Exposure to waterborne pathogens through the consumption of biologically unsafe drinking water remains one of the most significant causes of morbidity and mortality in the rural developing world. While the construction and operation of centralized water treatment systems has drastically improved urban drinking water quality over the last century, such interventions are impractical in the rural developing world due to high capital costs and infrastructure demands. In order to improve drinking water quality in the rural developing world, a paradigm shift toward unconventional, innovative water disinfection strategies is needed, featuring point-of-use (POU) disinfection technologies that are low cost, simple to implement and maintain, and have minimal infrastructure requirements. Among POU techniques, solar-driven processes are of particular interest, as areas without access to safe drinking water typically receive higher-than-average surface sunlight irradiation.<br/>This presentation will highlight our recent advances in materials and processes that harness sunlight for water disinfection via four primary methods – the generation of heat, germicidal UV radiation, strong oxidants, and mild oxidants. Particular focus will be given to the mechanistic function of our materials and their modes of action for the inactivation of common waterborne pathogens. Although the implementation of new treatment techniques will face practical, social, and economic challenges that cannot be overlooked, novel technologies such as these can play a pivotal role in reducing the waterborne disease burden in the rural developing world.

Water disinfection in rural areas demands unconventional solar technologies

2019 Fall National Meeting

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