More takers for IISc water purification model

The sustainable mode to mitigate the water crisis in Bangalore created by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) - by purifying lake water for domestic use - has now caught the attention of the local residents.

They are now inviting IISc experts to replicate the method in their area as civic agencies have failed to keep the water bodies clean.

Under this method, lake water - which is already being treated in primary and secondary treatment plants - can be further purified environmentally and made fit for human consumption. Prof T V Ramachandra of the Centre for Ecological Sciences of the IISc and his students developed and introduced the model successfully eight months ago in Jakkur Lake.

Ramachandra told Deccan Herald that people from KR Puram have invited them to visit Amballipura Lake and implement the model. The team will visit the site on May 22. BBMP officials have also shown interest in learning from this model.

 Explaining the working of the model, Ramachandra said that Jakkur lake has a sewage treatment plant which treats water partially.  This water is allowed to pass through wetlands which consist of macrophytes and algae. Here the nutrients (nitrates and phosphates) are removed.

The water then passes through algae based lagoons which completely clean the water.

The water is then allowed to settle for 4-5 days and bacteria gets cleaned through solar energy. Water analysis showed that physico-chemical and biological chemicals of the water have been cleared and the water suitable for domestic and irrigation purposes.