Evaluation of Performance of Existing RO Drinking Water Stations in the North Central Province, Sri Lanka
Reverse osmosis (RO) drinking water stations have been introduced to provide safe drinking water for areas with prevailing chronic kidney disease with unknown (CKDu) etiology in the dry zone of Sri Lanka. In this investigation, RO drinking water stations established by community-based organizations...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-05-01
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| Series: | Membranes |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/11/6/383 |
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| author | Suresh Indika Yuansong Wei Dazhou Hu Jegetheeswaran Ketharani Tharindu Ritigala Titus Cooray M. A. C. K. Hansima Madhubashini Makehelwala K. B. S. N. Jinadasa Sujithra K. Weragoda Rohan Weerasooriya |
| author_facet | Suresh Indika Yuansong Wei Dazhou Hu Jegetheeswaran Ketharani Tharindu Ritigala Titus Cooray M. A. C. K. Hansima Madhubashini Makehelwala K. B. S. N. Jinadasa Sujithra K. Weragoda Rohan Weerasooriya |
| author_sort | Suresh Indika |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Reverse osmosis (RO) drinking water stations have been introduced to provide safe drinking water for areas with prevailing chronic kidney disease with unknown (CKDu) etiology in the dry zone of Sri Lanka. In this investigation, RO drinking water stations established by community-based organizations (CBO) in the North Central Province (NCP) were examined. Water samples were collected from source, permeate, and concentrate in each station to determine water quality and performance. Furthermore, the operators of the systems were interviewed to evaluate operational and maintenance practices to identify major issues related to the RO systems. Results show that the majority (>93%) of RO systems had higher salt rejection rates (>92%), while water recovery varied from 19.4% to 64%. The removal efficiencies of hardness and alkalinity were averaged at 95.8% and 86.6%, respectively. Most dominant ions such as Ca<sup>2+</sup>, Mg<sup>2+</sup>, K<sup>+</sup>, Na<sup>+</sup>, Ba<sup>2+</sup>, Sr<sup>2+</sup> Cl<sup>−</sup>, F<sup>−</sup>, and SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2−</sup> showed higher rejections at averaged values of 93.5%, 97.4%, 86.6%, 90.8%, 95.4%, 96.3%, 95.7%, 96.6%, and 99.0%, respectively. Low recovery rates, lower fluoride levels in product water, and membrane fouling were the main challenges. Lack of knowledge and training were the major issues that could shorten the lifespan of RO systems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:06:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ee07819bfa244c489d507952a5009629 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0375 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:06:53Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Membranes |
| spelling | doaj.art-ee07819bfa244c489d507952a50096292023-11-21T21:08:09ZengMDPI AGMembranes2077-03752021-05-0111638310.3390/membranes11060383Evaluation of Performance of Existing RO Drinking Water Stations in the North Central Province, Sri LankaSuresh Indika0Yuansong Wei1Dazhou Hu2Jegetheeswaran Ketharani3Tharindu Ritigala4Titus Cooray5M. A. C. K. Hansima6Madhubashini Makehelwala7K. B. S. N. Jinadasa8Sujithra K. Weragoda9Rohan Weerasooriya10State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, ChinaState Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, ChinaState Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, ChinaDepartment of Civil Engineering, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya 20400, Sri LankaState Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, ChinaDepartment of Applied Earth Sciences, Uva Wellassa University, Badulla 90000, Sri LankaPost Graduate Institute of Science (PGIS), University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya 20400, Sri LankaChina-Sri Lanka Joint Research and Demonstration Center for Water Technology, Ministry of Water Supply, Meewathura, Peradeniya 20400, Sri LankaDepartment of Civil Engineering, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya 20400, Sri LankaNational Water Supply and Drainage Board, Katugastota 20800, Sri LankaNational Institute of Fundamental Studies, Hanthana Road, Kandy 20000, Sri LankaReverse osmosis (RO) drinking water stations have been introduced to provide safe drinking water for areas with prevailing chronic kidney disease with unknown (CKDu) etiology in the dry zone of Sri Lanka. In this investigation, RO drinking water stations established by community-based organizations (CBO) in the North Central Province (NCP) were examined. Water samples were collected from source, permeate, and concentrate in each station to determine water quality and performance. Furthermore, the operators of the systems were interviewed to evaluate operational and maintenance practices to identify major issues related to the RO systems. Results show that the majority (>93%) of RO systems had higher salt rejection rates (>92%), while water recovery varied from 19.4% to 64%. The removal efficiencies of hardness and alkalinity were averaged at 95.8% and 86.6%, respectively. Most dominant ions such as Ca<sup>2+</sup>, Mg<sup>2+</sup>, K<sup>+</sup>, Na<sup>+</sup>, Ba<sup>2+</sup>, Sr<sup>2+</sup> Cl<sup>−</sup>, F<sup>−</sup>, and SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2−</sup> showed higher rejections at averaged values of 93.5%, 97.4%, 86.6%, 90.8%, 95.4%, 96.3%, 95.7%, 96.6%, and 99.0%, respectively. Low recovery rates, lower fluoride levels in product water, and membrane fouling were the main challenges. Lack of knowledge and training were the major issues that could shorten the lifespan of RO systems.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/11/6/383reverse osmosisperformanceselectivitysalt rejectionpermeate water recovery |
| spellingShingle | Suresh Indika Yuansong Wei Dazhou Hu Jegetheeswaran Ketharani Tharindu Ritigala Titus Cooray M. A. C. K. Hansima Madhubashini Makehelwala K. B. S. N. Jinadasa Sujithra K. Weragoda Rohan Weerasooriya Evaluation of Performance of Existing RO Drinking Water Stations in the North Central Province, Sri Lanka Membranes reverse osmosis performance selectivity salt rejection permeate water recovery |
| title | Evaluation of Performance of Existing RO Drinking Water Stations in the North Central Province, Sri Lanka |
| title_full | Evaluation of Performance of Existing RO Drinking Water Stations in the North Central Province, Sri Lanka |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of Performance of Existing RO Drinking Water Stations in the North Central Province, Sri Lanka |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of Performance of Existing RO Drinking Water Stations in the North Central Province, Sri Lanka |
| title_short | Evaluation of Performance of Existing RO Drinking Water Stations in the North Central Province, Sri Lanka |
| title_sort | evaluation of performance of existing ro drinking water stations in the north central province sri lanka |
| topic | reverse osmosis performance selectivity salt rejection permeate water recovery |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/11/6/383 |
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