Friday, February 17, 2012

Water purification unit designed to reduce hardness and fluoride in water

The Institute of Fundamental Studies (IFS) which functions under the Ministry of Technology and Research conducts basic and advanced scientific research and makes new innovations which uplifts scientific and technological activities of Sri Lanka.

Scientist J. P Padmasiri of the Institute of Fundamental Studies and Engineer W. M. Jayawardhana, a volunteer, have successfully designed a water purification Unit which can reduce excess hardness and fluoride in drinking water in the dry zone.

The surveys carried out earlier by the Institute revealed that a majority of wells in the dry zone have Fluoride levels far higher than the safety level of 0.6 mg/1.

People in these areas face serious health problems such as the ugly staining known as dental fluorosis due to access of fluoride in their drinking water. The attention of the researchers has now focused on whether the water contaminated with excess fluoride and hardness can cause chronic kidney disease in the dry zone which has become a life threatening issue in Sri Lanka.

The development of the Electro coagulation water purification Unit by the scientists of the institute would eliminate the shortcomings of the established community based water supply projects which were distributing unsuitable drinking water.

The Ministry of Technology and Research has clearly identified the problem and allocated Rs. 12 million to install 1.0 water purification units in the areas badly affected by poor water duality.

Accordingly, the Institute has already installed 04 water purification units at Mahavillachchiya, Galadiwulwewa and two units in Nochchiyagama in the Anuradhapura District in line with the "Deyata Kirula 2012" Development Exhibition. They were installed and commissioned with technical support from "Spectra Industries Lanka’ Pvt. Ltd, Kurunegala.

http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=45453

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