1. Solar disinfection for water purification
Amanda M. Icazatti Burtell
Fernando Pacheco Ocasio
RISE Program
University of Puerto Rico - Cayey
2. What is the SODIS Method?
• Solar Disinfection for Water Purification (SODIS)
• Why use the SODIS Method?
• Simple procedure
• Affordable
• Kills pathogens
• What kind of pathogens?
S.C. Rivera, T.C. Hazen, G.A. Toranzos. 1988. Isolation of Fecal coliforms from pristine sites in a tropical rain forest.
3. Why is important to have purified water?
Avoid diseases!
•1.1 million people do not have access to safe water
•Diarrhea is the second main cause of death
among children under 5 years old.
4. How does the SODIS Method work?
• Water sample
• PET bottles
• UV rays from sunlight
• 6 hours full exposition
• Finally, Drink purified water!
5. Important details
• How recontamination is prevented?
• What are some problems that the SODIS
Method may confront?
• Turbidity
• Cloudy days
• Rainy days
6. How is contamination tested in
water?
• Indicator
• Bacteriophages
• Coliphages ( E. coli)
• Why use coliphages as an indicator of
contamination in the water sample?
• What would a positive coliphages result
for E. coli indicate?
7. Problem
• Will the SODIS Method be proved to reduce the
presence of pathogens (coliphages) in water samples
and make water safe to drink?
Hypothesis
• The SODIS Method will be proven with empirical
evidence to reduce the presence of pathogens
(coliphages) in water samples making water safe to
drink.
11. Prepare bacteria, medium &
water (3X)
15 minutes for agar solidification
Incubate at 37˚C for 24 hours
12. Results
• 4 hours after incubation at 37˚C
• What does the presence of bubbles indicate?
pH Temperature Atmospheric
pressure
8.34 24.8˚C 730.7 mmHG
13. • 19 ½ hours after incubation
Control: 0 minutes Control: 10 minutes
Experimental: 0 minutes Experimental: 10 minutes
16. Conclusions
• Water samples from Rio La Plata, Cayey were collected
and tested for coliphages.
• The SODIS Method was not performed effectively using a
UV light machine.
• Samples were incubated at 37˚C for a period of 24 hours.
• Samples were analyzed after 4 hours, 19 ½ hours after,
and 24 hours of incubation.
17. Future Work
• Repeat SODIS Method using UV Rays from sunlight
exposition.
• Perform SODIS Method for Enterococcus to investigate if
there is any human fecal pollution in Rio La Plata, Cayey.
18. Acknowledgments
• We want to thanks the RISE Program for this learning
experience.
• Prof. Javier Arce for letting us participate in water
sampling testing experiments.
• Jennifer Paredes for the all the help, time dedicated, and
patience.
• Giovanni Cruz for letting us use the laboratory and the
UV rays machine.
