Evaluation of lower cost methods of water treatment in Latin America

A DESCRIPTION, TECHNICAL EVALUATION, AND ECONOMIC ANALYSIS ARE PRESENTED FOR EACH TREATMENT SYSTEM. PRINCIPLE CONCLUSIONS ARE: 1. NEW TECHNOLOGICAL CRITERIA FOR WATER TREATMENT PLANT DESIGN CAN BE USED SUCCESSFULLY TO PRODUCE VERY SIMPLE EASY TO OPERATE TREATMENT PLANTS WITH A HIGH LEVEL OF TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE THAT CAN BE BUILT AT A VERY LOW COST. 2. TREATMENT PLANTS CAPABLE OF GOOD TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE CAN BE DESIGNED WITH SOPHISTICATED EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS, USING SOLUTIONS COMPATIBLE WITH THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC REALITIES AND THE DEGREE OF INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE COUNTRIES. 3. LOW COST TECHNOLOGY DOES NOT IMPLY THE ADOPTION OF SOLUTIONS THAT MEAN POORER WATER QUALITY. 4. THE USE OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL CRITERIA REDUCES CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION COSTS OF WATER TREATMENT PLANTS, REPRESENTING A SAVING OF 60 TO 70% COMPARED WITH THE COST OF CONVENTIONAL PLANTS.