Tamil Nadu - Chennai   

Low cost, low tech water solutions

By K. Lakshmi

CHENNAI, AUG. 31. The quest for fresh water does not end with digging deeper into the ground or spending huge amounts on desalination.

A former adviser to the United Nations and currently the Chief Monitor, Survival by Seawater Global Monitor, Felix Ryan, says there is a viable alternative — distillation of seawater at low cost, accessible even to the rural poor.

Mr. Ryan has invented over 20 distillation methods for domestic use that do not require much investment. His techniques are based on the simple principle of `evaporation and condensation' to get potable water.

He stresses the difference between desalination and distillation. "Desalination through expensive reverse osmosis plants will only remove salinity. But distillation, which involves heating, evaporating and condensing, guarantees pure drinking water." Some of the techniques he has already implemented are listed in his recent publication, `How to Convert Sea Water into Drinking Water.' They have already been put to use in eight countries, including Somalia and Australia, and a few States in India such as Gujarat.

Steel container

One of the simplest methods in his easy-to-use manual is the `domestic still'. A steel container is filled with seawater and a smaller empty container is placed inside it. The big container is then covered with a white plastic sheet allowing the middle portion to sag like a funnel over the smaller vessel. In order to prevent the smaller one from rising, a weight is placed inside.

Cold water is then poured into the depression in the plastic sheet and the unit is heated. When the water reaches boiling point, it evaporates and condenses against the sheet as drops of pure water in the small vessel. The residual salt is collected in the bottom of the big container.

The book lists methods that can be adopted both in rural and urban areas such as Terrace Still and Rice Pot Still using fuel or solar energy. Mr. Ryan has also innovated a community water supply system, `Six Tank Still' which can supply water for 10,600 people with an investment of Rs. 3 lakhs. "During the severe drought in Gujarat about six years ago, I was asked to help by L.K. Advani and Maneka Gandhi. I demonstrated the methods in most districts, which was later implemented in many villages both at the community and domestic level," he says.

A proposal for a centralised and domestic distillation of seawater at Besant Nagar, on the lines of the Gujarat model, has been submitted to the State Government, Mr. Ryan — the author of six books, 20 pamphlets and over 100 papers on conversion of seawater — says.

Priced at Rs. 50, the manual can be obtained from the publisher, Books for Change at 139, Richmond Road, Bangalore - 560025. Ph: 080-5586682. Email: bfc@actionaidindia.org. Mr.Ryan can be contacted at 22351993.

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