Bolivia

Technology sheds light on water treatment

In Cerro Grande, a rural community in Bolivia which relies solely on untreated water, gastrointestinal diseases are common, especially among the large population of children under five years of age. While ultraviolet light has been used successfully in developed countries to treat water, the technology is not yet widespread in developing countries, especially in rural areas. To test the feasibility of UV technology in Bolivia, researchers installed two Canadian-made light units in the community to disinfect water at the source.

Capital costs were significant, especially when equipment had to be imported. “Community organization is a powerful tool for getting grants and funds for this kind of project,” noted Mario Zapata Paláez. He concluded the community’s willingness to pay for safe water might make the operation and maintenance of the system sustainable for a number of years.

In Sucre, Mr. Zapata Paláez delivered a short course on disinfecting water and wastewater with ultraviolet light that was attended by 80 people, including government officials, the local water company and students. Back in Canada, he drew on the research in Bolivia to complete his master’s thesis in environmental engineering in 2011. Subsequently, he coauthored a proposal for a rain water collector treated with UV light in an indigenous community of Panama. “Since UV water treatment was proven to work properly in remote locations with minimally trained operators,” said Mr. Zapata Paláez, “there is the possibility of changing many lives, even in our own backyard.”