This issue of Update spotlights the INDION fluoride removal hand pump attachment that wassuccessfully demonstrated and subsequently supplied to Madhya Pradesh Laghu Udyog Nigam(MPLUN)). It also features the INDION continuous sand filter, ideal for canal water treatment fordrinking water requirements as well as for tertiary treatment of treated sewage.

Fluoride Removal atMadhya Pradesh

High concentration of fluoride in ground waterbeyond the WHO limit of 1.5 ppm poses amajor health problem in India. Nearly 90% ofour country’s rural population uses groundwater for drinking and domestic purposes and,due to the excess fluoride content, this hugepopulation is threatened with the healthhazards of fluorosis. A crippling bone disease,fluorosis weakens dental and skeletalstructures causing mottled teeth, tooth decay,stiffened joints and brittle bones and, in severecases, leads to paralysis and death.Prevention is the only cure as fluorosis has nomedical treatment.

To solve fluoride contamination problems,Ion Exchange had developed the user friendlyINDION fluoride removal process, availableas point-of-use units for homes, attachmentsto hand pumps or power pumps andcommunity level systems. These treatmentsolutions keep in mind rural needs in terms ofaffordability, sturdiness, ease of operation andmaintenance, and are also completely selfcontained, making them ideal for use in ruralIndia.

To overcome this problem of fluoridecontamination, the Government of MadhyaPradesh invited various parties to showcase theirtechnologies. Ion Exchange successfullydemonstrated the INDION fluoride removal handpump attachment at Kailash Wada, Tehsil Asta,Dist. Sehore where the fluoride level was 17 ppm.Following is the analysis of input and output waterquality :

Our local representative, in coordination with thelocal authorities, are identifying various siteswhere the fluoride level from hand pumps ishigher than1.5 ppm for installing our units; wehave already installed 50 units in Mandla andRaisen areas. The department is satisfied with theproduct features and the treated water quality.

In Madhya Pradesh, excessive levels of fluoride inwater affect the health of more than 50 lakhpeople. In many areas, such as Shivpuri, Jhabua,Mandla, Dindori, Chhindwara, Dhar, Vidisha,Sehore, Raisen, Mandsour, Neemuch, Ujjain, Seoni,the fluoride content in ground water ranges from1.5 ppm to as high as 18 ppm in some areas.

No.7 June 2009

Fluoride Removal Hand Pump AttachmentFluoride Removal Hand Pump AttachmentFluoride Removal Hand Pump AttachmentFluoride Removal Hand Pump AttachmentFluoride Removal Hand Pump Attachment

Based on this validation of our treatmenttechnology, the Government awarded thecontract for supply and maintenance of 200fluoride removal hand pump attachments to us,through MPLUN.

Parameter Inlet WaterQuality

Treated WaterQuality

pH 9 - 9.5 8.3 - 8.5

TDS (ppm) 440 410 - 430

Fluoride (ppmas F)

17 0.48 - 0.89

Ion Exchange (India) Ltd., Ion House, Dr. E. Moses Road, Mahalaxmi, Mumbai 400 011, India. Phone: 91-22-3989 0909 • Fax: 91-22-2493 8737E-mail: hocro@ionexchange.co.in; ieil@ionexchange.co.in Website: www.ionindia.com

Phone 3989 0909 in Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai

Continuous Sand Filter

is a registered trademark of Ion Exchange (India) Ltd.

06091K

for Drinking Water Treatment inRural Punjab

The INDION continuous sand filter beingpromoted by Ion Exchange for various filtrationapplications has significant advantages overconventional systems. Its unique moving bedfiltration system, where the sand is constantlywashed, ensures that there is no stoppage forbackwashing as in conventional systems, whileeliminating the need for extensive backwashwater pumps and tank etc. as well as the needfor constant operator assistance. Because of thecontinuous washing of the media, these filterscan also operate on higher feed loads andprovide consistently good treated water quality.

Tertiary Treatment of SewageThe other application of the continuous sand filteris in the area of tertiary treatment of treatedsewage. Here again the continuous sand filterprovides significant advantages overconventional systems because of its ability to takehigher loads from the sewage treatment plant.The use of compressed air in the filter ensurescontinuous aeration in the sand bed resulting inbetter treated quality and lower maintenancecost. The treated water can thus be reused forvarious applications.

This process is also ideal for high flow ratesbecause this filtration system can be installed in atank constructed out of RCC, thereby reducingsignificantly the capital cost. Higher velocities ofoperations also ensure lower overall foot print.

The power requirement is extremely low ascompared to conventional rapid/slow sand filterswhich need pumping of large volumes of waterfor backwash. The continuous sand filter uses onlysmall amount of compressed air obtainable froma locally available compressor for its working.

Canal Water TreatmentMany rural areas in Punjab have access to freshwater from various canals running through thestate. While the canal water has low dissolvedsalts, the suspended solid levels is very high,necessitating robust filtration systems which canoperate in rural areas without extensivepumping and constant supervision, and yetprovide consistent quality of treated water.We installed the continuous sand filter for thisapplication at a village near Ferozepur, Punjab

and the system has been performing well,meeting the requirements of providing cleandrinking water.