Solar Powered Desalination: A Case Study from Botswana

作者：Rebecca Yates · 年份：1990 · 被引用次数：4 · 研究领域：Water-Energy-Food Nexus Studies、Solar-Powered Water Purification Methods、Energy and Environment Impacts

In Africa, chronic drought conditions are reducing access to and the quality of drinking water. In Botswana, recurring droughts have left 80% of the population reliant on water from boreholes. Drilling such boreholes is an expensive proposition and the water is often scarce or saline. One possible solution to this dilemma is solar desalination. The Solar Energy Section of the Rural Industries Innovation Centre (RIIC) in Kanye, Botswana, has been studying solar distillation methods since 1977. This book summarizes the results of an intensive 3-year field study carried out by RUC, with the support of IDRC (International Development Research Centre), on the technical performance and suitability of various small-scale desalinators. Their findings indicate that small-scale desalinators can provide a clear, palatable distillate; that certain models can provide a constant and adequate supply of potable water when the distillate is added to salty water from traditional sources; and that the technology is readily acceptable to remote area dwellers (RADs). The study also highlights the importance of including intended beneficiaries in the management of a new technology, in this case, the siting, construction, operation, and maintenance of the desalinators.