Ground Reality
Access to clean and safe drinking water is a significant global challenge, especially in rural and underserved communities where microbiological contamination is the leading cause of water-related diseases and deaths, and chemical contamination in water remains a big challenge. According to UNICEF in 2019, 37.7 million people were affected by waterborne diseases, and 1.5 million children’s deaths were reported due to diarrhea. Turbidity, microbial coliforms, and contaminants such as iron, manganese, and arsenic pose major health risks. The World Health Organization noted in 2019 that Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage (HWTS), when used correctly and consistently, could reduce diarrheal diseases by 61 percent. When the drinking water sources are distant, unprotected, or not reliable; HWTS offers an edge over community-based treatments.
Point-of-Use Solution
A biosand filter adaptation of the traditional slow sand filter, which has been used for over 200 years in community water treatment, was developed by Dr. David Manz at the University of Calgary, Canada, in the 1990s. Designed for intermittent household use, the filter significantly reduced waterborne diseases and deaths through a combination of physical, chemical, biological, and mechanical processes that occur naturally. The filter addressed microbial contaminants, iron, manganese, turbidity, and suspended solids, making the water suitable for drinking and other purposes. With simple adaptations, it can also remove arsenic.
Innovative Product Design
Conventional biosand filters are made of pre-cast cement concrete, which is prone to breakage and quality variations and limited rate of production, inconsistency issues, and difficulty in transportation to remote villages on poor rural roads of India and undulating hilly tracks because of heavyweight (75 Kg). Seeing the issues, the S M Sehgal Foundation team tried many prototypes using different materials including plastics, fiberglass, galvanized iron (GI), and stainless steel.
With continuous testing, the conventional biosand filter was then innovatively redesigned using 304-grade stainless steel. the newly designed JalKalp filter is well-suited for conditions in India. It now weighs 4.5 Kg and overcomes the shortcomings of conventional biosand filters to provide better quality control as well as ease of transport to remote and hilly locations. Besides adding to its looks, stainless steel adds to the strength, reliability, and durability of the filter.
Advancements in the Technology
Copper, known for its germicidal properties, was integrated into the design. By placing a copper foil between two gravel layers at the bottom, it remains submerged in water without coming in contact with air. This evolution from a concrete to a stainless steel body, combined with copper, offers a robust, efficient, and sustainable solution to water quality issues. Additionally, to counter recontamination, a stainless steel safe water storage container was designed with a two-lid system (a narrow opening for collecting filtered water and a broader lid for effective cleaning) and a faucet for drawing stored filtered water.
To enhance the filter’s effectiveness against arsenic, zero-valent iron (ZVI) technology can be integrated. ZVI is known for its robust ability to reduce and remove various contaminants through redox reactions and adsorption processes. The foundation conducted a toxic characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) study with IIT, Kanpur, to assess the characteristics of sludge generated in the treatment process, to ensure safe disposal and environmental sustainability.
Sensitizing Communities
S M Sehgal Foundation advocates for the adoption of sustainable technology like the JalKalp biosand filter to ensure safe drinking water. Emphasis is placed on sensitizing communities about the linkage between water quality issues and waterborne diseases. The foundation team builds the capacities of other stakeholders such as grassroots organizations, water practitioners, and implementers to further increase the product’s outreach.
When a couple from Bihar installed a reverse osmosis (RO) system at home to combat waterborne diseases, they encountered challenges such as high maintenance costs, electricity consumption, water wastage, and removing essential minerals during filtration. After attending sensitization and awareness sessions conducted by the S M Sehgal Foundation, they adopted the JalKalp biosand filter. In an interview, the couple expressed their satisfaction with JalKalp, appreciating its numerous benefits and improved water quality.
Mr. Prince Singh, age twenty-two, resides in Kharika village, Bihar, with his family. The village faces a water quality challenge with most hand pumps marked unsafe due to high arsenic levels, leading to several cases of skin cancer. After his grandmother’s demise due to this illness, Mr. Prince met Mr. Dharmendra Singh from the Sehgal Foundation, who introduced him to the JalKalp water filter. The filter significantly reduced arsenic, iron, and biological contaminants in their water, providing safe drinking and cooking water. Mr. Prince noticed improved water clarity, taste, and even health benefits like resolved digestion issues since using JalKalp.
The JalKalp biosand filter represents a significant advancement in providing safe, sustainable, and efficient drinking water solutions to those who need it most, addressing both microbiological and chemical contaminants effectively.
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