Tamil Nadu - Thanjavur   

School students invent method to clean polluted water

Special Correspondent

To present paper at State-level conference

THANJAVUR: National Service Scheme (NSS) students of National Higher Secondary School, Mannargudi, have invented a way to clean polluted water.

Their research paper describing the method presented at the national child scientists' district conference at Tiruvarur was adjudged the best, a press release issued here on Thursday said.

M. Manikandan, K. Shankar Babu, N. Vijay, V. Vignesh and D. Lakshmikanth, under the guidance of NSS project officer N. Rajappa, worked for three months and prepared the paper based on practical work.

The students collected 2.5 litres of wastewater from a sewage tank in Ravanan Kulam south bank of Mannargudi. The water swarmed with mosquito larvae. The students added 10 grams of pseudomonas florescence to the water and enveloped the container with a fine wire mesh so that the mosquitoes cannot escape.

They found that on the fourth day the pseudomonas bacteria, which can eat waste particles and other slag in wastewater, had grown. On the seventh day the colour of the water turned crystal clear.

The students gave the treated water to the Tamil Nadu Water and Drainage (TWAD) Board, Thanjavur, to be tested. After testing it the TWAD board said the treated water was usable.

The students conducted a programme in the school and distributed pamphlets in the town and nearby villages to create an awareness of the method.

The students will present the paper at a state-level conference to be held at Shanmugha Arts Science Technology and Research Academy (SASTRA) in Thanjavur on December 3 and 4.

R. Sethuraman, headmaster, appreciated the students.

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