Water Quality and Storage

According to the Centers for Disease Control, because contaminated water is a major cause of illness and death, water quality is a determining factor in human poverty, education, and economic opportunities. Unfortunately, worldwide water quality is declining, threatening the health of ecosystems and humans worldwide. Safe water storage is also integral to ensuring water quality. Resources available in this sub-theme include guidance on maintenance for water tank storage, country water quality assessments, among other resources that support WASH storage and water quality.

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Water Quality and Storage Resources

Family-Size Solar Stills

Published: 
January 1, 1967
U.S. Agency for International Development
Document presents a summary of small size solar stills. Given the limited availability of potable water, small units can be built and operated by non-technical personnel. Material costs are within the reach of many in the developing world.Read more

Water Treatment Processes for Rural Communities in Developing Countries

Published: 
December 1, 1962
U.S. Agency for International Development
An engineering study has been made of water treatment problems as apart of a broad GEL technical appraisal program, carried on for the Agency for international Development, U.S. Department of State. The main objective is to review and evaluate water treatment methods and available process equipment...Read more

Guides to the Design of Water Treatment Plants

Published: 
August 19, 1960
U.S. Agency for International Development
Guides to the design of water treatment plants. The design of water works involves the consideration of many engineering details in the light of specific local conditions. Details of design, therefore, cannot be standardized in any fixed pattern which would eliminate the necessity for the engineer...Read more

Water for the World: Maintaining Water Storage Tanks

U.S. Agency for International Development
The maintenance of water storage tanks is necessary to ensure the quality of the water stored. This technical note describes the maintenance of cisterns, ground level storage tanks, and elevated tanks.Read more
Regional focus: 
United StatesNorth America

Water for the World: Designing Stabilization Ponds

U.S. Agency for International Development
A stabilization pond is a large shallow excavation that receives sewage from a sewage system, detains the sewage so that biological processes can destroy most of the disease-causing organisms, and discharges the effluent as treated sewage. This technical note describes the basic design of a...Read more
Regional focus: 
United StatesNorth America

Water for the World: Designing a System of Two or Three Stabilization Ponds

U.S. Agency for International Development
A system of stabilization ponds is an arrangement of two or more ponds connected by pipes that receives sewage, detains it so that biological process can destroy most of the disease-causing organisms and discharges the effluent as treated sewage. This technical note describes the basic features of...Read more
Regional focus: 
United StatesNorth America

Water for the World: Operating and Maintaining Mechanically Aerated Lagoons

U.S. Agency for International Development
A mechanically operated lagoon is a large, lined excavation that receives sewage, mixes it with oxygen so that biological processes can destroy most of the disease-causing organisms, and discharges the sewage as treated sewage. Correct operation and maintenance is important because a neglected...Read more
Regional focus: 
United StatesNorth America

Water for the World: Operating and Maintaining Stabilization Ponds

U.S. Agency for International Development
A stabilization pond is a large shallow excavation that receives sewage from a sewage system, detains the sewage so that biological processes can destroy most of the disease-causing organisms, and discharges the effluent as treated sewage. Correct operation and maintenance is important because a...Read more
Regional focus: 
United StatesNorth America

Understanding Water Supply and Treatment for Individual and Small Community Systems

U.S. Agency for International Development
This paper provides guidelines on how to choose a water source, and how to purify and retrieve water to ensure that it is safe for human consumption. Applications are general in nature, relying on the creativity of the system designer to draw from whatever resources are available to develop a water...Read more

Disinfecting Wells With Chlorine

U.S. Agency for International Development
This technical note describes how to disinfect a well using chlorine. Disinfecting a well involves calculating the required amount of chlorine compound, mixing and applying the solution.Read more

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