| Abstract | This study attempts to evaluate the economic feasibility of AIT's
Low Cost Potable Water Supply Systems (LCPWS Systems) .
The various systems under study are: alternative-A, which is a series - filter using coconut fibre (CF) and burnt- rice-husk (BRR); alternative-B, which is a dual media filter using CF and BRH; and alternative-C, which is also a dual media filter using HRH and sand. For each of the alternatives, either a gasoline pump can be used- which is indicated by a subscript 'g'
next to the alternative name- or an electric pump can be used - indicated by subscript 'e',
Thus the cases investigated are Ag, Ae, Bg, Be, Cg, Ce.
Using the present worth (PW) method, the six systems are compared and Ce is found to be the most economical.
A logic flowchart has been developed for the techno- economic selection of any LCPWS system. The study then
develops an economic replacement lifecycle model taking factor of inflation into account for the pumps used in the LCPWS systems and the results are reported. The economic feasibility study under risk is then made for the LCPWS systems. It is concluded that, compared to the conventional water supply systems, the LCPWS systems are more favorable. A capacity (in terms of population served) expansion study is then made for
alternative- C and it is reported that there are certain break-even and optimum capacities for which the systems should be designed. |