CHAPTER 1
BACKGROUND AND SETTING
Introduction
Safe and readily available water is important for public health, whether it is used
for drinking, domestic use, food production or recreational purposes. WHO, (2023).
However, Unsafe water is one of the world's largest health and environmental problems,
particularly for the poorest people. Ritchie et al., (2021), including Cabadbaran City,
access to clean and safe water is still a challenge.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2022, approximately 6
billion people had access to safely managed drinking water—meaning their water
sources were improved, located on the premises, available when needed, and free from
contamination. However, around 2.2 billion people still lacked access to such services.
Of these, 1.5 billion relied on basic services with improved sources reachable within 30
minutes, 292 million used limited services that required over 30 minutes to collect water,
296 million depended on unprotected wells and springs, and 115 million sourced water
directly from untreated surface water such as lakes, rivers, ponds, and streams.
Many households in remote area in Cabadbaran City rely on simple water sources like
pumps or taps, but the quality of this water is not always good enough they are
frequently contaminated with high levels of minerals, leading to widespread issues such
as hard water that contains high concentrations of minerals like calcium and
magnesium. Kristyn (2024). While there are technologies to clean water, many of them
are too expensive or difficult to use for local families. Cescon et al.,(2020). This creates
a need for a solution that is affordable, easy to use, and good for the environment.
One potential solution is to use agricultural waste to help clean water. Agricultural
waste includes materials such as coconut shell, rice husk, corn cob and etc. which are
leftovers from farming. These materials are often thrown away or burned, which can
harm the environment. However, they have special properties that make them useful for
cleaning water. For instance, they can absorb harmful substances or filter out dirt and
germs. Using these materials is a sustainable way to solve two problems at once:
reducing waste and improving water quality.
Some remote areas in Cabadbaran City are places where agriculture is an important
part of life. Farmers grow crops like rice, coconut, corn, and sugarcane. This farming
activity produces large amounts of agricultural waste. Most of this waste is not used and
becomes a problem for the environment. At the same time, many people in remote area
in Cabadbaran struggle to access clean and safe drinking water. The existing water
sources are often polluted, and treating the water with advanced systems is too
expensive for many families.
Our study aims to find a practical solution by creating a water filtration system that uses
agricultural waste from the local area. The goal is to design a simple, affordable, and
effective way to clean water. The system will focus on removing common pollutants
found in tap and pump water in Remote areas in Cabadbaran City. By doing this, the
research hopes to make clean water more accessible to the community while also
reducing the environmental impact of agricultural waste.
Theoretical Framework
This study is anchored in the theoretical and conceptual foundations of water filtration,
adsorption technology, and the valorization of agricultural waste for sustainable water
treatment. It draws interdisciplinary insights spanning environmental engineering, waste
management, and sustainable development. It aims to establish a holistic understanding
of how natural and low-cost materials can address water purification challenges,
especially in underserved areas.
Filtration is a crucial component in drinking water treatment, often implemented as part
of a multi-barrier approach to ensure the removal of pathogens and particulate matter.
According to Cescon and Jiang (2020), filtration is widely practiced across various
industries due to its effectiveness in removing contaminants. Similarly, Song et al. (2023)
emphasize the role of filtration in eliminating fine particles from fluids, thus reinforcing its
importance in practical water treatment applications.
Traditional waste disposal practices such as landfilling contribute significantly to
environmental degradation by depleting natural resources and increasing pollution.
Kharola et al. (2022) argue that these methods are unsustainable and advocate for
promoting “value to waste” approaches as more environmentally responsible
alternatives. Such strategies focus on converting organic and agricultural waste into
valuable resources, aligning with the goals of circular economy and sustainable
development.