Appropriate technologies for water purification in developing countries

A lot of people in the world, especially in development countries, have not access to safe drinking-water, and they are affected by death and diseases. In this article are described some of the various appropriate methods and systems for water household treatment. They are: - Ceramic filter; it retains and removes solid particles and some pathogens, thank to the porosity clay material through which the water passes; - Slow sand filter; it use the mechanical and biological functions of sand and gravel layers; - Solar distillation; it improves water quality of very turbid and raw water taking advantage of solar energy. Appropriate technology is technology that is most appropriate and adapted to the environmental, cultural, economic and social contest where they are applicated, guaranteeing the best environmental management of resources and the technological development sustenaibility. These charachteristics are: - Low cost and low maintenance requirements - Simple management - Easy feasibility with local resources - Strong radication in local reality - Adaptability and acceptability from the local culture Features such as low cost, low usage and use of locally available resources can give some advantages in terms of sustainability. For that reason, these technologies are sometimes used and promoted by advocates of sustainability and alternative technology. Safe water supply is an essential and unavoidable human right, and simple appropriate technologies, managed from the population, are necessary to garantee acces to drinking purified water to people living in rural communities. The most important are: Ceramic filter, Slow Sand Filter, Solar Distillation.