Assam Flood: Demonstration of water purification

GUWAHATI: The Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) is making efforts to reach out to the flood-affected people with its low-cost and user-friendly solutions to meet the short-term demand for clean water in the aftermath of the floods.

In this regard, the Minister for Public Health Department (PHED) Jayanta Mallabaruah chaired a demonstration to illustrate how normally available water could be purified during the floods at the Key Resource Centre of PHED at Betkuchi.

The two main processes involved in the purification of water are using any Chlorine or NaDCC tablets, and using a proportional mixture of Bleaching Powder, Lime, and Alum in a ratio of 1:8:16. However, for both processes, it is essential to mix the water with the above-mentioned solutions and leave it for a period of at least 30 to 45 minutes before using it. In addition, for the second process, i.e. using the combination of bleaching powder, lime and alum, the water needs to be filtered with a clean cotton cloth, which is folded into at least four folds before use.

For the first process where NaDCC or any Chlorine tablets are used, is beneficial to purify water that is free of turbidity. The second process using the combination of bleaching powder, lime and alum is beneficial to treat turbid water because lime and alum help in coagulation and flocculation of the small particles which makes the water turbid. The bleaching powder helps to purify water by killing microorganisms present in the water.

"We hope that the demonstration done here today will help the flood-affected people have access to drinking water during the floods and also after it, by using the purification techniques displayed here today. It is pertinent to mention here that the department has already made available 8 lakh chlorine tablets to Barak Valley to tide over the demand for drinking water during the present floods. The department also has sufficient stock of both chlorine tablets and the packets of the mixture of Bleaching Powder, Lime and Alum, to help the flood-affected," PHED Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah said. "I urge my media friend to prepare a crisp report on the demonstration today so that the flood-affected people can benefit from it," he added.

The demonstration was also attended, by the Additional Chief Secretary, Syedain Abbasi, Mission Director Jal Jeevan Mission and Commissioner Secretary, Akash Deep, Special Secretary, Biswadeep Das, and other senior officers of the Public Health Department, a press release said.

Also Read: Assam Flood: Flood scene eases, but problems persist; Death toll rises to 117

Also Watch: UP Govt Orders Removal of Illegal Loudspeakers from Religious Places