Mario Augusto de Almeida Neto
Coordenação da Articulação Água Nordeste, Brasil
E-mail: adriano@plug.com.br

Different countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America have a tradition of using various plants as coagulants or natural flocculates. The goal of this process is to speed up the colloids in the water destined for human consumption. Due mainly to the presence of clay particulars and organic matter, these waters don't fulfill the qualitative criteria for human consumption, as much from the physical point of view (high grayness) as well as from the microbiological contamination. The Moringa family, and in particular M olerifera and M stenopetala, are among the most promising natural coagulants. Besides having this coagulating quality in their seeds, these medium-size trees can be useful in other ways (pharmaceutical, nutrition, natural sweetener) for the people in the numerous tropical countries where they grow.