On September 14th, the presentation of the systematisation document «Metales pesados en el agua potable para consumo humano: una propuesta para su remoción (Heavy metals in drinking water for human consumption: a proposal for their removal)» took place at the residence of the Swiss Ambassador in Peru.

Info-Box In Peru, water pollution is one of the main socio-environmental and public health problems. Estimates from 2019 by the Ministry of Health remark that more than 10 million people were at risk of exposure to heavy metals and other chemicals, and more than 6 million to metalloids, such as arsenic. In response to this problem, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) supported the validation of a new, cost-effective, and scalable technology for the removal of heavy metals from drinking water developed by BluAct Technologies, consisting of cellulose membrane filters, activated carbon and whey protein fibres, which requires no energy and has no side effects. BluAct Technologies is a spin-off company of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zürich), an institution renowned worldwide for its innovations, and 22 Nobel Prize laureates. Between 2019 and 2020, the SDC validated the efficiency of this innovative technology through a pilot project in Peru, executed by the NGO SABAvida in the regions of Tacna, Moquegua, Pasco and Lambayeque, in homes as well as in community supply services. With a removal efficiency level of over 95% for lead and arsenic, as well as reducing other contaminants such as pesticides and bacteria, the study has shown excellent results in improving water quality associated with the presence of heavy metals. In addition, the technology’s high-cost effectiveness has been proven. According to the pilot project results, the projected cost estimates of producing monthly treated water in rural collective systems with the technology is PEN1.02 per m3, while with conventional treatment in a rural plant it was around PEN3.05 per m3. This technology can be adapted to existing drinking water treatment systems and included in the design of new systems for the most vulnerable populations. Because of its versatility and cost effectiveness, this technology can be used for public and private investment projects that benefit mainly rural and vulnerable populations.

The Chargé d’Affaires ad interim, Stefano Vescovi, welcomed the representatives of the State, civil society, private sector, and academia who attended the event. In his speech, he mentioned that the filters validated by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) represent a win-win opportunity to address the problem of heavy metals in drinking water in Peru.

Nicole Clot, Regional Advisor for Disaster Risk Reduction & Rapid Response, and SDC Deputy Director, highlighted the key messages of the systematisation document. «The heavy metal removal filter technology developed by BluAct is innovative, because it is based on whey protein fibres and activated carbon, capable of removing multiple contaminants simultaneously, with up to 99% removal efficiency of heavy metals and organic pollutants. Its operation requires no energy, and it is low cost. One of the technology’s great advantages is its adaptability to various formats, and the ability to be used not only for community water treatment, but also in filters for household use. As it requires no chemicals, it has a low environmental impact, and is easy to dispose of at the end of the product’s useful life. Therefore, the scaling up potential is high,» she said.She added that «the use of this technology should be promoted in existing national programmes, or private initiatives.«

Rosa Maria Alcayhuaman, SDC Regional Programme Officer, moderated a discussion board that included Maria Luisa Castro de Esparza and Mariano Castro as academia representatives, Herberth Pacheco, director of the pilot project implementing NGO SABAvida, and Sandra Rodriguez Maldonado from the Municipal Technical Area (ATM) and beneficiary of the technology.

María Luisa Castro de Esparza addressed the problem of drinking water contamination from a scientific perspective, as an essential public health problem, also the risk of consuming water with arsenic in Peru, and the options available to minimise the risk of consuming water contaminated with heavy metals. Among these, she highlighted the technology developed by BluAct based on whey protein fibres and activated carbon. He emphasised the urgency of generating quality data for water quality monitoring and surveillance.

Herberth Pacheco from SABAvida, on his turn, presented the filter technology and the pilot project’s main results. He emphasised the technology’s great advantage, which is the adaptability to both collective water treatment systems as well as household level solutions. The latter is of particular interest for the scattered rural population, that has no access to a community drinking water treatment system.

For his part, Mariano Castro, former Vice-Minister of Environmental Management and current director of the United for Forests Programme (Programa Unidos por los Bosques) of the Foundation for Conservation and Sustainable Development (Fundación para la Conservación y el Desarrollo Sostenible), explained the importance of working intersectorally to address the risks associated with exposure to toxic metals, and the urgency of implementing measures by the State to address the most affected populations.

Finally, Sandra Rodríguez Maldonado, beneficiary of the water kiosk designed and installed in Poquera (Tacna) for 30 families, and member of the Tacna ATM, described how the filter technology for the removal of heavy metals from water has changed her life and that of the other beneficiary families in her community. She concluded the discussion with the following words: «Now the beneficiaries are few. It would be excellent if this technology could be for everyone, so that we all have good quality water.«

The document «Metales pesados en agua para consumo humano: una propuesta para su remoción (Heavy metals in water for human consumption: a proposal for their removal)» can be downloaded here.

Useful links:
FS (span) Proyecto Remoción de Metales Pesados