Treatment of Arsenic Contaminated Drinking Water |
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Lead Organisation: |
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Alcan Inc. |
Where: |
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India, Bangladesh |
Time period: |
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ongoing |
Web link: |
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http://www.chemicals.alcan.com/news/ns_act_solution.htm |
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Partners: |
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Aims/Objectives: |
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| A number of safe water programmes in India and Bangladesh had an unintended side effect in that several million tube wells drilled have been found to be contaminated by arsenic. Arsenic levels in the affected tube wells are typically in excess of 200 µg/L and in many areas, concentrations can exceed 1,000 µg/l. | | The MAGC/Alcan system uses ActiGuard AAFS50 in containers of various sizes and configurations; the arsenic is adsorbed when the water passes through the media. The system can be used in units designed for a single family, a group of families, a small community system or a municipality. | | The goal is to provide communities, villages, families with a very efficient, cost effective and readily accessible solution to arsenic contamination problems through provision of water treatment systems. | | Access to clean and safe water supply greatly improves people's lives and reduces the risk of developing health problems, such as those associated with arsenic poisoning. The supply of water treatment systems can potentially help the up to 75 million people in Bangladesh alone who are at risk of developing arsenic-related diseases. The system requires no electricity to operate. | |
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Measurable results and specific
targets: |
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| The first MAGC/ALCAN arsenic removal systems were installed in Bangladesh under the auspices of BRAC on April 20, 2000. Today more than 2,000 units are in operation, providing safe drinking water to communities and enjoying tremendous user acceptance. | | Updated progress is available at: http://magctech.com/field.html. | | Since introduction of the systems in April 2000, their success at removing arsenic from drinking water has been validated by several independent studies. | | Regular testing carried out initially in The Intronics Technology Center and BUET had shown a 100% success rate of arsenic removal to well below the permissible Bangladesh limit of 0.05 mg/l. | | The treated water also meets the drinking water quality parameters of the WHO guide lines as well as Bangladesh EQ Standard for Drinking Water. Testing under the rapid assessment validation exercise also confirmed the same results. | | In a BAMWSP/DFID/WaterAid validation, the MAGC Technologies system containing Alcan's media came out as the most effective system for removing arsenic and was also the preferred system as judged by the users with respect to ease of operation, water flow rate, and taste of water. | |
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Implementation mechanisms
and further application: |
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| Some of the organizations that have funded/implemented the system include: BRAC in Sonargaon and Jhikorgacha under a UNICEF project; GRAMEEN Bank in Kochua under a UNICEF project; ROTARY in the field in Sonargaon, Srinagar and Bandarthana; CARE and IDE in Rajshahi/Chapai Noabganj under Watsan Partnership Project; DASCOH under Swiss Red Cross in Faridpur and Rajbari; World Vision, Bangladesh in Netrokona and Sherpur; The Public Health Engineering Department (PHED); The Kishan Co-operative Milk Producers Union Limited, Nadia District; School of Fundamental Research, Kolkata | |
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CONTACT: |
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Name: |
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Bruno Morin |
Email: |
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bruno.morin@alcan.com |
Organisation: |
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Alcan Inc. |
Address: |
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4000 Development Drive, P.O. C |
City: |
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Brockville |
State/Region: |
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Ontario |
Postal Code: |
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K6V 5V5 |
Country: |
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Canada |
Telephone: |
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+1 613 342-7462 |
Fax: |
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+1 613 342-6943 |
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