Enhancing Water Access and Health with Point-of-Use Water Treatment Intervention

Access to safe drinking water remains one of the most pressing global challenges, particularly in regions where drought and chronic scarcity undermine conventional treatment systems. This timely work offers a rigorous, interdisciplinary examination of point-of-use (POU) water filtration technologies as viable solutions for vulnerable communities, with a focus on Paraguay and Ecuador. Drawing on collaboration between the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), and Purdue University, Francisco Montalvo and Zhi Zhou integrate public health, environmental engineering, and field-based implementation. They provide a comparative analysis of activated carbon and reverse osmosis systems under real-world conditions, assessing microbial removal, metal reduction, and operational resilience in high-salinity environments. Beyond technical performance, the book addresses practical considerations such as cost, maintenance, and deployment strategies in remote health facilities. By coupling laboratory findings with field evaluations, this work closes a critical knowledge gap between theoretical efficacy and contextual applicability. It is an indispensable resource for policymakers, NGOs, health professionals, and development practitioners, as well as researchers and graduate students in global health, sustainable infrastructure, and water systems engineering.