European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

PROVISION OF CLEAN WATER THROUGH REVERSE OSMOSIS: COST-EFFECTIVE INTERIM SOLUTION TO OVERCOME WATER-POLLUTION-RELATED DISEASES

Sunil J. Wimalawansa*

ABSTRACT

Human diseases due to water contamination occur mostly through agrochemicals, manufacturing processes, industry pollutants, geogenic natural elements, livestock and sewerage, anthropogenic contamination, and natural disasters. This review focuses on waterborne diseases, using chronic kidney disease of multifactorial origin (CKDmfo) as an example. The latter is estimated to kill approximately 40,000 people each year worldwide; mostly in tropical countries. Irrespective of whether a disease is acute or chronic, when the disease originates from contaminated water, provision of clean water becomes a key requirement. The method to be used to generate purified water depends on the assumed causative factor(s) and availability of local water sources. Most contamination occur through microbes, chemicals, and toxins. The optimum mode of purification depends on the level of contamination, molecular size of the expected agent, type of toxin, geographical area, size of the population affected, source of available water, and severity of the problem. A membrane-based water purification technology, such as the reverse osmosis (RO) method, can be made available swiftly and cost-effectively to provide water, on a small or large scale, including during times of natural disasters and after other emergency situations. Especially when the causative factors in water are unknown, a membrane-based water purification technology is the best interim solution for providing clean water. If the molecular masses of the offending agents are larger than 100 Daltons, they can be effectively removed from water with the use of RO membranes but not through nano-filtration systems. RO is a cost-effective interim solution that can be implemented quickly until a centrally purified, pipe-borne water supply is provided or restored in affected communities. The RO procedures remove complex and biological toxins, heavy metals, agrochemicals, bacteria, fungi/spores, colour and odour, and suspended particles in a single pass through RO membranes, making water safe for human consumption. Toxic chemicals are not added to the water during the RO procedure. Thus, the quality of water when released back to streams is not different from the inlet water, so the procedure is environmentally friendly and safe. Installation of an RO unit is straightforward. When surface water or groundwater is used (in contrast to factory discharges) the RO rejects do not need any special treatment. The RO process should be supplemented by rainwater and other freshwater collection methods. RO is the most cost-effective way to produce an interim supply of safe, clean water devoid of toxins, microbes, heavy metals, colour and odour and unpleasant taste, and disease-causative agents.

Keywords: CKDu; CKDmfo; Environment; Health; Membrane technology; Non-communicable diseases; Pollution; Premature deaths.