<p>A group of teachers and students from Zakir Husain College of Delhi University have made solar water purifiers to reduce salinity of potable water. <br /><br /></p>.<p>It was part of the varsity’s scheme of innovation project, “Feasibility studies to improve quality of living and development of low cost efficient techniques to purify potable water in villages”.<br /><br />“It is the first interdisciplinary project taken up under this scheme. Five teachers from different science streams and 10 students are taking part in this year long project which started from May 15. Out of the 60 villages, we chose six model villages of Rajasthan where the water had a high salinity level,” said Swati Arora, professor and convenor of the project.<br /><br />When the group visited the villages they found that drinking water was procured from three basic sources — borewell, handpumps and through government supply. <br /><br />Villagers mostly use borewells or handpumps as the water supply from government agencies is limited. Compared to borewells and handpumps, water from wells was found to be safer. Undesired limits of toxic substances were found in the water depending on the depth of the handpumps and borewells.<br /><br />The team observed that where the depth of handpump was too shallow or too deep, the fluoride/chloride content or saline content was very high in the water. The depth of a well is not as deep as that of an handpump. “But in acute summer when the level of water goes down, then water from any of the sources is no longer safe. Due to high salt levels and unidentified toxins the villagers complained of their stomachs swelling up,” she stated.<br /><br />The samples were brought to the college laboratory where two types of solar water purifiers were made. “The one energy which is in plenty in Rajasthan is solar energy. We made solar stills which can be used in individual houses. The cost of which will be Rs.2000 per piece. An RO water purifier system is a bit expensive which can be used by a community as a whole. We are planning to give the solar stills to the villagers,” said Arora. He added that the RO water purifying system was placed in the college and is working well.<br /><br />The toughest task for the team was to check the efficiency of solar stills, which is as high as 60 per cent. It should be able to distill atleast 3-4 litres of water in a day if fed with 5 litres, she added. </p>
<p>A group of teachers and students from Zakir Husain College of Delhi University have made solar water purifiers to reduce salinity of potable water. <br /><br /></p>.<p>It was part of the varsity’s scheme of innovation project, “Feasibility studies to improve quality of living and development of low cost efficient techniques to purify potable water in villages”.<br /><br />“It is the first interdisciplinary project taken up under this scheme. Five teachers from different science streams and 10 students are taking part in this year long project which started from May 15. Out of the 60 villages, we chose six model villages of Rajasthan where the water had a high salinity level,” said Swati Arora, professor and convenor of the project.<br /><br />When the group visited the villages they found that drinking water was procured from three basic sources — borewell, handpumps and through government supply. <br /><br />Villagers mostly use borewells or handpumps as the water supply from government agencies is limited. Compared to borewells and handpumps, water from wells was found to be safer. Undesired limits of toxic substances were found in the water depending on the depth of the handpumps and borewells.<br /><br />The team observed that where the depth of handpump was too shallow or too deep, the fluoride/chloride content or saline content was very high in the water. The depth of a well is not as deep as that of an handpump. “But in acute summer when the level of water goes down, then water from any of the sources is no longer safe. Due to high salt levels and unidentified toxins the villagers complained of their stomachs swelling up,” she stated.<br /><br />The samples were brought to the college laboratory where two types of solar water purifiers were made. “The one energy which is in plenty in Rajasthan is solar energy. We made solar stills which can be used in individual houses. The cost of which will be Rs.2000 per piece. An RO water purifier system is a bit expensive which can be used by a community as a whole. We are planning to give the solar stills to the villagers,” said Arora. He added that the RO water purifying system was placed in the college and is working well.<br /><br />The toughest task for the team was to check the efficiency of solar stills, which is as high as 60 per cent. It should be able to distill atleast 3-4 litres of water in a day if fed with 5 litres, she added. </p>
