Low-cost solution launched to tackle arsenic in water

People for Water a United States based non-government organisation engaged in providing arsenic free water in India is determined to provide arsenic treatment plant at all arsenic affected areas in West Bengal.

The NGO has till date installed 100 such arsenic extraction and treatment plants in 100 villages at an investment of $1500 in the last few months with funds it has received from various donating agencies.

It has also installed a regeneration plant in North 24 Parganas that revitalises the arsenic filters fitted with the arsenic treatment plant that last for around a year.

The idea behind setting up the regeneration plant is to cut on the cost of sending the filters to the United States for revitalisation.

"We plan to set up one revitalisation plant in each district so that it can cater to all requirement in the state reducing the time for regenerating and the cost," explained Arun Deb, environment consultant and former vice president, Weston International.

"We plan to set up arsenic treatment plants at all arsenic affected areas if we can arrange for funds for the purpose. The model would be that the plants would be setup by us, but the cost of maintenance of the plant has to be borne by the affected villagers. This was to bring in a sense of ownership among the villagers towards the plant, in spite of which the chances that the plant will lie idle is very high," he explained.

Deb also said that villagers in affected areas also were required to be educated for using water free of arsenic and the dangers of consuming arsenic contaminated water.

The agency said it had faced some problems with some villagers who have avoided consumption of water from these plants for they would have to pay a token charge for maintenance of the plant.

The cost of maintenance was a little over Rs 4,000 per year while the plant had the capacity to supply pure water to a village.