Design and Implementation of the KanchanTM Arsenic Filter in the Nepal Terai The World Bank Brown Bag Lunch October 19, 2004 Susan Murcott Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering Massachusetts Institute of Technology

20th century Western engineering design was comparatively simple Technical Criteria Economic/Financial Criteria (Cost-Benefit Analysis) Technical Financial

Environmental Awareness Added another Dimension Technical Economic/Financial Criteria (Cost-Benefit Analysis) Environmental Technical Financial Environmental

Balance: economic, social, environmental aspects “Sustainable development” has 2 widely accepted meanings: Balance: economic, social, environmental aspects Similarly, sustainability is quite often defined in terms of diagrams or metaphors. These images attmept to convey the “social”, “economic”, and “environmental” aspects of sustainability and suggest that we should consider all three aspects when working on a project or activity. They should not be interepreted too deeply as they really only suggest the issues that we should consider when making decisions or carrying out activities. They do not tell us how to achieve sustainability and sometimes can be misleading as they suggest that each of the 3 systems can be equated, which is far from reality. Equity…”meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Our Common Future, 1987

“Engineering design for sustainable development” framework Financial /Economic * Low cost * Supports local economies * Self-sustaining Technical Water quality evaluations WHO Guidelines National Standards Flow rate Use local materials Social Socially acceptable Simple/user friendly Convenient Durable Similarly, sustainability is quite often defined in terms of diagrams or metaphors. These images attmept to convey the “social”, “economic”, and “environmental” aspects of sustainability and suggest that we should consider all three aspects when working on a project or activity. They should not be interepreted too deeply as they really only suggest the issues that we should consider when making decisions or carrying out activities. They do not tell us how to achieve sustainability and sometimes can be misleading as they suggest that each of the 3 systems can be equated, which is far from reality.

The Design Process (text book version) Information Gathering Problem Definition Idea Generation Concept Evaluation Lab Research, Experimentation & Analysis Detail Design Fabrication Testing & Evaluation (Lab and Field)

Co-Designing/Co-evolving for Development (an iterative process) 1. Problem Awareness Co(m)-passion, and Partnership 10. Reiteration 9 Scale-up 8. Implementation 2. Problem Co-Definition Co-designing/ co-evolving equitable and sustainable development 3. Idea Co-Generation 7. Pilot studies 6. Refined Design (Field and lab testing, multiple sites, multiple countries) 4. Concept Co-Evaluation 5. Field Experience, Fabrication, Experiment, Lab Work, Analysis

1. Problem Awareness, Co(m)-passion, Partnership

Problem Awarensss Where is Nepal?

Where is Arsenic in Nepal? (NASC and ENPHO, 2004)

Field Project Sites Kathmandu Kapilvastu District Rupandehi District Nawalparasi District Parsa & Bara Districts Rautahat District

Passion Co(m)-passion

Partnership Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Support Programme (RWSSSP) Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO)

2. Problem Co-Definition

Problem Co-Definition Our proposal is to design a household drinking water treatment unit to remove arsenic and pathogens; Technical Performance: Remove arsenic, bacteria and parasites to National Standards or WHO Guidelines; Water Quantity: The flow rate should be > 10 L/hour; Cost: The cost/unit should be < $30. Yearly replacement parts <$2, designed for use by individuals in rural areas and urban slums who earn <$2/day; Manufacturing: To be produced by local people, using locally available materials, creating local jobs; Socially acceptable: ease of use and maintainence by women

Problem Co-Definition Arsenic Technology Database Gather information for 50+ technologies: Arsenic removal mechanisms (physical, chemical, etc) Technical performance Construction, operation and maintenance Cost Flow rate Strengths, weakness, limitations http://web.mit.edu/murcott/www/arsenic

Idea Co-Generation 8 Arsenic Removal Technologies (1) 3 Kolshi (in Nepali = 3 Gagri with zero valent iron filings); (2) Iron filings in jerry can; (3) Coagulation/Filtration (2-Kolshi based on Chakraborti’s arsenic removal system); (4) Iron oxide coated sand; (5) Activated alumina metal oxide #1 (Apyron Inc.); (6) Activated alumina metal oxide #2 (Aquatic Treatment Systems Inc.); (7) Arsenic treatment plant; (8) Arsenic Biosand Filter

Three-Kolshi (Gagri) System Raw water Iron filings Fine sand Filtered water

Jerry Can 1. Fill 10 L plastic jug with raw water. 2. Add iron filings Wait 3 hours 4. Decant treated water

Coagulation/Filtration (2-Kolshi) Chemical packet Treated Water Raw Water Mixing & Settling Filtration

Iron Oxide Coated Sand (IOCS) Raw Water Sand and gravel Iron Oxide Coated Sand (IOCS) Treated Water

Activated Alumina Metal Oxide #1 (Apyron Aqua-Bind Media) Raw Water GAC Sand Activated Alumina Influent Effluent Treated Water

Alumina Manganese Oxide (A/M) Activated Alumina Metal Oxide #2 (Aquatic Treatment Systems, Inc.) Raw Water Alumina Manganese Oxide (A/M) Treated Water

Arsenic Treatment Plants (ATPs) Aeration Chamber Sand Filter Storage Treated Water

KanchanTM Arsenic Filter (KAF)

Field Experience, Fabrication, Experiment, Lab Engagement with: local people and partners, local environment the problem and solutions

Stages 5-8 in Arsenic Mitigation 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005+ Field Experience, Fabrication, Experiment, Lab Work , Analysis Refined Design Pilot Studies (Phase I) Pilot Studies (Phase II) Implementation

Refined Design Phase I Evaluation

Phase I Evaluation Technical Performance: Social: Financial: Preliminary screening of technologies in database/ website. Select 8 technologies to be field tested against following criteria: Technical Performance: Meet National (50 ug/L) or WHO guidelines (ug/L)) for arsenic and microbial removal. Flow rate > 10 L/hour Social: Customer satisfaction, specifically among women who are typically the managers of household water. Financial: Affordable to people earning $1/day

Phase I Evaluation Summary Recommend for Phase II? Cost Social Technical Technology 3-Kolshi Jerry Can Iron Coated Sand Alumina #1 Alumina #2 2-Kolshi Treatment Plants KAF

Pilot Studies Phase II Evaluation

Phase II Pilot Studies of 3 Technologies 3 Kolshi Coagulation/ filtration System (2-Kolshi) KanshanTM Arsenic Filter (KAF)

Phase II Evaluation Summary 3-Kolshi 2-Kolshi AKF Arsenic removal 95-99% 80-90% 90-95% Iron removal Not tested Not tested 93-99% Flow rate 3-5L/hr 1-5L/hr 10-30L/hr Materials availability Easy construction Simple O&M Long-term sustainability User acceptance Low initial cost Low running cost Overall Ranking 2nd 3rd Best = poor = moderate = good

KAF Pilot Study Results (n=16) Technical Indicators Average Results Arsenic Removal 93 % Total Coliform Removal 58 % E. Coli Removal 64 % Iron Removal Flow Rate 14 L/hr

KanshanTM Arsenic Filter (AKF) Stages 5-8 KanshanTM Arsenic Filter (AKF)

KanchanTM Arsenic Filter Developed in Nepal and at MIT based on improvement of slow sand filter Intended for arsenic and bacteria removal Constructed with easily available local materials Manufactured by trained local technicians Adequate flow rate for a large family (15L/hr) No chemical additives No replacement parts except iron nails Easy to operate and clean

KanshanTM Arsenic Filter Cross Section Diffuser Basin Lid Gravel Coarse Sand Water Fine Sand Iron Nails Brick chips Container Pipe

Filter Operation Pour water into top basin. Water will pass through filter and flow up the pipe 2. Collect filtered water at the pipe outlet 3. If flow rate is insufficient, then cleaning is required

Filter Cleaning/ Maintenance Wash your hands with soap Remove diffuser basin Stir the uppermost ½ inch of sand with your fingers

Filter Cleaning/ Maintenance Remove turbid water with a cup. Replace the basin and add more water. Repeat this process three times total Discard the turbid water in a dug hole with some cow dung in it Now the filter can be used again

Further Work – Refined Design Concrete Square (2002) Concrete Round (2003) Plastic Hilltake (2003) Plastic Gem505 (2004)

Technical Performance Currently more than 1000 filters are in operation. 2000 by Jan.05 More than 500 were sold by NRCS, about 100 by Fund Board, about 450 by RWSSSP Filters were sold starting from September 2002 until today We have monitored 800+ filters between February to May 2004 on arsenic and iron removal The average time between filter installation date and filter monitoring date is 93 days

KAF Blanket Monitoring Arsenic Removal (n=644) 0 to 10 11 to 50 51 to 100 101 to 250 250 + Influent Arsenic Concentration (ppb) Effluent Arsenic Concentration (ppb)

KAF Blanket Monitoring Arsenic Removal (n=644) Unacceptable Acceptable Figure indicates number of filters

Filter Performance: Arsenic (n=650)

1.5 Years Arsenic Monitoring on Filter A (Nim Narayan Chaudhary) 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Oct-02 Nov-02 Dec-02 Jan-03 Feb-03 Mar-03 Apr-03 May-03 Jun-03 Jul-03 Aug-03 Sep-03 Oct-03 Nov-03 Dec-03 Jan-04 Feb-04 Mar-04 Apr-04 Time Arsenic Concentration (ppb) Raw Water Treated Water

1.5 Years Arsenic Monitoring on Filter B (Lila Bdr. Pun) 50 100 150 200 250 300 Oct-02 Nov-02 Dec-02 Jan-03 Feb-03 Mar-03 Apr-03 May-03 Jun-03 Jul-03 Aug-03 Sep-03 Oct-03 Nov-03 Dec-03 Jan-04 Feb-04 Mar-04 Apr-04 Time Arsenic Concentration (ppb) Raw Water Treated Water

1.5 Year Arsenic Monitoring on Filter C (Bhanu Primary School)

Insufficient flow Ideal flow Performance compromised

Filter Cost (Gem505) $15.73 Total Per Unit Cost Note: $0.74 $0.34 $0.41 $0.27 $4.79 $0.04 $1.82 $1.03 $5.55 Gem505 ($US) Transportation of container & piping Tools Documentation Transportation of sand & gravel Labour Iron Nails 5 kg Total Per Unit Cost Sand & Gravel Piping System Basin Container and Lid Note: No replacement parts needed except iron nails (nails can last at least 1.5 years) Assume exchange rate of US$1 = 73 Nepali Rupees

Implementation and Scale-up

Implementation – World Bank Project Funding Source: Won a US$115,000 award from the World Bank Development Marketplace Global Competition 2003 Project Objective: To sustainably promote the AKF as an appropriate arsenic mitigation option throughout Nepal Project Duration: February 2004 to January 2005 Project Partners: MIT, ENPHO, RWSSSP

World Bank Project - Key Activities Train local entrepreneurs from 10 arsenic-affected districts as “local KAF agents” on KAF construction, troubleshooting, water testing Establish an in-country KAF reference center at ENPHO to compile all ABF related information 3. Conduct workshops to 30 local governments bodies and 150 villages on health, water management, treatment options, and KAF information

World Bank Project - Key Activities 4. Monitor all filters that are in operation. 2000 filters will be in operation by Dec 2004. 6. Evaluate overall project implementation scheme and make recommendations to scale-up project 5. Research & develop better filter design based on lab experiment, field observations and feedbacks from users

Is this Project: Appropriate? Green? Sustainable? Co(m)-passionate?

Design Principles for Appropriate Technology (E. F Design Principles for Appropriate Technology (E.F. Schumacher: Small is Beautiful, 1973) 1. Simple design & production Yes! 2. Inexpensive Yes! 3. Use local materials for local use Yes! 4. Rural focus Yes!

Green? Safe drinking water, but we have not yet had to set up a mechanism to collect or store spent absorbent media (iron nails)

Sustainable Implementation? We select and train entrepreneurs whose businesses are easily accessible locations We provide detailed information to villagers such that they can make individual informed decision to protect their health We strengthen the capacity of existing local authorities to support safe water initiatives, rather than relying on remote central authority We use existing and functioning distribution networks and infrastructure; therefore reducing risk of failure and negative impacts

Entrepreneurs’ Financial Sustainability? Financially sustainable: Margin per unit X unit sales > Fixed cost Example: About $5.00/unit X 100 units = $500 > Fixed Cost In our case: Fixed cost is minimal because the entrepreneurs are well- established organizations with their own financial support for their premises and staff. Temporary staff can be hired to construct filters based on demand

Co(m)-passionate Technology? Filter designed in local environment with local partners Filter designed based on collaborative, iterative, multi-disciplinary approach inherent in sustainable development concept Filter designed within social and economic constraints of rural Nepal Manufactured by local labor using materials available in rural Nepal Easy operation and maintenance Filtered water tastes and looks significantly better than untreated water (according to many users) so users like it and are continuing to use it

Future Plans and Challenges How to scale-up from 2,000 units (2004) to reach 0.7M in Nepal? Increase villagers’ awareness of health and water, targeting the poorest, the least educated, and in remote western areas. Address collection and disposal of spent media Continue to subsidize filters for the poorest villagers Provide entrepreneurs refresher training & certification Continue research on bacteria, viruses, protozoa removal Influence government and policy-makers

For Further Information Susan Murcott, Lecturer and Principal Investigator Massachusetts Institute of Technology murcott@mit.edu Tommy Ngai, Lecturer and Research Affiliate ngait@mit.edu Roshan Shrestha, Chairperson Environment & Public Health Organization rshrestha@mos.com.np Sophie Walejick sophiew@stanford.edu Website: http://ceemeng.mit.edu/~water

Women who carry the water Acknowledgements In Nepal: Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO), Kathmandu Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Support Programme (RWSSSP), Butwal Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Fund Development Board (RWSSFDB) Department of Education (DOE) Department of Water Supply & Sewerage (DWSS) Kathmandu University Tribhuvan University Internationally: MIT Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Master of Engineering Program MIT IDEAS Competition and Lemelson Foundation The World Bank UNICEF Stanford University University of Calgary, Canada University of Texas at Dallas Japanese Red Cross Society (JRCS) Women who carry the water Thank You