NVTerra NVAqua® UF-100

The UF-100 can treat turbid waters up to 1,500 NTU and removes all heavy metals, nutrients, pesticides, herbicides, hydrocarbons, and coliforms with a water recovery rate of 90%. In one hour, it produces 4.167 cubic meters (100 m³/day) of treated water and requires 4.8 kWh of electricity, 144 grams of salt, and 12 grams of iron. The electrical needs can be met by solar panels in off-grid scenarios. The treatment steps are coagulation, sedimentation, biological treatment, disinfection, oxydoreduction, sand filtration, activated carbon filtration, microfiltration and in some cases, depending on the composition of the water, ultrafiltration or nanofiltration or reverse osmosis.

There is no complex pre-installation; it is possible to operate the NVAqua® unit directly into the container, converted and equipped with solar panels where appropriate. In this case, only concrete flooring, a delivery pipe for the unsafe water and an outgoing pipe for the drinking water are needed. The manufacturer, NVTerra, can train local technicians to use the computer program that displays operational data and assist them via the remote control system.

With proper maintenance and replacement of components, the NVAqua® UF-100 can last 20 years or longer.

Two Swiss laboratories conducted analyses in 2009 for treatment performance of the unit using muddy canal water spiked with toxic contaminants. The test results on samples taken only after the first two stages of treatment showed that the units were effective in reducing concentrations of nitrates, phosphates, arsenic, lead, and cadmium. The flow of raw water input was 4.550 liters per hour and its turbidity was 65 UT/F90.

There are no hazardous chemicals needed, only salt and iron which can be safely stockpiled without extra precautions. Handling of sodium hypochlorite (bleach), a byproduct of the treatment process, requires the use of gloves and face masks in an enclosed area to prevent exposure to skin or inhalation of fumes.