Rural drinking water treatment system combining solar-powered electrocoagulation and a gravity-driven ceramic membrane bioreactor

Rural water treatment is generally more challenging than urban water treatment. This study proposed a novel rural water treatment system effectively harnessing solar energy and gravitational hydropower. Influent was initially fed to a solar-driven electrocoagulation unit, in which UV254 level was reduced (by almost 60%) and large flocs (averaging up to 66.2 mu m in diameter) were formed. The effluent was then introduced to a gravity-driven ceramic membrane bioreactor (GDCMBR) at different water head differences (Delta H = 0.5 or 1.0 m). Generally, applying the greater water head difference (Delta H = 1.0 m) did not enhance removal of turbidity and organic matter, but it led to a reasonably high flux (25.9 L/m(2)/h). The GDCMBR enriched various useful microorganisms such as nitrifiers (Nitrospira bacteria), and denitrifiers (Diaphorobacter bacteria), enabling almost complete elimination of NH3-N and NO2--N. Overall, the findings of this study suggest the possibility of sustainable operation during rural water treatment.

Automated summary

This study proposed a novel rural water treatment system that effectively harnessed solar energy and gravitational hydropower. The system was able to effectively remove organic matter and turbidity, as well as achieve almost complete elimination of NH3-N and NO2--N. The findings suggest the possibility of sustainable operation during rural water treatment.