Northern Arizona University

2017-2018 Environmental Competiton

Project Purpose

Due to limited resources and technology, develping nations are faced with inefficient water treatment methods. Within the United Nations World Health Organization's (WHO) 2002 report, an estimated 1.7 million deaths per year can be attributed to the unsafe water supply and unsanitary treatment methods within undeveloped countries. Over 90% of these deaths are relected in diarrheal diseases in children. The intent of this project is to design a low-technology, low-budget, and unconventional water treatment device that could be used within the households of developing countries by accounting for all technical considerations presented within the civil and environmental engineering design process. The system will treat contamninted water designed to simulate that of developing areas and it produce effluent that is in accordance with the water quality standards of the World Health Organization. This project will require water quality and filter research, filter testing, system design, system construction, and testing of the device.