Small Scale Water Purification Projects—Determinants of Success

In less industrialized places small scale, point of use water treatment strategies may be the most effective. Five of these, the most widely used beyond boiling and rapid sand filtration, are ceramic filters, chlorination, portable resin filters, solar water disinfection, and ultra-violet radiation. To be effective, however, the technologies must be implemented with attention to non-technical issues. These issues can be categorized as social, promotional, logistic, and financial. The paper will first discuss briefly the need for clean water and why small-scale approaches can be effective. Then it will review the five technologies mentioned above. Next it will point out the non-technological aspects of creating a clean water delivery system. Finally, it will review programs, beyond the technology, established by the organizations promoting the technologies described.