SUSTAINABLE HOUSE HOLD WATER PURIFICATION INTEGRATED WITH NATURAL COAGULANTS AND SOLAR TECHNOLOGYP. K. SHARMA, R. L. SHARMA AND SARTHAK PANDITAbstract Safe drinking water is a prime concern in rural areas of developing countries like India. Contaminated surface water often is the main source that may cause fatal infections, especially in less immunized children under five years. The problem attracted researchers mind to design and develop solar based sustainable technique for the purification of house hold water at affordable rates for these remote areas; where community water treatment facilities are still long awaited and in queue. At individual level also these people are not capable of affording reverse osmosis systems. We have tried a conceptual sustainable technique to treat house hold water without specialized skills and heavy investment, within affordable cost using natural coagulants and solar energy. Reduction in turbidity by 55%, TDS by 43%, TSS by 80%, hardness by 50%, BOD by 85%, COD by 84% proved the concept a potential water purifier. Coagulation and disinfection of the order of 62.5% was achieved by natural coagulants/disinfectants. Heavy metal chromium contamination was also removed by 60%. Though the initial batch experimental results were very exciting leading to 60% removal of contamination's on an average, yet there is lot of scope to modify these techniques. This research will not only spread awareness about natural coagulants and solar disinfection in rural and remote communities, but will also save millions of lives worldwide from water-borne diseases. |