My Journey With

Water For People From

1996 to present

Soma Bhadra

Water, Water Everywhere

Is The Water Safe?

More than 100 Million

people affected

skin ulcers, tumors, cancer

USEPA limit – 10ppb

WHO limit – 50ppb

Average (red areas) –

70 times USEPA limit

High conc. – 500

times USEPA limit

Types of Arsenic

• Arsenite

– Reduced form (+3 Valence)

– More mobile in water

– More toxic

– More difficult to remove

– Removal enhanced by presence of iron oxides

• Arsenate

– Oxidized (+5) form

– More readily removable

– Removed by activated alumina

• Arsenic in West Bengal groundwater averages - 70%

Arsenate,30 % Arsenite

Development of AMAL Filter

• Designed by Civil Engineering Department of Bengal Engineering College

• First filter constructed in 1997

• Over 250 filters installed

• Over 250,000 people benefit from filters

• Cost: About $1,200 per installation

• Each filter may serve about 200 families (1,000 people)

• AA is locally available in West Bengal

Founder of

Program: the late

Amal K. Dutta

Domestic

Unit

Activat

edAlum

ina

BB

GV

HNRV

GV

Outlet

Overflow

Provision

for

Backwash

SS Tank

All Dimensions are in mm

Activated

Alumina

SS

Plug From

Hand

Pump

Water Meter

Sand

Brick

Khoa

Sand Filter

Ground Level G.L

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S. S Plate

Union

Elbow Tee

Tee

Union

Elbow

Union

Tee

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9

Slab

Brick

Khoa

(Graded)

Stop

Cock

Elbow Reducer

610 x 610

VNRV

Graded

Gravel

HNRV = Horizontal Non-Return Valve

VNRV = Vertical Non-Return Valve

GV = Gate Valve

SV = Stop Valve

BB = Bib Cock

SS Plate with mesh

SS Splash Plate

Perforated

AMAL Arsenic Removal Unit (Hand Pump-Attached)

04M-0006.9

• Formation of users association – President

– Secretary

– Committee members

– Goal of 50% women participation

• Development of maintenance procedure

– User identity card

– User fee

– Hire and train local people

for maintenance Supported by BESU Staff

Village Level Arsenic Unit Institution

for Maintenance

Centralized Regeneration Facility

Regeneration costs paid through user

charges – Rs 10 – 15 pm

Independent, cooperatively

operated facility, central to

villages with filters

Steps in a Regeneration

1. HCl Rinse – Removes iron

2. NaOH Rinse – Strips Arsenic

3. HCI Rinse – Neutralizing

4. Water Rinse

Crank to stir

drum and

agitate AA

during a

regeneration

New Regenerated Spent

• Regional workshops, refresher courses

• Coordinated with health and hygiene education program

Sustainability of the AMAL project

Instructions & Rules of Use

AMAL ARSENIC PURIFIER

Managed by

SWADHIN OIKYA

SENDANGA – BELTALA – 24

Parganas (North)

1. Purchase a card to buy arsenic-

free water.

2. Collect water every day, 6am to

10am and 4pm to 7pm.

3. Payment is due by the 5th of

every month.

4. Each card allows obtaining 25

liters of water per day.

5. Maximum of two containers of

water to be given.

6. Purchase more cards if you

need more water.

7. Clean your containers before

you bring them to the filter.

8. If you lose your card, you may

buy a new one for 5 rupees.

04M-0006.15

Monthly

monitoring of

arsenic levels

Typical Filter Placard - PUMLIYA

Treated Water Arsenic

Concentration

(0.02 mg/l)

Untreated Water Arsenic

Concentration (0.1 mg/l) Date of Last Sample

(October 20, 2003)

Water use by the filter

is metered

Ownership and Responsibility

Despite being very poor, this

man has accepted paying

what he can towards using

the filter, and is an advocate

in the village for its use.

Women play a major role in the

operation and upkeep of most

filters.

They also are instrumental in

convincing others to use the

filters.

THANK YOU