Water Purification Calculator
Calculate water purification capacity requirements from unit size, consumption rate, and water source quality.
Inputs
gal
days
L/hr
hrs
Results
Daily Water Need
500 L
≈ 6 wheelbarrows
Total Water Need3,500 L
System Hours Needed/Day1.1 hrs
Systems Needed1
Daily Surplus/Deficit6,885 L
Jerrycans (20L) Needed25
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the total personnel count requiring potable water.
- Set liters per person per day — typically 15L for field operations (drinking, cooking, hygiene).
- Enter the operation duration (days).
- Select water source quality: Clear Stream, Turbid River, Stagnant Water, or Brackish Water.
- Review purification rate required (L/hr) to select the appropriate water purification equipment (ROWPU, WPU, etc.).
How the result changes with Personnel Count
| Personnel Count | Daily Water Need |
|---|---|
| 1,001 | 5,005 L |
| 3,501 | 17,505 L |
| 6,500 | 32,500 L |
| 9,000 | 45,000 L |
What each input means
- Personnel Count
- Number of personnel to support.
- Liters per Person/Day
- Daily water requirement per person (5L minimum for drinking/cooking, up to 15L with hygiene).
- Duration
- Duration of the operation.
- Water Source Quality
- Quality of the raw water source.
- Purification Rate
- Rated output of the purification system (e.g., ROWPU: 600 L/hr).
- Operating Hours/Day
- Hours per day the purification system can operate.
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input Parameters4 parametersPersonnel Count = 100, Liters per Person/Day = 5, Duration = 7, Water Source Quality = 1 = 6 input(s) provided
- Calculate Daily Water NeedDaily Water Need500 = 500
- Calculate Total Water NeedTotal Water Need3500 = 3500
- Calculate System Hours Needed/DaySystem Hours Needed/Day1.1 = 1.1
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