And with Dedication, Perseverance and Patience, year of 2022 made us experience Altruism
As stated in my previous blog, in October 2021, we, a team of 15 volunteers, had reached 14 families in Majuli, Assam to provide low cost DIY filter (Arsiron Nilogon).
After the completion of our pilot phase, the team had its focus to reach 45 more families in 2022. And with selfless dedication, within 6 months of 2022, our team reached 83 more families (almost double the number we had thought of)!!!
Under the guidance of Prof. Robin Kumar Dutta of Tezpur University, the second phase of the filter installation started. The goal of this phase was focused on increasing awareness about importance of clean drinking water along with providing the DIY filter for same.
The Pilot phase of the filter had learnings to offer us that made us more cognizant and hence made us include following improvements:
- Testing and Identification of right villages who need filters the most.
- Centralized procurement of high quality filter material. This also enabled us to have consistent quality maintained for all filters.
- Creation/Identification of mini storage facility to house the filter materials.
- Empowering local youth by providing filter making and installation opportunities.
- Word of mouth by families that participated in pilot phase. The focus indented was to increase awareness of clean drinking water and adoption of low cost DIY filter for same.
Before I explain the Phase 2 journey, here is how this powerful and pocket friendly Arsiron Nilogon filter enhances the water purity and quality:
How is the Arsiron Nilogon made?
This DIY filter requires:
- two plastic buckets, drums or RCC containers of required size
- two plastic taps
- some sand and gravel
- cooking soda, 5% (w/V) potassium permanganate, 25%(w/V) ferric chloride with dispensing aids
Arsiron Nilogon filter can be made using two plastic buckets, drums or RCC containers of requires size and two plastic taps as shown in image below. One of the containers is used for arsenic removal treatment and the other, placed below the first one, as a sand-gravel filter. The method can be used for any quantity of water starting from Household size to large piped water supply schemes.
How does Arsiron Nilogon work?
- The procedure requires to take the water in the top container as shown in setup above
- Next step requires addition of cooking soda and stirring for a while with bamboo, wooden or glass stick
- As step 3, 5% (w/V) potassium permanganate is added and mixed thoroughly
- Following this, 25% (w/V) ferric chloride is added and mixed thoroughly
- Water is then left for 30 minutes for sediments to settle down
- Water is then filtered through sand gravel filter
- To ensure, water and its source is not contaminated again, sludge produced at step 5 is disposed safely with help of earthen pot
And the Phase 2 Journey begins!!!
On 30 Jan, 2022, second face of the filter installation project saw the light of day and the phase started:
Phase 2 of the project reached its completion on 7th July 2022. Along with help of funds given by few more people, we extending its reach to 83 more families!!!
Some Glimpses of the on field progress:
Smiles Spread!
Including the Pilot/Phase1 and Phase 2, we have reached to 97 families.
But, has our journey ended? Certainly not! Why? Because the warriors inside us, refuse to give up!
Each one of us, we took small steps
Earnestly giving the efforts to make it best
In the call of duty, no one took rest
For reaching the fellow men was the quest
The warriors inside us refused to sleep
For providing clean water to our fellow men was our deed
The smiles that have reached, has bought us sunshine too
We all believe, I am, because of you— Ubuntu!!!
