{float:right}Back to [Design Home|Design]{float} h5. The AguaClara Design Philosophy: {section:border=false} {column} h6. Affordable for the Community AguaClara plants must... - be constructed using local labor. - be constructed using locally available materials. - use generic suppliers rather than specialized components. - operate without electricity. - minimize use of valves to reduce costs. - be robust and resilient. - be optimized for low-cost and high-performance. {column} {column} h6. Operator-Friendly Designs must... - use unit processes that are observable whenever possible (no sealed reactors). - be possible to operate without doing math. - use chemical dosages that are set directly. - be maintainable by one person. - have a direct-reading indicator of plant flow rate. - have a chemical dosing control point close to flocculator. - have no small parts that can be easily lost. - have removable parts for inspection and maintenance. - be enclosed in a building to provide protection from sun and rain. - be sized so that all tanks are accessible by a human for inspection. - include provisions so that the operator can receive appropriate feedback for every step of the treatment process {column} {section} |