Research On Low Cost Water Filtering Method

Study of Moringa seed as natural Absorbent and Antimicrobial agent for River water treatment

Introduction

Moringa Oleifera is a tree commonly found in dry zone Sri Lanka. The dry seed suspension can be prepared by dissolving seed powder taken by finely grinding the kernels of the dry seeds. This seed extraction is succeed in in reducing the hardness caused by Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ions in present in the drinking water, collected from Nelumweva. The testing carried out proves that 300mgdm^-3hardness is removed up to nearly 100mgdm^-3. Here, Moringa seeds can be used in place of alum to treat the hard water, acting as a natural coagulant.  This may be a brilliant finding as Moringa can be easily found and cheap so will be a great source for the community to treat their inconsumable water.

Moringa seed

Moringa seed

 Work in progress
 

A Prototype of Water Filter

Before the water sample passes through this prototype filter, a few milligrams of seed powder were added to a liter of water. The mixture was shaken and kept for an hour for settling. The filtrate was then poured into the upper chamber of the domestic filter through apiece of clean muslin cloth.

After treated with Moringa, water sample loses its hardness to a consumable level. But in order to remove debris, organic matters. Micro-organisms, taste and odour, water is sent through several layers of stones and coal.
White and black stones maintain the pH data constant level.
Coal removes toxins and chemicals dissolved in water via adsorption.

Water Tank renovation project

As we are awared that water tanks built by Holcim Lanka Ltd. in Nelumwewa area, are abondoned and not properly maintained for a long time, we came with the idea in renovation of those tanks. There, we choose an one abandoned tank nearby gramasewaka's residency. As water is the main issue that people are undergoing, we gathered the community and orgarnaized a campaign. We funded for the raw materials such as cement, sand, concrete, stones, paints, bricks. In 8th September 2012 we worked together with the villagers from morning to evening a whole day and fulfilled our target. Hence, eventually we were able to provide a huge clean water source which the community needs more, to fulfill the household chores and the day today activites. Finally, we could see the smile of their face is lightening, seeing their most wanted necessity; water.

 Unmaintained tank before renovate

Our group members together with villagers working on cleaning the tank and its surrounding area  

Renovation

The paint work is done for  stop moss growing on tank walls.

The notice board and garbage pit

A garbage pit was built to put garbage and put up a notice board with well meaning instructions.

Helping hands.

At the end.

Memories...