Aug 02, 2003 10:30 AM
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(Updated Aug 02, 2003 10:30 AM)
I still remember my good old days when I was going to school with just a school bag! Yes, just a school bag and no water bag!
To-day the scene has completely changed. You can’t imagine a student without a water bag, you can’t imagine a traveler without mineral water bottle. I frequently have to carry a water bottle even to a movie when going with family!
Hard fact of life, indeed, but we have to leave with it. We have to pay the price of spoilt environment and dangerous drinking water.
In big cities, the residential water supply is often from a bore well. In towns and villages you can’t predict the water quality.
All said and done we have to think of really potable water.
Let us analyze it technically.
The best is the water having a specified limit of totally dissolved solids (TDS).
It is generally varying over a wide range in a given well.
In municipal supplies it varies but range is limited and controllable.
Generally the process of reducing the same is quite costly and needs a longer time. Please note it once for all that no house hold water purifier will do it for you where the final outlet comes in a matter of seconds.
The water should be properly filtered to eliminate suspended and un-dissolved solids. Charcoal and sand are age-old but still the best means of filtration on a large as well as house-hold scale.
Germs and bacteria: The best way and still the most popular way is to either boil the water or to chlorinate it.
Just think over the water born diseases in villages and towns as compared to metros, you will agree to me about the above.
To derive at some practical solution in context to the above pro-logue, I would recommend a water purification system rather than only a purifier. I have installed the Kenstar system and the same is working phenominally well. So easy to operate, so easy to clean an so easy to recharge. I have assembled them on a wooden board to ensure proper and compact mounting and firm tubing.
The system is as under.
Tap water -- softner-- filter--u-v purifier
SOFTENER: The reason for buying a softner is unpredictable level of dissolved/undissolved solids as discussed above. The softner needs to be re-charged every 15-20 days. Soft water is better for cooking too.
FILTER: Activated carbon filter is best available medium for house hold purpose. In normal circumstances, the predicted life is quite long.
U-V PURIFIER: The u-v purification is the best available and affordable means to remove bacteria.
In short , I have tried to achieve improvement in all areas of doubt-suspended solids, fine filtration, softening removal of germs.
The system is quite efficient from power consumption point of view. The music is liked by my daughter.
CONCLUSION: I would very strongly recommend to all my MS fellows to install a water purification system rather than just a purifier.
CAUTION: At times of monsoon (when the water supply is worst) or when there is wide spread water born diseases like jaundice or diarrhea, please do not depend on your systems, go for boiled water only or use mineral/chlorinated water.
You can also use chlorine tablets/liquid available for use especially while travelling.
