ARSENIC POISONING IN GROUND WATER

Transcription

1 ARSENIC POISONING IN GROUND WATER A Case Study By Varun Singh Bhalla Class XII Modern School Barakhamba Road, New Delhi

2 Table of Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS... 2 ARSENIC POISONING IN GROUND WATER... 3 INTRODUCTION:... 3 BACKGROUND:... 4 ARSENICOSIS THE PROBLEM... 5 AVAILABLE SOLUTIONS:... 6 PROPOSED SOLUTION:... 7 ABOUT DRINKWELL SYSTEMS... 8 RECOMMENDATION

3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank Dr. Arup Sengupta, Dr. Mike German and Mr. Minhaj Choudhary for the initiatives taken by them to propagate the technology for removal of arsenic in water. Their efforts have made lives of the people affected by Arsenicosis significantly better. In addition, I would like to thank all staff of Drinkwell Systems for their support, cooperation and guidance. In particular I would like thank Dr. Prasun Chatterjee for explaining to me in detail about the technology being used in the process of Arsenic and Fluoride removal. My sincere thanks to Mr. Sudip Sarkar who was with me every step of the way in my journey to uncover the problem of Arsenic and without whose guidance and support this case study would not have been possible. The selfless work being done by these gentlemen is truly exceptional and all staff at Drinkwell Systems is truly exceptional and Humanity cannot thank them enough. I have made a small effort in uncovering and highlighting their contribution to society with the earnest hope that significant efforts will be taken by society and the decision makers in eradicating this problem of Arsenic. This problem if far too big for one man or one company to eradicate and this must be a collective effort as it affects all mankind. By Varun Singh Bhalla Class XII Modern School Barakhamba Road, New Delhi

4 ARSENIC POISONING IN GROUND WATER A CASE STUDY ON THE GREATEST MASS POISONING IN HUMAN HISTORY. By: Varun Singh Bhalla Student: Class XII Modern School Barakhamba Road, New Delhi INTRODUCTION: Most of the news coverage on the recently prioritized area of arsenic poisoning in our water sources, has shed light on the problem affecting rural areas. We have considered this problem to be remote rather than universal. But now with high concentrations of arsenic found closer to home - in New Delhi, the nation s capital - perhaps the government will finally take notice and action. My Case Study describes the problem of Arsenic in underground drinking water and provides solutions by emphasizing the pivotal role being played by Drinkwell Systems, a non-profit company. By using its patented technology to provide economically viable, sustainable methods for purifying water and addressing the urgent need to educate the public on the extent of this problem, Drinkwell Systems provides a viable and proactive model for action. I have personally visited the Arsenic Affected Sites in Rural Bengal, interacted with the People affected with arsenic poisoning and seen for myself the efforts being made by Drinkwell in conjunction with local communities and corporates to help eradicate this problem 3

5 Figure 1. Source: Times of India BACKGROUND: Arsenic is a naturally occurring element, present deep within the soil as an impurity that contaminates underground water. It was only during the population explosion of the mid 1980 s, when out of necessity tubewells were first dug in parts of West Bengal to meet water demand, that this problem surfaced in India. Tubewells brought the arsenic- contaminated underground water to the surface. Over the years, as the people in these areas consumed this water, (completely un-aware of the toxic presence of arsenic) the concentration of arsenic found in their bodies rose to alarming rates. High levels of arsenic in the body leads to Arsenicosis and in most cases, cancer. It is pertinent to mention here that before the Govt gave permission to dig underground tubewells, the people in rural areas mostly drank water from lakes or ponds which did not have any arsenic. 4

6 Figure 2. Source: Drinkwell Systems ARSENICOSIS THE PROBLEM Immediate symptoms of Arsenicosis include severe vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain followed by tingling in the extremities and numbness, muscle cramps and even death. Among the most common symptoms of Arsenicosis are skin lesions, pigmentations and hard patches on the palms and soles of the feet. Long term exposure may also cause cancer in the bladder, liver, throat, intestinal tract and kidneys. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IRAC) has classified Arsenic and Arsenic compounds as carcinogenic. Other Adverse effects of Arsenicosis include severe cases of Diabetes, Pulmonary diseases and Cardiovascular Diseases. Arsenic poisoning has impacted early childhood health with adverse pregnancy outcomes and infant mortality rates. Exposure in the uterus and in early childhood has been linked to increased mortality in young adults due to multiple cancers, lung disease, heart attacks and even kidney failure. Numerous studies have highlighted the negative impact of Arsenic on cognitive abilities, memory and intelligence. As per WHO ESTIMATES APPROXIMATELY 140 Million people in 50 countries globally are drinking arsenic contaminated water well above the who guidelines. In 2012 it was estimated that between 19 to 39 million people in Bangladesh alone were drinking arsenic contaminate water well above the who guidelines. In a certain area approximately 21.4% deaths are linked to drinking of arsenic contaminated water WHO AND NATIONAL SURVEYS ESTIMATE THAT IN BANGALDESH THIS HAS LEAD TO DEATHS ANUALLY 5

7 Research has clearly shown that to tackle this problem of Arsenicosis we must drink Arsenic free water. Our water bodies need to be free of such toxic contamination. Only then, over time, will the concentration of arsenic accumulated in our bodies gradually decrease and eventually lead to the problem of Arsenicosis being eliminated. AVAILABLE SOLUTIONS: Water Contains Arsenic in 2 Forms Arsenic 3 (As 3+) & Arsenic 5 (As5+) both are forms of Arsenic that are toxic and harmful to human health. Whereas As5+ due to its larger size is easily removed by conventional methods removal of As3+ still remains a challenge. Currently, there are two methods in use for filtering the arsenic present in water. 1. REVERSE OSMOSIS 2. FILTERATION PLANTS BASED ON ION EXCHANGE RESINS 1:- Reverse osmosis is very effective in reducing the Hardness of Water (TDS, Conductivity etc) but in the process it also rids the water of all minerals. While this method removes the element Arsenic-5 (As5+), it is unable to purify against the more powerful pollutant Arsenic- 3 (As3+) as due to its smaller size it slips through the pores of the Reverse Osmosis Membranes. Other problem with Reverse Osmosis are: a. Reliance on Large Amounts of Electricity b. Wastage of Water. Depending upon the hardness of the feed water between 30% to 50% water is wasted as RO Reject and it still contains Arsenic As5+, so there will be an issue to deal with this Arsenic Contaminated RO Reject Water. 2:- Filtration plants based on Ion Exchange Resin on the other hand seem more effective as they purify the water by removing only the necessary impurities including Arsenic-3 & Arsenic -5 from the water, use substantially less electricity and are therefore far more costeffective. Since no Reject water is generated, Water Recovery is over 98%. In this process the Cations of Arsenic i.e As3+ & As5+ get trapped within the structure of the Resins and the purified water flows through. A brief comparison of both the technologies is given in the table below: 6

8 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REVERSE OSMOSIS FACILITIES AND FILTRATION PLANTS Table 1 REVERSE OSMOSIS FILTRATION PLANTS Removes all minerals and then replaces necessary minerals again, making the process long and tedious. Unable to detect and filter all elements, notably Arsenic-3. Cost of purified water is very high beyond the reach of most citizens. Only remove desired impurities, thus making the process efficient and simple. Ability to filter out only necessary impurities including Arsenic-3 Cost of purified water is minimal, making it affordable for most. Between 30% to 50% water (based on the hardness of the feed water) is rejected as RO Reject which is essentially Waste Water Containing Arsenic Initial cost to set up the facility is relatively low. (Rs.7 lakhs approximately) Depending on the Capacity RO Membranes have finite life and need to be replaced every few years Since there is selective removal of impurities, Over 98% of the water is recovered as purified water minimizing wastage Initial cost to set up the facility is relatively high. (Rs.10 lakhs approximately) Depending on the Capacity Using Backwashing the Resins can be rid of the entrapped Arsenic and can be regenerated and re-used a number of times. This Arsenic can be collected for further use. PROPOSED SOLUTION: Reverse Osmosis and Filtration Systems happen to be the only two ways to purify contaminated groundwater. In my opinion, although filtration plants require a larger capital investment in the short term, in the long-run, they provide a more Commercially Viable & Environmentally Sustainable solution than Reverse Osmosis. Practical Experience has shown that use of filtration systems are more effective and cost efficient in the long run. By successfully purifying drinking water sources, filtration systems have proven to be accessible and effective in revitalizing local communities and improving Human Health. 7

9 ABOUT DRINKWELL SYSTEMS Drinkwell was co-founded by Dr. Arup Sengupta (R&D Director), Mr. Minhaj Chowdhury (CEO), Dr. Mike German (Head of Products) and Mr. Sanjay Verma (Board Member) in May 2013 as a part of WIST, Inc. in the United States, to capitalize on the lessons learned of the over 200 implementations and take advantage of the enormous market opportunity of providing clean drinking water to rural and peri-urban communities that lack access to affordable sources of clean drinking water. The Asia headquarters of the company were subsequently setup in Kolkata, India and Dhaka, Bangladesh. TEAM DRINKWELL SYSTEMS Dr. Arup Sengupta Co-founder R&D Director Mr. MinhajChoudhary Co- founder CEO Dr. Mike German Co-founder Head of Products Mr. Sudip Sarkar Sales and Marketing Mr. Sanjay Verma Co-founder Board member Dr. Prasun Chatterjee Chief Technical Officer Mr. Samir Shah Board Member Ms. Sheetal Jhunjhunwala India Business Development Head Drinkwell Systems uses a Hybrid Ion Exchange (HIX) nanotechnology that relies on locally sourced chemicals, such as Zirconium, Iron(llI) Chloride, to produce high purity resins. These resins are specially designed to absorb arsenic, and other impurities like Fluorides, Nitrates etc present in differing concentrations in local water sources. Approximately every two years, as toxic water is filtered through the plants, the concentration of arsenic in the resins reaches maximum absorption levels and the resins are sent back to Drinkwell s factory in Kolkata for regeneration. Arsenic removed is isolated in a separate storage unit. 8

10 Fe Iron TDS Patented HIX Nano Technology for Water treatment Removes Iron, Arsenic, Fluoride and other heavy metals Reduces TDS/ Hardness (if required) from water Long lasting and Regenerable media Equivalent to LayneRT Empaneled by R.A. Mashelkar Water Committee Approved by Arsenic Task Force, West Bengal Approved by USISTEF (DST) Source: Drinkwell Systems 9

11 Figure 3. Source: Drinkwell Systems Source: Drinkwell Systems Table 2. Filtration Process 1. Chemical dosing for Iron Precipitation 2. Dual OHT for Iron deposition 3. Pre Treatment filter 4. Arsenic removal filter 5. Advanced Treatment filter 6. Carbon Filter 7. UV Filter 8. Water ATM Features: No electricity required for filtration. FRP vessel with easy to operate MPV In situ media regeneration system Fast filtration by optimum gravity design Water vending through ATM system Remote monitoring and communication Source: Drinkwell Systems During the filtration process, the underground water accessed via tubewells, is drawn to the surface and then pumped into overhead storage tanks on top of the plant. Next, water is allowed to pass through the desired filters where it is treated for removal of specific impurities. The purified water is then stored in a tank from where it is collected by the community members, in barrels of twenty liters, with the help of a prepaid ATM Cards at an average cost of Rs.5 per 20 liter. 10

12 Figure 4. Source: Drinkwell Systems Drinkwell currently has 30 pilot plants of its own and over 200 plants in close association with the following organizations/ NGO s (to name a few) :- A. United States India Science & Technology Endowment Fund (USISTEF) B. Water.org C. Clinton Health Access Initiative D. Water for People E. Charity Water F. Water Aid 11

13 The Drinkwell Working Cycle Funding Organizations Local Bodies Local Co-ordination Drinkwell Plant Role ->External Funders ->Local Panchayat ->Water Source ->Treatment Plant ->Local Civic Bodies ->Local NGO ->Land ->As,F Removal ->PHED (Public Health) -> Entrepreneur ->Awareness ->TDS Reduction ->NGO s(as above) ->Water Committee ->Water Sales ->Bacteria Removal ->CSR Companies Govt PSU s TATA RELIANCE Report Back to Funding Organizations ADANI Impact on Local Society (Objective) Figure 5 ->Water Committee ->Jobs & Employment ->Better Health ->Youth Empowerment -> Women Empowerment Working in close Co-ordination and with Funding Support from Various Organizations & NGO s, PHED (Public Health Engineering Departments), Civic Bodies & CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) companies, Drinkwell Co-ordinates Plant implementation at the Local Level by working with local NGO s, Entrepreneurs & Water Committees & Panchayats to arrange Land & Water Sources in the Arsenic & Fluoride affected regions. It then uses the funds to set up the Treatment Plants & necessary infrastructure and after commissioning and smooth operation gradually hands over the working of the plant to the local Water Committee. The ultimate objective being Better Health, Jobs, and empowerment at local level to Youth, Women & Children for a better future. Each plant has a Water Committee drawn from the village Panchayat, Municipality or members of the village. Caretakers are tasked with looking after the plant and monitoring maintenance. Revenues generated from systems such as the prepaid water scheme service costs (including salaries and maintenance) and also cover various community initiatives. This creates a positive cycle of health, well-being and community activism. Another equally pressing problem is lack of awareness and basic education. Even though contaminated water has affected so many people, particularly in rural areas, most people are unaware of the cause and simply have never heard of arsenic leave alone its harmful effects. All they know is that a problem exists, and that drinking the unfiltered underground water causes severe health problems. Government support is needed to systematically implement policies to educate local residents about environmental hazards and set up water purification plants to turn back the harmful effects of years of environmental neglect. 12

14 I recently visited (June 2018) the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta, stretching across West Bengal and Assam, where Arsenic concentration in groundwater is particularly high. Drinkwell Systems has a few plants in this region. Here is a brief account of my observations at each facility. NORTH 24 PARGANAS, WEST BENGAL I. BINIMAYPARA VILLAGE: This facility, launched in 2006, happens to be the first pilot plant of Drinkwell Systems in West Bengal. Water purification occurs through processes that filter for Arsenic, Iron, Fluoride and also TDS. With a capacity for purifying 8000 liters per day, this plant caters to the daily water needs of approximately 300 people, with each person collecting water in bottles of 20 liters. At a cost of Rs.5 for every twenty liters, water from this facility is a lot more affordable than water processed via Reverse Osmosis. 13

15 Ever since this plant was first started, the number of people suffering from Arsenicosis has declined and a large number have now been cured. There has been a considerable rise in general health and well-being in this community. As the caretaker of this facility since 2013, Mr. Partho Das has been encouraged by the increased number of people coming to this facility for water. When this plant was first built, only those in the immediate area accessed the purified water. Today, people living up to 3 kilometers use this facility daily. Water from this facility is used for cooking and drinking while unpurified, normal water is used for bathing and other general purposes (Arsenicosis is caused by swallowing arsenic-contaminated water and not not by merely touching such water). Among the seven Water Committee members is the Secretary, Mr. Sapan Pal. He has suffered tremendous loss at the hands of Arsenicosis with both his parents, his uncle and his brother dying from Arsenicosis induced cancer. He himself was infected by Arsenicosis but nursed himself to good health thanks to access to clean water provided by this facility. After losing so many loved ones, those living in and around this facility are well aware of the link between unpurified water, Arsenicosis and disease. They have stopped drinking the water from tube wells and have wholeheartedly embraced Drinkwell Systems technology. 14

16 II. GAIGHATA VILLAGE: A 2-hour drive from India s border with Bangladesh, Gaighata is a village with high levels of Arsenic and Fluoride in its underground water. Drinkwell Systems set up another one of its plants here in January Funded by the Regional government, the plant is situated in the same compound as that of the Block Development Office. At a cost of Rs.10 lakhs, this government funded project provides clean drinking water to more than 30 families per day. The water is collected in containers of 20 liters each at a cost of Rs.5 per container. Since the project is relatively new, awareness about unpurified water s health hazards is not widespread within the community. Unfortunately, arsenic-contaminated water is still being consumed within the community. This plant uses TDS control, UV, Iron removal and Arsenic removal filters to purify the groundwater and draws water from a tubewell that travels to a depth of 180 metres below ground level and has the capacity to purify 6000 liters of water daily. Purified water is further distributed via a water ATM system. People come from a distance of 2.5 kilometers to collect water from this plant. This water is also utilized for cooking and drinking purposes. 15

17 The water committee of this plant consists of the members of the Panchayat, the Caretaker - Mr. Sudeep Das, and the Engineer behind the project - Mr. Arindam Biswas. There is an urgent need to increase awareness and educate locals as to the harmful effects of unpurified water. With more government support to increase awareness, the success of this project will increase. Clean water can save lives! III. 16

18 IV. GAZNA VILLAGE: In this village, Drinkwell Systems has partnered with the United States - India Science and Technology Endowment Fund (USISTEF) and Kishalaya Tarun Tritha (KTT) to start a new water purification facility. This is one of 30 such arsenic purification facilities where USISTEF has provided the funding for Drinkwell Systems to action. Land and the required space was provided by the Local NGO.KTT. In this facility, water is drawn to the ground from a 72-meter-deep tubewell and is stored in two overhead tanks. This water is then passed through Arsenic, Iron and TDS removal filters. With a total capacity to provide 6000 liters of clean water everyday, demand now extends to over 200 families covering a distance over 3 kilometers every day. 17

19 With over 15 members of the village community currently suffering from Arsenicosis, the extent of the toxic water problem is severe. It was only during routine government health checkups that high levels of Arsenic concentrations were discovered in the nails and hair of those living in this area. Testing of the ground water then led to the discovery of high levels of arsenic. On becoming aware of this problem, Mr. Sujit Dey, secretary KTT, contacted Drinkwell Systems for their help. Drinkwell Systems and USISTEF created this facility in February Ever since the launch of this facility, awareness in the surrounding communities is increasing. Revenue generated by the sale of purified water is used for plant maintenance. Any remaining money is used by KTT NGO for other community uplift initiatives. This plant has provided clean water for residents and is a cost-effective alternative to the costlier Reverse Osmosis Facility nearby. 18

20 NALBARI DISTRICT, ASSAM I. BARBARI VILLAGE: We are now in Assam and Barbari is a village with over 100 members infected by Arsenicosis. Upon learning about this problem, Gramya Vikash Mancha, a local NGO, took it upon itself to work towards a solution. It was two years ago that the NGO s Director, Mr. Prithibhushan Deka, came upon a newspaper article that exposed the presence of Arsenic in local groundwater. Mr. Deka approached the local government to perform water tests in their village. The results of these tests showed high levels of Arsenic present in the groundwater. This led to Mr. Deka approaching the TATA trust for financial support and Drinkwell Systems for technological knowhow. The resulting synergy led to the successful creation of a water purification plant. At a cost of Rs.12 lakhs, this plant generates a monthly revenue of Rs Twenty liters of water costs about Rs.7 and villagers are willing to pay this price. Again, the clean water is utilized for cooking and drinking purposes. Around people come to this plant every day to collect purified water. This plant has two overhead tanks, each with a capacity of 1500 liters, and purifies 3000 liters of water every day. Members of the local village, including plant operators, Mr. Jitumani Kalita and Mr. Papu, form the Water Committee responsible for managing the plant. Once again, with increased health benefits and awareness about the problem, demand for clean water has increased. Villagers here are also making the logical connection between clean water, health and overall well-being. 19

21 LOCATION OF THE PLANTS AND THEIR CAPACITIES STATE AND AREA WEST BENGAL: NORTH 24 PARGANAS WEST BENGAL: NORTH 24 PARGANAS WEST BENGAL: NORTH 24 PARGANAS ASSAM: NALBARI DISTRICT LOCATION BINIMAYPARA VILLAGE GAIGHATA VILAGE GAZNA VILLAGE BARBARI VILLAGE PLANT CAPACITY FUNDED BY: TECHNOLOGY BY: 8000 LPH USISTEF LEHIGH UNIVERSITY IMPLEMENTED BY (LOCAL NGO s) BINIMAYPARA AMAL JAL SAMITI 6000 LPH GOVT DRINKWELL WATER COMMITTEE 6000 LPH USISTEF DRINKWELL KISHLAYA TARUN TRITHA 3000 LPH TATA TRUST DRINKWELL GRAMYA VIKAS MANCHA 20

22 Putting things in Perspective, the Filtration Technology Provided by Drinkwell Systems Significantly reduces the Arsenic Levels in the Ground Water thereby making the water safe for human consumption. Several reports on the current status of Ground Water Both Treated & Un-Treated are available indicating all the water parameters that have been tested. Some reports are attached as Appendix A,B,C &D to this case study however, in order to highlight the level of Arsenic present in Ground Water in some of the regions that I visited and the efficiency with which this system removes them, please see the table below and the Graph which clarify everything: - Arsenic Levels in Ground Water Pre & Post Treatment Max Permissible Limit Raw Water Quality Treated Water Quality Location mg/l mg/l mg/l Binimaypara North 24 Parganas Nalbari Assam Gazna North 24 Parganas Baduria North 24 Parganas Arsenic Levels in Ground Water Pre & Post Treatment mg/l Binimaypara 24 Parganas Nalbari Assam Gazna 24 Parganas Baduria 24 Parganas Max Permissible Limit Treated Water Quality Raw Water Quality

23 RECOMMENDATION As explained, the technology and method used by Drinkwell Systems is the most suitable for addressing the urgent need to purify our contaminated groundwater. Established as a nonprofit company, Drinkwell Systems has been a leader in reaching out and establishing water purification plants in the most remote areas. We have seen how increased water purification, along with educational outreach to increase awareness about the problem has had visible, tangible benefits. What is now needed is to expand this effort and that requires funding and governmental commitment and support. With the right government backing and a little bit of funding we can do wonders by preventing thousands of people from suffering at the at the hands of Arsenicosis. more of the affected areas must be detected such filtration plants must be set up. More awareness must be generated amongst the masses highlighting the severity of the problem. Further research has established that contaminated water bodies is a pressing global problem affecting a diverse group of countries apart from India such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Hungary, Mexico, Nepal, Thailand, United States of America and Vietnam - to name a few. Arsenic is today among the World Health Organization s (WHO) 10 chemicals that pose a major public health concern. Millions of people all over the world are exposed to arsenic in water at concentrations much higher than the guideline values recommended by WHO and other bodies and therefore there is urgent need to rectify this health hazard. We must act now or we will face a health and environmental crisis of great proportions. In my opinion the only way to prevent this calamity is for the Government to Increase Awareness in Rural & Urban Areas of the presence of Arsenic in Water and its Toxic effect on health by: a. Setting up Camps to Educate People and Make them Aware b. Using Social Media to spread the message c. Doing Ad Campaigns on Television d. Inviting Partnership from Companies like Drinkwell & CSR Companies to Set up more Filtration plants all over the country PEOPLE SHOULD BE AWARE OF WHAT THEY ARE DRINKING AS THIS PROBLEM IF NOT CONTAINED NOW CAN & WILL AFFECT GENERATIONS TO COME. DRINK ARSENIC FREE WATER. A Case Study By: Varun Singh Bhalla Class XII Modern School Barakhamba Road, New Delhi ( ) 22

24 APPENDIX-A Raw & Treated Water Test Reports-BINIMAYPARA NORTH 24 PARGANAS WEST BENGAL.. Source- Drinkwell Systems 23

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26 APPENDIX-B Raw & Treated Water Test Reports-NALBARI DISTRICT ASSAM - Source Drinkwell Systems 25

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28 APPENDIX-C Raw & Treated Water Test Reports- GAZNA NORTH 24 PARGANAS WEST BENGAL -Source-Drinkwell Systems 27

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30 APPENDIX-D Raw & Treated Water Test Reports- BADURIA NORTH 24 PARGANAS WEST BENGAL -Source-Drinkwell Systems 29

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