Compiled by Pankaj Kumar S., Resource Person and Ramya Gopalan, Research Associate, 13 December 2006
From Kanishk Negi, Society for Promotion of Wastelands Development (SPWD), Udaipur, Rajasthan
Posted: 29 September 2006
I work in the western arid zone of India with the Society for Promotion of Wastelands Development (SPWD) on issues related to water, forestry and land. Members are aware that an increasingly large number of villages and habitations now suffer from Fluoride contamination. Fluorosis causes deterioration of bones and joints, thereby increasing medical expenditure and in some areas like Rajasthan, has prevented people from marrying their daughters in a village where drinking water is contaminated.
The root cause of fluoride contamination is firstly, using water from deeper aquifers and secondly, underground geology (availability of rocks rich in fluoride content) with no relation to the aquifer level. The current practice to deal with fluorosis involves diversion of cleaner surface water from lesser-affected regions to more affected ones. However, this is not a long-term solution and may cause conflicts as scarcity increases.
In order to find a sustainable solution for this problem, SPWD is developing a programme following the approach of increasing ground water levels to dilute the concentration of fluoride, complemented by reducing the amount of water extraction. This would involve artificial recharge of ground water, limiting the draft, harvesting alternate sources like rainwater harvesting and enhancing the immune system of the people.
In the above background, I request members to share their experience on the following:
Responses received with thanks from:
1. V. Kurian Baby, SEUF, Kerala
2. K. A. S. Mani, APFAMGS, Hyderabad
3. D. Chandrasekharam, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mumbai
4. Seema Raghunathan, NATCO Trust, Hyderabad
5. R. Srikanth, WaterAid India, New Delhi
6. K. Kiran Kumar, SKG Sangha, Kolar, Karnataka
7. Meghna Das, Independent Consultant, UK
8. A. K. Susheela, Fluorosis Research and Rural Development Foundation, New Delhi
9. Paul Deverill, UNICEF India, New Delhi
10. N. Ramachandran, Periyar PURA, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
11. Terry Thomas, Participatory Learning and Action Network (PLANET Kerala), Thiruvananthapuram
12. Ajit Sheshadri, The Vigyan Vijay Foundation, New Delhi
13. T.S. Krishnan Iyer, Development Oriented Operations, Research and Surveys, Noida
14. U. V. Sambhu Prasad, Lloyds and Lous Burgers Inc., Varani, Andhra Pradesh
15. S. Vishwanath, Rainwater Club, Bangalore
Further contributions are welcome!
Locally Constructed Alternate Rainwater Based Drinking Systems (from S. Vishwanath, Rainwater Club, Bangalore)
The Karnataka Government is trying an alternative water collection system in 1,000 villages. A small tank (1,500 liters to 2,000 liters) built using locally available materials and skills, collects rainwater during the rainy season and acts as storage, to provide fluoride-free water for most of the year (20 liters/family/day). Additionally the government is developing a small sand filter to pre-filter water before storage and trying SODIS with chlorine tablets for bacterial disinfection.
Rainwater Based Drinking Systems Using Slow Sand Filters (from K. Kiran Kumar, SKG Sangha, Kolar, Karnataka)
As part of its social activity SKG Sangha installed 16 rainwater based drinking systems at government schools in Bagalkot district. The systems have slow sand bed filters with activated carbon in the form of wood charcoal and a sealed storage tank in brick masonry with capacities of 1,500 to 3,000 liters. The savings in electricity charges to pump ground water will recover the cost of the units within two years and provide clean potable water to fluoride-affected areas.
Tamil Nadu
Water Purification Plant under Periyar PURA (from N. Ramachandran, Periyar PURA, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu)
The Periyar College adopted 65 villages near the college under the Periyar PURA scheme. Since the drinking water that people get from deep bore well is not potable, the Institute made efforts to find alternate options and succeeded in getting a water purification plant from US based Pure O Tech Company, installed in Muthuveerakandian Patti, Thanjavur taluk. This plant brings all water within safe parameters, including fluoride, thus providing the village people purified water.
Dipak Roy, UNICEF, Jaipur (from Paul Deverill, UNICEF India, New Delhi)
DRoy@unicef.org
Recommended for more specific advice on fluoride contamination status and fluoride mitigation programs of Rajasthan
Recommended Documentation
A Household Defluorodation Technique (from V. Kurian Baby, SEUF, Kerala)
C. Banuchandra and P. Selvapathy; TWAD Technical Newsletter; August 2005
http://www.twadboard.com/photos/7.pdf (Size: 765.3 KB)
Presents the findings of investigation on the use of alum, lime (Nalgonda technique) and activated alumina for household level defluoridation.
Solar Desalination (from Terry Thomas, Participatory Learning and Action Network (PLANET Kerala), Thiruvananthapuram)
PLANET Kerala
http://www.planetkerala.org/downloads/SolarDistillation.pdf (Size: 768.34 MB)
Details Solar Desalination as a compact and point of use treatment for chemical, physical and biological contaminants in drinking water citing its experience in Kerala
Water quality in Sustainable Water Management (from K. S. Murali, UNDP, New Delhi)*
Sudhakar M. Rao and P. Mamatha; Current Science, Vol. 87, No. 7; October 10, 2004
http://eprints.iisc.ernet.in/archive/00002390/01/water_quality.pdf (Size: 161.1 KB)
Analyses water pollution by point and diffuse sources and introduces a new method of treating fluoride contamination using magnesium oxide, developed at IISc, Bangalore.
*Offline Contribution
From Ramya Gopalan, Research Associate
Fluorosis Management Programme in India
A. K. Susheela
http://www.ias.ac.in/currsci/nov25/articles13.htm
Focuses on awareness generation, opting technology for fluoride removal/strategy, and emphasizes importance of antioxidant-rich diet to minimize fluoride effects
Common Treatment Techniques
Excel Water Technologies Inc.
Click here to view link
Provides details on a number of techniques such as Activated Alumina, Anionic Exchange, Reverse Osmosis which enable the removal of fluoride amongst other contaminants
Fluoride Detection Kit for Groundwater, A Field-Kit for Quick Estimation of Fluoride in Ground-Water
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai
http://www.barc.ernet.in/webpages/technologies/fdk/fdk_br.html
Details FDK as a simple, user-friendly and highly cost effective kit for estimation of fluoride in groundwater in comparison with currently available techniques.
Mobile Drinking Water Treatment/Disaster Management Unit
Update; Ion Exchange India, No. 1; August 2003
http://www.ionindia.com/pdf/water_tech/updates/update_august%252003.pdf (Size: 435.81 KB)
Provides information on water and waste water treatment technologies particularly the mobile drinking water treatment unit for rural communities
Fluoride Contamination in Water Highest in Dharmapuri
S. Prasad; The Hindu; May 24 2004
http://www.healthlibrary.com/news/2004/24-29-may04/news6.html
Article finds that Dharmapuri due to Failure to conserve rainwater and excessive depletion of groundwater has a high concentration of endemic fluoride
Defluoridation of Water Using Inexpensive Adsorbents
A. V. Jamode, V. S. Sapkal and V. S. Jamode; Journal of Indian Institute of Science; Sep–Oct 2004
http://journal.library.iisc.ernet.in/vol200405/paper4/jamode.pdf (Size:74 KB)
Study assesses the suitability of inexpensive leaf adsorbents to effectively remediate fluoride-contaminated water.
The Dark Zone
Nidhi Jamwal and D. B. Manisha; Down to Earth
Reports the extent of the problem and enormity of human tragedy due to fluoride and arsenic contamination in groundwater
Tests are done for anyone referred to the Foundation from anywhere in the country. Samples need to be brought in plastic vials/bottles.
Paul Deverill, UNICEF India, New Delhi
It is good to see that there is still quite a bit of interest about fluoride in drinking water. I would like to use the opportunity to share a few lessons that UNICEF has learnt over the last few years in this respect, particularly in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.
I think that we need to recognize that the problem we are dealing with is fluorosis, not just excess fluoride in drinking water. Studies recently undertaken by UNICEF Bhopal, and Dr. Chakma and his team from the Regional Medical Research Centre for tribals (ICMR) in Jabalpur indicate that 58 to 64% of fluoride consumed in survey areas in Jhabua District is ingested as food. The worst culprits in this respect were cereals and pulses such as red gram. Earlier studies undertaken by ICMR in Mandla, Madhya Pradesh, had also concluded that those most severely affected by fluorosis were markedly deficient in calcium and micro-nutrients.
Interventions designed to reduce fluoride should be informed by such studies, and include diet and nutrition interventions. In MP, the promotion of Chakoda (Cassia tora), which is rich in calcium, has helped mitigate the disease. It should be said that Chakoda was already used by tribals - but its significance in mitigating fluorosis was not appreciated. When designing fluorosis control measures, we also need to ensure we know how effective they are. This implies the need for surveillance. Screening for dental fluorosis in schools is an effective surveillance measure, provided those carrying out the inspection can identify the dental staining and pitting associated with fluorosis. It is astonishing and depressing that a whole generation after fluorosis was first diagnosed, many health officials and health works in areas where this is a problem are unable to diagnose the disease.
To be effective and sustainable, interventions must be intersectoral, involving health centres, schools, Anganwadis, water service providers and local government. Specific interventions can be focused on vulnerable groups within a population - such as pregnant and lactating mothers. Monitoring impact of interventions is essential - and a key role for health authorities. Only then will we be able to arrest the disease.
In this context, we can look at water quality. Here I have two points. Firstly, screening water supplies should be carried out with an ion-specific electrode or photometer, not a semi-quantitative test kit. Laboratory titration methods are better than field test kits but the process takes too long given the number of tests required. Field test kits should be used in the context of determining whether a fluoride removal filter is working or not (see below). Almost 200 ion meters were provided by UNICEF and WHO to Government departments over the last ten years - but how many are still functional and in use?
Secondly, when designing water quality interventions, we need to consult users and take into account their wishes and demand. The most simple and most sustainable interventions may include rain water harvesting and dilution and sanitary wells. Multi-village water supplies are expensive to build and maintain, and are vulnerable to faecal contamination if the supply is interrupted by power cuts. As in the case on Anantapur, we must be sure that the water source can meet projected water demand. But, if well designed and supported with extensive capacity building, piped water supplies may provide a longer term solution.
Fluoride removal, by comparison, may be even more difficult to sustain. UNICEF and others have developed domestic systems using activated alumina. These work in the lab. However, in the field, domestic filters must be supported with a network of regeneration centres. In addition, all users must be informed (and sufficiently motivated) to ensure that their filters are "re-activated" every three months or so. The costs of regeneration are also quite high - typically 30 rupees for 3 kg of activated alumina. The poorest families may be willing to contribute something, but may need a subsidy to afford this. All these points must be taken into account when designing a filter-based intervention. Otherwise there is a significant risk that we end up distributing filters which are not going to be used.
For more specific advice on Rajasthan (requested by Kanish Negi), please contact Dipak Roy, PO WES in UNICEF Jaipur: DRoy@unicef.org
N. Ramachandran, Periyar PURA, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
We are thankful for the information given on Solution Exchange to remove Fluoride contamination. In this connection, we would like to furnish our experience in supplying pure drinking water to three villages in Thanjavur district, Tamilnadu where our institution is located. Our institution, Periyar Maniammai College of Technology for Women, has taken up the scheme Periyar PURA inaugurated by His Excellency the President of India Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. We have adopted 65 villages near our college under Periyar PURA scheme and are working towards achieving:
The drinking water that people get from the deep bore well is not potable. However, people are forced to consume it as there is no other option. Keeping this in mind, our Institute made efforts and succeeding in getting a water purification plant from Pure O Tech, a US based company. This plant was installed in Muthuveerakandian Patti of Thanjavur taluk and was dedicated to the village people by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on 24.09.06. This plant purifies water and brings all parameters including fluoride well within permissible limits providing people of these villages purified water.
Terry Thomas, Participatory Learning and Action Network (PLANET Kerala), Thiruvananthapuram
Referring to fluoride contamination, I am highlighting two aspects for consideration - firstly a biological option and, secondly a physical option. Phytoremediation- There are many traditional processes of using plants to improve water quality. Many plants were scientifically validated regarding the unique capability of the roots to absorb excess contaminants from soil/ aquifer and maintain water quality under control. Many indigenous plants absorb the commonly found excess nitrates, phosphates, chlorides from the soil. A combination of these plants can be used to provide a practical option/s for controlling water quality, especially in shallow homestead water ponds. Excess Fluoride can also possibly be treated using locally available plants with such properties, either naturally or through constructed phytoremediation systems. However, more inputs are needed in screening local plant species with these properties we have not ventured into this area yet. In the long run, it can offer environmentally sustainable options with multiple values.
Solar Distillation (not SODIS) units are now become compact and affordable. They can treat excess Fluoride along with other excess salts and biological contamination, producing fresh water. Solar Distillation is the only technology that addresses both biological and chemical contamination. Further information may be found at the following
link: http://www.planetkerala.org/downloads/SolarDistillation.pdf
Hope this adds some value to the WES professionals.
Ajit Sheshadri, The Vigyan Vijay Foundation, New Delhi
We endorse fully the potential of plants - phytoremediation process to clean up domestic wastewater from the experiences of 2 projects in Delhi. Definitely, it would work to process raw water from sub-soil or from ponds etc. Constructed wetlands have a lot of scope. Please feel free to write in for further discussions on these aspects.
T. S. Krishnan Iyer, Development Oriented Operations, Research and Surveys, Noida
I find the suggestions of Shri Terry most valuable, as they are nature-oriented therapies. He mentions that we have not ventured in the field of identifying plants that could absorb excessive harmful substances from soil/water. Could we take steps to collect more information on this aspect? Does anyone know persons or institutions researching or initiating research on this aspect?
U. V. Sambhu Prasad, Lloyds and Lous Burgers Inc., Varani, Andhra Pradesh
I think most of you are aware of the three-tier household water filtration kit that is being promoted by UNICEF. It is like any other domestic candle water filter with an additional middle chamber having a bag of activated Alumina. This granular chemical looks like sugar (more like sooji - farina). The Fluoride level of the output water is comparable to WHO standards for consumption. However, the chemical needs to be thoroughly cleaned once every two to three months.
As far as plants are concerned, water hyacinth, though an IAS (Invasive Alien Species-IUCN) has been used in Mudiali experiment near Calcutta to absorb Arsenic and other trace metals. It involves multi channel purification. I am not certain if it works for Flouride or not. The best person to advice on this account would be Dr. Dhrubajoti Ghosh, now with CESS in Calcutta. He was instrumental in using water hyacinth for decontamination and for propagation of the same through CBOs.
S. Vishwanath, Rainwater Club, Bangalore
I wish to inform members that the government of Karnataka is trying out an alternative in a 1000 villages with the following rooftop rainwater harvesting ideas:
The use of harvested water has increased. However, a great deal of interaction is needed before people start using rainwater for drinking (unlike say in Rajasthan or Gujarat where rainwater from rooftops have traditionally been used for drinking).
NGO's like BIRD-K are also adopting this method along with dilution through artificial recharge to lower fluoride levels in groundwater.
For some financial assistance for these kinds of work you may look at www.arghyam.org for support
Many thanks to all who contributed to this query!
If you have further information to share on this topic, please send it to Solution Exchange for WES-Net at se-wes@solutionexchange-un.net.in with the subject heading “Re: [se-wes] Query: Removing Fluoride Contamination, from SPWD, Udaipur (Experiences) Additional Reply.”
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