Field study of an arsenic removal plant for drinking water using activated carbon and iron in a rural community in the province of Pisco, Peru

The presence of arsenic in Peru is a serious public health problem due to the geographical extension of populations that consume water with arsenic concentrations above the value recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). An arsenic removal plant has been studied in a community of 50 families located in the province of Pisco, Peru, a filter media of activated carbon impregnated with iron (AC-Fe) was applied, the adsorption capacity of the material was studied against As(V) and As(III) species, also, a possible decrease in the adsorption capacity of chloride and sulfate ions. Modifications were made to the plant layout based on filtration columns and workflows. The arsenic level was reduced to levels recommended by the WHO, the plant production was estimated at 9,000 volumes of water bed until reaching its breakpoint. An optimum working flow rate of 1.8 m3 h−1 was found, it was also found that the zeolite column used for suspended solids removal did not contribute to the reduction of arsenic concentration, and the presence of ions did not reduce the arsenic removal capacity.