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Universal Access to Safe Drinking Water: Escaping the Traps of Non-Frugal Technologies

Author

Listed:
  • Zhe Huang

    (School of Law, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China)

  • Esther Laurentine Nya

    (Faculty of Art, Letter and Social Sciences, University of Maroua, Maroua P.O. Box 644, Cameroon)

  • Viet Cao

    (Faculty of Natural Sciences, Hung Vuong University, Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, Viet Tri 35120, Phu Tho, Vietnam)

  • Willis Gwenzi

    (Biosystems and Environmental Engineering Research Group, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, University of Zimbabwe, Mt. Pleasant, Harare P.O. Box MP167, Zimbabwe)

  • Mohammad Azizur Rahman

    (Technovative Solutions, Manchester Science Park, Manchester M15 6JJ, UK)

  • Chicgoua Noubactep

    (Centre for Modern Indian Studies (CeMIS), Universität Göttingen, Waldweg 26, D-37073 Göttingen, Germany
    Applied Geology, University of Göttingen, Goldschmidtstraße 3, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
    Faculty of Health Sciences, Campus of Banekane, Université des Montagnes, Bangangté P.O. Box 208, Cameroon
    School of Material Energy Water and Environmental Science (MEWES), Department of Water Environmental Science and Engineering (WESE), The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Arusha P.O. Box 447, Tanzania)

Abstract

This communication is motivated by recent publications discussing the affordability of appropriate decentralized solutions for safe drinking water provision in low-income communities. There is a huge contrast between the costs of presented technologies, which vary by a factor of up to 12. For example, for the production of 2000 L/d of treated drinking water, the costs vary between about 1500 and 12,000 Euro. A closer look at the technologies reveals that expensive technologies use imported manufactured components or devices that cannot yet be locally produced. In the battle to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal for safe drinking water (SDG 6.1), such technologies should be, at best, considered as bridging solutions. For a sustainable self-reliance in safe drinking water supply, do-it-yourself (DIY) systems should be popularized. These DIY technologies include biochar and metallic iron (Fe 0 ) based systems. These relevant technologies should then be further improved through internal processes.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhe Huang & Esther Laurentine Nya & Viet Cao & Willis Gwenzi & Mohammad Azizur Rahman & Chicgoua Noubactep, 2021. "Universal Access to Safe Drinking Water: Escaping the Traps of Non-Frugal Technologies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-15, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:17:p:9645-:d:623538
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zhe Huang & Esther Laurentine Nya & Mohammad Azizur Rahman & Tulinave Burton Mwamila & Viet Cao & Willis Gwenzi & Chicgoua Noubactep, 2021. "Integrated Water Resource Management: Rethinking the Contribution of Rainwater Harvesting," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-9, July.
    2. Camilla Adelle, 2019. "The Role of Knowledge in Food Democracy," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 7(4), pages 214-223.
    3. Mark A. Shannon & Paul W. Bohn & Menachem Elimelech & John G. Georgiadis & Benito J. Mariñas & Anne M. Mayes, 2008. "Science and technology for water purification in the coming decades," Nature, Nature, vol. 452(7185), pages 301-310, March.
    4. Martin Hartigan, 2009. "Help from Above: Considering Rainwater Harvesting as An Alternative to Filtration (Innovations Case Discussion: SONO Filters)," Innovations: Technology, Governance, Globalization, MIT Press, vol. 4(3), pages 103-106, July.
    5. Jonathan Lilje & Hans-Joachim Mosler, 2016. "Continuation of Health Behaviors: Psychosocial Factors Sustaining Drinking Water Chlorination in a Longitudinal Study from Chad," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(11), pages 1-20, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Joern Falk & Björn Globisch & Martin Angelmahr & Wolfgang Schade & Heike Schenk-Mathes, 2022. "Drinking Water Supply in Rural Africa Based on a Mini-Grid Energy System—A Socio-Economic Case Study for Rural Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-19, August.
    2. Tariq Judeh & Isam Shahrour & Fadi Comair, 2022. "Smart Rainwater Harvesting for Sustainable Potable Water Supply in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-22, July.

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