Design and Evaluation of Large Volume Transparent Plastic Containers for Water Remediation by Solar Disinfection

Abstract

Solar water disinfection (SODIS) is a household drinking water treatmentwith a number of well-known benefits such as simplicity, efficiency and low cost. It consists of solar exposure of water stored in transparent containers (1–2 L) to direct sunlight for at least 6 hours, producing water that is safe for drinking. During recent years, much effort has been directed by the scientific community to increase the batch volume of treated water delivered by SODIS with the main objective of reducing the risk of waterborne disease in communities in resource-poor settings. In this context, this chapter reviews the latest research on the evaluation of common and novel materials employed for the design of larger-volume transparent containers (420 L) to be used for SODIS. The container design and performance of the materials developed are described from different perspectives, including microbial inactivation (bacteria, viruses and protozoan parasites), mathematical modelling of the microbicidal capacity of the container material based on optical characteristics, their lifespan and stability under natural sunlight as well as field experiences for implementation.