A new perspective on small-scale treatment systems for arsenic affected groundwater

This work provides a new perspective on small-scale treatment systems to remove arsenic from groundwater for potable applications in low-income communities. Data corroborated from the literature highlight a significant challenge to providing potable water in a financially sustainable manner in arsenic affected areas. Analysis of the literature also reveals notable deficiency in the current practice, especially the over-focus on household-scale treatment systems for arsenic affected groundwater without adequate maintenance, monitoring, and a systematic cost-benefit analysis. Accurate and reliable analysis of arsenic in water samples at relevant health guideline values is costly and technologically demanding for low-income communities. Significant discrepancy in the performance of household-scale treatment systems can be attributed to the lack of maintenance and systematic monitoring. Moreover, data on the maintenance and compliance monitoring cost of small-scale arsenic treatment systems are very limited in the literature, and the available data show an exponential increase in maintenance cost per treatment capacity unit as the treatment size decreases. On the other hand, significant opportunities exist to increase performance reliability and reduce water treatment cost by taking advantage of the current digital transformation of the water sector. The analysis in this work suggests the need to reframe current practice towards commune-scale treatment systems as an interim step before centralised water supply is available. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study highlights the challenges in providing financially sustainable potable water in arsenic-affected areas, with a notable deficiency in the current practice over-focusing on household-scale treatment systems without adequate maintenance, monitoring, and cost-benefit analysis. The lack of accurate and reliable arsenic analysis, along with limited data on maintenance and compliance monitoring costs, contribute to significant discrepancies in the performance of small-scale treatment systems. Opportunities exist to improve performance reliability and reduce water treatment costs through digital transformation in the water sector.