7.4. Choosing Appropriate Processes for Water Treatment

The problem is that many of the treatment processes are inappropriate for their use and/or their location. The spare parts, maintenance, and power consumption required by many treatment processes makes them unrealistic options for many parts of the world. The purpose of the treatment process must be established. There may be a need to prioritize the problems (URL 3). For analysis purposes, the issues to be addressed into the “SHTEFIE” criteria can be grouped as a tool to help with analysis of development programmes: S- Social H- Health T- Technological E- Economic F- Financial I- Institutional E- Environmental S- Social Factors

• Housing facilities; type, distribution
• Public desires and preferences; aesthetic considerations,
• Welfare and equity considerations
• Willingness to pay; ability to pay
• Population distribution (age, location; growth rates)
• Migration, urbanization
• Cultural and religious aspects, including attitude towards water recycling and sanitation practices All off above may affect consumption
• Education levels; structure of workforce; training
• Influence ability to operate and maintain

H- Health factors

• Health statistics, morbidity and mortality rates
• Significant faecal-oral (and other) diseases
• Health services available

T- Technological factors

• Water demand and use
• Availability of spare parts and materials
• Availability of local knowledge and expertise
• Present water supply and sanitation facilities; proposed future investments
• Design life of treatment facilities
• Raw water characteristics; source, quality, availability, and reliability
• Water-quality standards
• Power reqirements

E- Economic factors

• Structure of economy, output by group, industrial and agricultural component
• Major employment sectors
• Foreign-exchange earnings (exports)

All affect priorities for water supply

• Size of economy, future prospects, balance of payments, trade relations, isolation of economy and vulnerability, distribution of incomes

All affect ability to pay

F- Financial factors

• Finance available; method of funding
• Ability and willingness to pay

I- Institutional factors

• Existing roles and responsibilities for organization and management
• Relationships between organizations
• Legislation, policing and regulations

E- Environmental factors

• Climate, rainfall, hydrology
• Soil conditions, geology, groundwater characteristics
• Water-resource availability
• Impact of any plant; noise, smell, insects, visual impact, health considerations
• Sustainability