC WATER

Research carried out by NASA has shown that astronauts who are cut off from the
earths magnetic field for a period of time develop significant health problems.
Research shows that the earths magnetic field is declining steadily and has lost over
30% of its strength in the last 2000 years. The human body is very responsive to
electromagnetic fields and treatment with pulsed electromagnets has been found
highly effective in curing fractures, migraines, headaches, insomnia and depression.
With this in mind research was done into the effects of magnets and water. (Larsen,
H. R. (2008)
The first practical application of water magnetisation occurred in the 1950s when
engineers discovered that magnetically treated water had a greatly reduced
tendency to form scale when heated. Several explanations for this have been
advanced. The most plausible being that magnetization breaks up the clusters of
water which surround lime and other foreign molecules. By doing so these molecules
get the opportunity to crystallize and be carried along in the water rather than deposit
themselves on the walls of the pipes. Although this explanation has many
proponents it does not fully explain why magnetized water also dissolves old scale
deposits.
Researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina recently reported that
cleaning the teeth with water from a magnetized irrigator can reduce calculus
formation by over 60 per cent and improve overall gum health. Israeli agricultural
researchers found that the use of magnetized water increased farm yields by
anywhere from 5 to 20 per cent. Cows drinking magnetized water produced more
milk and were healthier than cows drinking untreated water. Sheep produced more
wool and meat, hens laid more eggs and all farm animals survived longer when
drinking magnetized water. Magnetized water is energy-building, activating,
cleansing and detoxifying. There are reports of people resolving bladder problems,
recovering quickly from a stroke, alleviating arthritic pain and reducing blood
pressure by drinking magnetized water. It is reasonable to assume that if scientific
studies on animals have proven that magnetized water has health benefits, then it
should also be beneficial to humans. So far there have been no systematic, clinical
trials done to prove or disprove the healing effects of magnetized water in humans.
Page | - 17 -

4.1.9

STONE FILTRATION

The stones have no real filtration purpose, they may catch larger bits of sediment in
the water but the main purpose behind having stones before and after the filter
layers are to regulate the flow of the water in the filter. Especially in conjunction with
the sand filtration, this stops the water from making channels in the sand and
rendering the sand filter ineffective.

5.0

WATER PUMP OPTIONS

After extensive research into solar pumps and into the town of Devikulam itself it was
discovered that the town has recently upgraded water lines and taps so the majority
of houses in Devikulam now have running water and dont have leaking taps. Once
this was discovered it was decided that the project was going to be based on a water
filter unit that could be put inside each house and refilled from the tap. This way the
design could be kept cheap yet be very effective in the town in helping to purify their
water.
Research done into mobile and stationary solar pumps with water purifiers on them
showed that the cost of such a system would range from $2,000 for an entry level
system right up to $20,000 or more for a high end pump and filter that could solve
the towns problems permanently. With limited resources a pump of such magnitude
is not cost effective or sustainable.
A company in America called Aqua Sun International make mobile systems for
pumping and purifying water. The model of particular interest to the project was
called the Villager S8-3 which is capable of pumping 18,800 litres of water per day
and purifying it. During the course of the research contact was made with Greg
Hanson (2011) who is a solar systems technician for the company. He gave relevant
information on their products and also gave a basic run down on how to build one of
their systems from scratch using other equipment. This proved to be too costly and it
was decided that a non-powered filtration unit was the way to go.

Page | - 18 -

6.0

WATER TREATMENT SELECTION

A short list comprising all water treatment options was compiled and research began
into prototypes and how to build a unit utilising all the different types of water
treatment options that had been settled on. Ultra-Violet light disinfection and solar
light disinfection were discarded from the start due to high costs. All other areas
discussed in the previous chapter were looked upon as viable ways to treat water
cheaply and effectively for the citizens of Devikulam.

Page | - 19 -

7.0

PROPOSED SYSTEM DESIGN

These were the general plans that were used to bring ideas into a type of decision
tree. The aim was to show all the ideas simply and to draw up some designs
following the chart.

Figure 7.1

Page | - 20 -

Different system designs were considered over the duration of the project. Many
different aspects were changed and the look of the purifier was altered considerably
until a final design was decided upon. Cost, size, durability and the overall look of the
system were the main aspects looked at in the design process. In this chapter are
some of the prototypes and a brief explanation of why they were not used. The
prototype below was the first design. At first the group was focusing on utilising solar
power to heat the water. It was decided that heating was not needed as room
temperature water would activate the copper the same as heated water and the cost
was too excessive.

Figure 7.2

Page | - 21 -

The second design attempted to use solar power again in another manner but a
system like this was deemed to be too difficult to be kept outside and once again too
expensive and unnecessary to build a unit with a solar power heating element. Also
it seemed flimsy at certain stress points and it was top heavy and might break easily.
It could have been aesthetically pleasing but not as sustainable as other designs that
could be approached.

Figure 7.3

Page | - 22 -

This design was closer to what the group was hoping for. Something that looked
sturdy and cost effective. The group were still set on being able to use solar power
and kept researching the subject however this was the last design incorporating that
feature as trying to find a cost effective way of incorporating it was not feasible. At
this point the basic structure of the design was decided and the aim was to have a
unit that could sit on a table or bench and be a lightweight portable device when
empty.

Figure 7.4

Page | - 23 -

This is the basic schematic of the final plan. The idea was to cut the top off a water
container. Place a copper coil inside the water bottle. Attach a water filter to the base
of the bottle and stand this on a base made of wood. The Filter is going to consist of
6 layers. Big rocks, small rocks, sand with cotton, activated carbon then another
layer of small rocks and big rocks.

Figure 7.5
Page | - 24 -

Graphical representation of what the Prototype looks like (without the lid).

Figure 7.7
Figure 7.6

Figure 7.8

Page | - 25 -

7.1

INTRODUCTION

After many different attempts a design was settled on. The design brings in many
different aspects of filtration. In the following parts of this chapter the reader will be
introduced to the assumptions, proposal and overall design of the system and the
advantages that it has. The entirety of the project has been directed to this stage.

7.2

ASSUMPTIONS

In the team there are numerous assumptions being made about this design. Every
specification of the filter is based on the research that was done into this topic
without any real testing of the individual aspects of the filter itself. It is hoped that
each part of the filter does what the research claims it does and when put together
as a whole every aspect will still function correctly and the end result will be clean,
safe and filtered water for the residents in Devikulam.
With this said it is still the aim of the project team to be able to test our prototype
against various water samples to prove that not only are all the methods of filtration
we have used an effective way to filter water but also to show that the prototype is a
viable option for the people in Devikulam.

7.3

PROPOSAL

The proposed system design is a somewhat small unit that can either be placed on
the floor or on a table or bench. The container at the top of the system would hold
approximately 20 litres of water. (See Fig. 7.8)
This would house a copper coil which would be suspended in the middle of the
container by four pieces of fishing line attached to the edges of the container. It was
decided to tie it in this way rather than permanently mount it somehow to make it
easier to remove for cleaning purposes. The copper coil aspect of the filter is
designed to stop the growth of Salmonella and E.coli in the drinking water.

Page | - 26 -

The container would then sit on top of a small holding structure made up of wood.
Exact measurements of the wood and the structure will be mentioned in the
instruction manual on how to build the system in a later chapter. On the underneath
of the wooden frame a tap will be attached to allow the control of the water flow to
the filter. The filter screws into the outlet of the tap. This filter will be made up of
numerous interlocking screen filters. In-between each layer of these screens will
consist of different layers of filtration materials. The layers go from the top of the filter
where water flows in, down to the bottom layer in the following order: Large rocks,
small rocks, sand with cotton, activated carbon with cotton, small rocks and another
layer of large rocks. (See Fig. 7.9)

Figure 7.10

Figure 7.9

Page | - 27 -

Large Rocks - In the first screen there are large rocks. This is designed to help slow
the water flow and keep it even across the entire screen surface before reaching the
next phase.
Small Rocks - Similar purpose to the larger rocks. These rocks are meant to slow
the flow down a little more and also to catch any larger pieces of dirt or debris in the
water while keeping the flow spread evenly as to not make runnels in the sand at the
next phase.
Sand with cotton - A small layer of sand sitting on top of a bed of cotton to stop the
sand from simply falling through the screen. The sand and cotton are designed to
stop any smaller pieces of dirt or debris in the water, reduce the turbidity and remove
some salinity from the water.
Activated Carbon with cotton - A layer of activated carbon sitting on top of a bed of
cotton to trap any contaminants that remain in the water. Even though activated
carbon has a limited life span, this can be greatly increased by removing it from the
system and washing it every four to six weeks.
Small Rocks To complete the symmetry of the filter and also keep the water flow
at an even rate another layer of small rocks were added.
Large Rocks The final stage of the filter before the water is run out into a storage
container. Completes symmetry of filter and allows water flow to increase slightly but
remain even.
This system is not designed to purify excessive amounts of water on a large scale
but is a cheap and effective solution to purify all the drinking water needed by a
family in Devikulam.

Page | - 28 -

7.4

ADVANTAGES OF THE PROPOSED SYSTEM DESIGN

There are many advantages to the proposed design. It is a lightweight effective

solution for the people of Devikulam. It will be designed so that water can be poured
straight into it from the water supply of their house. It will look much like the spring
water systems used in businesses and homes around Adelaide.
The system will be sustainable, durable and reliable. The design makes it easy to
clean. It should only take ten to fifteen minutes per fortnight to clean thoroughly and
put back together. The system is a relatively cheap design with a cost of less than
$100 Australian per unit. The components which require purchasing would amount to
no more than $50 Australian every two to three years depending on how much water
is purified. Some components can also be sourced locally for free or minimum cost.
On average we expect the maximum use of the system to be around 20 litres per
day for general use including cooking, drinking and cleaning.
It cannot be said at this stage of the report that the unit is 100% effective. The only
thing the claims can be based on is the research of each individual aspect of the
filter system.
What can be said for certain is this is a cost effective, sustainable and useful piece of
equipment for any resident in Devikulam in relation to a clean and safe drinking
supply for their future.

7.5

CONCLUSION

A lot of work and has gone into the research and design of this system. Any testing
done in the future will hopefully show positive results and allow the system or any
aspect of it to be implemented in the daily lives of the residents of Devikulam.

Page | - 29 -

8.0

CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE

The E4 Water Purification Unit is simple in design, construction and maintenance.

Building the unit required some skill in the use of common tools such as a saw,
hammer and drill. The ability to measure and have a steady hand also played a part.
Maintaining the unit is a simple case of keeping it clean and checking for damage
and leaks. Clearing out the carbon every 6 weeks keeps the system fully functional
.

8.1

MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION

The materials used for the base were sourced from a local hardware store. These
included decking timber for the top of the bench and treated pine for the legs. An
assortment of screws and nails were also used.
The materials used for the main system were sourced from a local supply business
which also contributed sponsorship in the form of discounted materials. These
included PVC taps and piping, a container, joints, reducers and screen filters.
The construction was a process of securing the frame together with screws and nails
then drilling a hole in the top for our filter to sit in. The filter was constructed using a
20L water container on top with a socket attached on the end which sits between the
table and the tap. The socket has a screw fitting on the base which screws into a tap.
The tap feeds into an expanding attachment to reach the diameter of the screen
filters. After the filter system a reducer decreases the diameter of the pipe and a 45
PVC elbow was attached to direct flow away from the frame.

8.2

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

Operation and maintenance are the two most important aspects of this system.
Without proper operation or maintenance the filter may not perform to its maximum
potential and not remove all the impurities from the water. Seeing this is the most
important function for the system it is imperative that both these aspects are well
followed and well understood.

Page | - 30 -

8.2.1

OPERATION

The system functions by having gravity fed water flow from the container which
houses the copper coil. It is triggered by the tap below the frame top. Water flows
down the PVC piping and into the filter, it is passed through the screens, first being
slowed by a series of smooth rocks passing into washed sand to remove large
sediment. The following screen filters the microscopic particles by passing through
activated carbon granules. This screen also removes the dangerous coliforms from
the water. After passing through the carbon the water reaches rocks which are
symmetrical to our filter design to steady the flow of water. Finally the water leaves
the spout and can be used in any manner.
Once the system has been assembled, all that is required is water to be poured into
the container. Water is to be treated by the copper for approximately 12 hours
(overnight) once treated the resident can turn the tap for access to clean drinking
water.

8.2.2

MAINTANENCE

Maintaining the system is simple. The design has been specifically tailored so the
system can be easily cleaned. The container is detachable from the filter and the
filter screens are separable. This means if part of the filter is dirty, it can be removed,
cleaned, refilled and replaced in minutes. The third and fourth screens from the top
which contain sand and activated carbon will be the most regularly cleaned and
replaced, every six weeks is a requirement.

Page | - 31 -

9.0

LIFE CYCLE ASSESMENT (LCA)

This system was built to withstand the tests of time, The PVC pipe filter is rated to
last 100 years or more, if the PVC is coated with water based acrylic paint then it can
be left in the sun without any negative effect to its integrity. (PPFA, 2011)
Activated carbon remains effective for around six weeks. This is based on the
assumption that the filter will have approximately 15 litres of water per day run
through it. After this amount of time the carbon can either be washed and reactivated or simply thrown out and replaced. The running cost assessment in this
report has been based around the carbon being replaced every six weeks.
The sand in the filter is purely up to the users choice; it can either be washed and
re-used every two to four weeks or thrown out and replaced. As sand is so readily
available in India this is left up to the user of the filter.

9.1

WATER USAGE BREAKDOWN

The filter is capable of filtering 15 litres of water every 12 hours. This is how long it
takes for the copper to deactivate the bacteria in the water. All the life cycle
assessments and running cost assessments were worked out using 15 litres per day
as a reference. This filter is capable of filtering 30 litres a day if the water was re
filled every 12 hours.
15 litres was deemed adequate as the average family size in Devikulam is four
people and the World Health Organisation recommends a human should drink 2
litres of safe drinking water a day.
If the residents of Devikulam wanted clear drinking water for cooking then the water
does not need to sit in the top of the filter for 12 hours as boiling the water would kill
the bacteria. Water could be poured directly into the container when needed and
allowed to run through the filtration system

Page | - 32 -

9.2

IMPROVEMENT ANALYSIS

To keep the prototype cost effective decking timber and was used to construct the
frame. To improve the durability of the unit a steel frame would be recommended.
Due to cost constraints there is little saline reduction in the water by the unit. Other
areas of filtration to be added to the unit would also improve the water filtered by the
system.

9.2.1

FUTURE RECOMMENDATIONS

Some recommendations for future revisions of the system include the frame being
constructed of stainless or treated steel with adjustable legs to allow the ability to use
indoors on a bench or outdoors on the ground. An optional wall attachment for
securing the system to a wall outside to increase stability could also be implemented.
A gutter attachment for water catchment during the monsoonal seasons would also
be effective.
An alternate storage tank with a larger or smaller capacity for increased or
decreased numbers living in a house to cope with the extra water usage may also be
implemented. A meshed copper wire insert to replace the copper coil would increase
the surface area of the copper in the water to help leech into the water more
effectively. Large diameter piping through the filter for increased water flow while
continuing to keep the filtration even for heavy duty, large scale use may be utilised.

Page | - 33 -

10.0

SOCIAL IMPACT

The water puification systems have a minimal impact on the vilage as each system is
owned and operated by individual households. As someone will still have to retrieve
the water the family role will also remain unaffected. The on going use of the water
purification system will improve the health of the residents of Devikulam. This has
the potential to change the social impact on the people by lengthening their lives.

10.1

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

The job opportunities when it comes to the system are limited. One or two people
maintaining or potentially building the systems could be one opportunity. If the unit
itself became a part of all households in Devikulam then an individual or group of
people could look into starting a business based around building and servicing the
units. The system design is not complex and is easy to build, clean and maintain by
the individuals living in the houses so this may be unnecessary. The design criteria
included the product being easy to use and maintain so employment opportunities
should be limited if the product was designed correctly.

10.2

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

It would be a useful endeavour to get the community involved in the assembly of the
water systems as it would attribute a sense of ownership of the product rather than a
handout. If the product is seen as a free hand out it may not be seen or taken into as
much respect as if it was built by themselves thus it is critical to the plan to have the
communities involved with the production of the water purifier not only so they
understand the basics behind the system and how to repair it if something broke on
it, but also for their own satisfaction.

Page | - 34 -

10.3

ETHICS

This project and all its endeavours is an ethical solution to one of Devikulams
problems. The use of the plastic water container to hold the water may raise ethical
concerns regarding the breaking down of the water container however an alternative
is not available and the lifetime of the container will be well within standards if kept
inside and cleaned regularly. The water system requires very little of the owners time
other than the storing and pouring of water in to the system and cleaning of the
filtration and copper. The rest of the system is recyclable and easily replaced.

11.0

EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS

Any education and training programs would be run in conjunction with the Devikulam
development committee. This committee is responsible for fixing the entire water
infrastructure in Devikulam and are planning on building solar street lighting for the
community. This means they have the skills to implement any system into the
community and to be able to educate the residents on the advantages and
implementation of such a system.

12.0

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

As this system has no use of chemicals or electricity there is little to no

environmental impact. All the layers in the filter are environmentally friendly and once
the layers have reached the end of usability they can be disposed of without any
detrimental effect to the environment.

13.0

ECONOMICAL IMPACT

The economic impact was kept as low as possible. In Australian dollars it is cost
effective to be able to produce a water purification system for $64, however when
you take into account that it is approximately 15% of their annual income it seems
like a high figure. The benefits outweigh the costs involved as this system can bring
Page | - 35 -

down the mortality rate in India caused by E.coli and coliforms in the water and there
is no monetary figure that can be placed on life.

13.1

CONSTRUCTION COSTS

While the construction costs are small in comparison to the benefits of the system,
the difference in the Australian dollar and the Indian rupee must be taken into
consideration. (See Table 13.1) Labour costs are not factored into the final cost
estimate of the system as it can be built at home using basic tools in a short amount
of time. The system was built to be as cost effective as possible as the average
annual income of a resident in Devikulam is approximately $424 AUD. Even this
design is relatively expensive as it is 15% of their annual income. The benefits of
such a system outweigh the disadvantages.

Materials

Cost (AUD)

Cost (INR)

Frame

$10

R 471

2 metres of Copper Coil

$23

R 1083

PVC components

$20

R 942

Miscellaneous Items (Screws etc.)

$3

R 141

Activated Carbon (500g)

$8

R 376

Total

$64

R 3015

Table 13.1

Page | - 36 -

13.2

RUNNING COSTS

As sand is readily available in almost every country around the world and most
certainly in India then the only running cost of this design is activated carbon. This
can be made at home but involves an intricate process and use of other chemicals
that are not so readily available in Devikulam. It is easier to buy the carbon than
make it. As only small amounts of activated carbon are required in the filter and that
amount of carbon can last up to 6 weeks and ever longer if rinsed properly, this
makes the running cost low. Activated carbon can be purchased in India in lots of
2kg for roughly $16 Australian dollars. This would be enough carbon to use in the
filter for around 2 years. So the only running cost for the filter would be roughly $8
per year or 376 rupees.

13.3

COST ANALYSIS EVALUTION

The overall running costs for this system are very cost effective for the residents of
Devikulam as it is only roughly 376 rupees or 8 Australian dollars a year. The overall
cost of the system is just over 3000 Rupees or 64 Australian dollars. This is
extremely cost effective in comparison to the amount of lives it could possibly save
from the threat of E.coli, coliforms and other bacteria in the water.

14.0

CONCLUSION

It has been a real eye opener for team E4 to be able to compete in the 2011 EWB
challenge. Many things have been learnt over the course of the semester. It has
been a great experience and extremely gratifying to be given the opportunity to
submit this report and know that it could one day have a real world application and
help improves the quality of life for the people in Devikulam

Page | - 37 -

15.0

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

E4 project team would like to thank the following individuals:

Peter Frith of Frithys Rural and Paul from Banner Hardware for discounted parts and
advice throughout the length of the project.
Vicki and Andy Kirss for allowing the use of tools and facilities for construction.
Kate Deller-Evans and Anh Tran from Flinders University for their time, patience and
advice.
Greg Hanson of Aqua Sun International for technical assistance.
EWB and their major sponsors BHP Billiton for giving E4 the opportunity to
participate in this challenge

Page | - 38 -

16.0

Table of Figures

Figures

Page Number

Fig 1.1 - Location of Devikulam

Fig 1.2 - Devikulam poverty statistics

Fig 2.1 - E4 decision matrix

Fig 3.1 - Devikulam water infrastructure map

Fig 4.1 - Activated carbon pore

Fig 4.2 - Sand Filter

Fig 4.3 - Ultraviolet light purification system

10

Fig 4.4 - SODIS implementation instructions

11

Fig 4.5 - Copper purification test results

15

Fig 7.1 E4 decision tree

19

Fig 7.2 1st project design

20

Fig 7.3 2nd project design

21

Fig 7.4 3rd project design

22

Fig 7.5 Schematics of final design

23

Fig 7.6 Side view of final design

24

Fig 7.7 Top view of final design

24

Fig 7.8 Bottom view of final design

24

Fig 7.9 Layout of filter system

26

Fig 7.10 The completed Filter

26

Fig A.1 Bore test 1 from Devikulam

39

Fig A.2 Bore Test 2 from Devikulam

40

Tables
Table 13.1 Cost description of project

35

Page | - 39 -

APPENIDIX 1
Bore Test 1

Fig A.1

Page | - 40 -

APPENIDIX 1A
Bore test 2

Fig A.2

Page | - 41 -

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