CSIR has developed an affordable Water
Disinfection System “OneerTM”. The device will go a long way in meeting the
requirements of potable water in rural and urban areas.
The Problem – Water Pollution- Global Scenario
Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies, usually as a result of human activities. Water
bodies include for example lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers and groundwater. Water
pollution results when contaminants are introduced into the natural
environment.
The most important water contaminants created by human activities are
microbial pathogens, nutrients, oxygen-consuming materials, heavy metals and
persistent organic matter, as well as suspended sediments, nutrients,
pesticides and oxygen-consuming substances, much of it from non-point sources. Heat,
which raises the temperature of the receiving water, can also be a pollutant.
Pollutants are typically the cause of major water quality degradation around
the world.
Globally, the most prevalent water quality problem is eutrophication, a result of high-nutrient loads
(mainly phosphorus and nitrogen), which substantially impairs beneficial uses
of water.
Projected food production needs and increasing wastewater
effluents associated with an increasing population over the next three decades
suggest a 10%-15% increase in the river input of nitrogen loads into coastal
ecosystems, continuing the trend observed during 1970-95.
More than 80% of sewage in developing countries is discharged
untreated, polluting rivers, lakes and coastal areas.
Many industries – some of them known to be heavily polluting (such
as leather and chemicals) – are moving from high-income countries to emerging market
economies.
Despite improvements in some regions, water pollution is on the
rise globally
About “OneerTM”
It is useful for continuous treatment of water
and eliminates all disease causing pathogens such as virus, bacteria, fungi,
protozoa and cyst to provide safe drinking water to domestic and communities
settings as per National and International standards prescribed for potable
water (BIS, WHO etc.).
Importance
According
to the World Health Organization, “access to safe drinking-water is
essential to health, a basic human right and a component of effective policy
for health protection”.
However,
currently, a large proportion of India’s rural community has been consuming
water that does not meet the WHO drinking water quality standards. And
infection through drinking water results in an increase in morbidity and
mortality particularly amongst children.
Oneer
developed by CSIR-IITR, will provide access to safe and clean drinking water at
a cost of just 2 Paise / Ltr. The Community level model is of 450 LPH capacities
which can be scaled up to 5000 to 1 lakh L/day; and is also maintenance and
membrane free. The technology will be helpful especially for rural people since
it can be solar powered.
