Guwahati: The Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT Guwahati) has developed a community-scale water treatment system that removes fluoride and iron from groundwater. The system can treat up to 20,000 litres of contaminated water per day, removing 94 percent of iron and 89 percent of fluoride.
Fluoride, a mineral commonly used in dental care products, pesticides, fertilizers, and industrial processes, can enter groundwater naturally or through human doings such as agriculture and manufacturing. Consumption of water with surplus fluoride presence can lead to skeletal-fluorosis, a serious health condition in which bones harden and joints become stiff, making physical movement difficult and painful.
The IIT Guwahati research team developed a 4-step system that ensures a cost-effective and energy-efficient technology for contaminated water treatment. The process involves aeration, electrocoagulation, flocculation and setting, and filtering.
The selected electrode material depends on factors like low cost, low oxidation potential, and high electro-positivity after dissolution. Aluminum has proven highly effective in the removal of iron, arsenic, and fluoride under optimal operational conditions.
The developed system was tested under real-world conditions for 12 weeks and recorded consistent performance. Results showed removal of 94 percent iron and 89 percent fluoride from wastewater, bringing the levels within safe limits set by Indian standards. A key feature of the developed system is its cost effectiveness, with Rs. 20 per 1000 liters of treated water, making it highly affordable. The technology requires minimal supervision and has a projected lifespan of 15 years with electrode replacement scheduled every six months. The study proposes a method to estimate electrode life using a built-in safety factor to safeguard timely maintenance.
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As a pilot project, the developed technology has been successfully installed by Kakati Engineering Private Limited in Changsari, Assam. The future scope of the research includes exploring the use of solar or wind power to operate the unit and integrating smart technologies such as real-time sensors and automated controls to further reduce the need for manual intervention.
The research team aims to combine this system with other water treatment methods to improve its performance and make it a decentralised water treatment solution.
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