Challenge

Certain areas of rural China lack access to potable water that meets national drinking water safety standards.  Statistics show that over 200 million people in the Chinese countryside are drinking non-standard-conforming water, and in some villages the water is even endangering people’s lives. This was true in Shangba Village, Northern Guangdong, where a stable and efficient water treatment system was badly needed.

Solution

In 2007, Siemens initiated a three-year Green Village Program in China to help improve living conditions in rural areas by donating water treatment solutions.  Under the program, Siemens will commit at least $3M RMB to help needy villages.  In October 2008, after 10 months of intensive on-site investigations and feasibility studies, Siemens rolled out its pilot project in Shangba Village.  Working with the Guangdong government, Siemens water technology professionals from the U.S. and Beijing, Tianjin and Guangzhou, China, introduced the Water Boy® water purification system to Shangba Village.

The compact Water Boy system integrates all treatment steps, from flocculation to sedimentation and filtration.  It is easy to operate and maintain and is designed for low power and chemical consumption.  It can effectively purify water with high turbidity and color, making it well suited for rural water treatment.

Siemens renovated the filtration pool in the village, constructed an equipment room to house the Water Boy system, installed a transformer to power the equipment, and installed and commissioned the system. Siemens donated water purification chemicals and maintenance services for the first five years, and also offered training to the local villagers on daily operation and maintenance.

Results

The Water Boy system is delivering up to 525 tons (701 ft3/hr; 87 gpm) of clean water per day to 3,500 villagers.  A water test conducted by a third party shows that the effluent from the Water Boy system in Shangba Village is meeting the national drinking water safety standards.  With the success of this pilot project, Siemens will extend the Green Village Program to other parts of China so that more people can benefit from this technology.

Video: Drinking Water Treatment System Installation in Shangba, China