Kohima: In a path breaking and revolutionary technology for solving drinking water supply problems in rural areas, the Nagaland PHE Department has successfully implemented a new technology using solar energy developed by the Mumbai based Company Additya Corporation.
According to official sources the Solar Powered Water Treatment Unit using advanced membrane filtration system is currently being implemented in three villages of Kohima district; Meriema, Tsiesema and Kijumetouma. The system is being implemented under the National Rural Drinking Water Program, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of India.
The Chief Engineer for PHED, Kevisekho Kruse along with SE (M&I) Er Repang Longkumer , concerned EE, SDO and other staff members visited the project sites and interacted with the beneficiaries at the main reservoir site of Meriema yesterday.
The system, powered by solar energy, is capable of filtering 1200 liters per hour and can pump water to a height of 200 meters (approx. 650 feet). It is fully automatic in its operation, with no necessity of human intervention for day to day operation of the system. The system, with ultra filtration, gives out treated water that is of high quality standard for drinking purpose. The water is free from all objectionable physical, chemical and biological contamination.
Since the need of human intervention is totally done away with in this new technology, it is seen as a very appropriate system for rural people who are generally not capable of sustaining any system that require regular and intensive supervision.
The Chief Engineer for PHED, Kevisekho Kruse pointed out that, in view of the severe water shortage problems being faced by the village, the now available high quality water should be used very judiciously and for drinking purpose only rather than for other non essential uses like vehicle washing.
It is expected that the projects will be completed in all respects in a few weeks time and that many people from these three villages will be relieved to a significant level during the onset of the dry winter season.
The Chief Engineer also pointed out that once the pilot projects are completed successfully, the same would be implemented in large scale in all other districts facing acute water shortage problems with no available gravity water supply source.
The Additya Solar powered water treatment unit, with advanced filtration system being tested successful for the first time in India, promises to become a strong water solution technology for many parts of the country, especially the hilly and mountainous regions of the country. (UNI)
