AWWA JAW10207

In developing countries, there are acute shortages of money, managerial and technical skills, skilled labor, and well-organized, stable institutions. Therefore, it is urgent that water treatment plants be low in initial costs and designed for simple and economical operation and maintenance. In this article, the author addresses alternative designs for water treatment plants in developing countries including: minimizing plant size and structures; maximizing reliance on gravity for chemical feed; maximizing use of hydraulic means for mixing, flocculation, and filter rate controls; minimizing loss of head through the plant; and minimizing use of equipment such as pumps, motors, and chemical feed equipment. The author also presents suggestions for effectively utilizing chemical handling, minimizing head loss, coagulant dispersion, flocculation, settling, filters, and direct filtration options. Includes 8 references, table, figures.