Ultraviolet Water Treatment Phases

To achieve these goals, MEDRIX divided the ultraviolet water treatment program into phases:

Phase 1: Prototype in the United States
MEDRIX began by building a prototype in the US to gain experience with the ultraviolet water system in the Home Power Magazine article.  This was completed in 2003.

Phase 2: Prototype in Vietnam
Later in 2003, MEDRIX built an UV Water treatment system in Vietnam with parts they purchased in-country. MEDRIX learned a great deal from this exercise.  They learned about what was currently practical and possible in Vietnam.  MEDRIX brought those lessons learned back with them to the US and began the next phase of the project.

Phase 3: Revisions from Lessons-Learned
MEDRIX began applying the lessons learned to make a more effective and affordable model.  Many refinements have created a more workable system.  The common parts in the refined system are readily available in Vietnam. The completed unit can produce up to one gallon of safe water per minute.

Phase 4: Introduce the UV System in Vietnam
In October 2004, MEDRIX tested the UV system in Vietnam in partnership with the staff of Centre for Rural Water Supply and Environmental Sanitation (CERWASS) in Hue, Vietnam.  The US-made parts used during the creation of the 2003 prototype were replaced with new Vietnamese-made parts.  The Vietnamese team members gained experience with the equipment, the water quality tested bacteria free, and the result was MEDRIX deciding they were ready to move into the rural community for the next phase of testing.

Phase 5: Field Test on a Limited Scale

In April 2005, MEDRIX began field testing five ultraviolet water treatment units in rural Vietnam.

Field testing is important for the following reasons:

• MEDRIX must demonstrate that the innovation of using ultraviolet energy to treat water really works.
• Changing a habit is difficult and people have been boiling water for many years.  Successful field testing will encourage cultural adaptation by rural people to accept this more modern method of purifying their water.

In November 2005, the MEDRIX water team visited the five MEDRIX field test sites to hear from the users of the water systems.  In general, the users were satisfied with the UV systems.  Two of the five systems were not operating at the time of the visit; however, the systems have been repaired and returned to service.  An important lesson was learned; part of making a successful system will include a regular monitoring and repair program.

Phase 6: Field Testing on a Larger Scale

Another MEDRIX water team traveled to Vietnam in April 2006 continuing to work towards improving the UV water treatment system.  Each field test site was visited twice and some modifications were made to the UV system equipment and system operation procedures based on lessons-learned from the users.  During this trip, three Vietnamese government agencies signed formal Memorandums of Understanding to partner with MEDRIX on providing UV water treatment system education, development, maintenance and distribution.

Phase 7: Scale-Up for Wider Distribution

The scale-up phase of this system will be defined after the completion of the field testing phase.

MEDRIX is moving in the direction of larger-scale implementation by:

1. Translating the newly completed handbook into a side-by-side Vietnamese-English version,
2. Collaborating with other organizations who are also working on Point-of-Use Ultraviolet water treatment systems and
3. Applying for certification of the UV system through appropriate Vietnamese government authorities.

This phase of the project will require more than just an effective, workable design. This will move the UV water treatment system from sound theory to common practice. This will be MEDRIX's greatest challenge.