Introduction of the Electrolysis of Brine for the Supply of Drinking Water to a Marginalized Population

Abstract

In our country the Institute of Aqueducts and Sewage Systems is responsible for providing all the Panamanian population with drinking water. However, the communities with fewer than 1,500 inhabitants are handled by the Ministry of Health by the so-called rural aqueducts, which are managed by the communities themselves. Most of these rural aqueducts operate with many deficiencies. Thus, the availability of drinking water to rural populations is very insecure. Preceding this reason exposed and analyzing different methods of disinfection for drinking water, especially for rural areas, we select the electrolysis of brine as a good alternative; already this method, as well as the low cost of maintenance and operation, requires raw salt or sea water, which is available anywhere in one way or another to produce hypochlorite of sodium generated by electrolysis. Through the introduction of the process of electrolysis of brine, which operates using renewable energy sources (photovoltaic), it is self-sustaining, especially for hard-to-reach places. Generated potable water for consumption and food preparation. The water obtained complies with the regulation technical DGNT-COPANIT 23-395-99 for drinking water. We empower the community with this project to generate the disinfectant of sodium hypochlorite themselves, resulting in a social innovation project. The project counted on the collaboration of the technical staff of the laboratory of industrial analysis and environmental sciences of the Experimental Center of Engineering at the Technological University of Panama. And it was endorsed and financially supported by the National Secretariat for Science, Technology, and Innovation.