Iron electro-coagulation for simultaneous arsenic removal and microbial attenuation: Mechanisms of E. Coli removal and inactivation

Around 60 million people in South Asia drink groundwater from arsenic contaminated shallow aquifers. Research over the last two decades has focused on arsenic removal alone to mitigate this problem, largely ignoring possible microbial contamination of shallow groundwater. Recently, fecal indicators and pathogens were detected in shallow tubewells in Bangladesh, and diarrheal diseases are still prevalent in the region. Therefore comprehensive treatment technologies addressing both microbial and arsenic contamination of drinking water are needed, and will potentially increase health impacts and social acceptability.