Horizontal Roughing Filter/slow Sand Filter

Though Sundarbans having plenty water available everywhere but drinkable water is very precious commodity, habitat people collect drinkable water from far off from the community supply point or bore-well. In Kalitala Gram panchayet 4 tube wells are existing. All of them are saline in nature. Two boreholes is contaminated with Sulpher (?) and is highly inflamable in nature. Due to absence of alternative potable sources people are forced to use this water for drinking purpose. People mostly depend on their pond for daily household activities including cooking. Apart from these 4 tube well there are 32 community supply point (VAT) in entire Gram Panchayet area for supplying potable water to 4,312 families out of which 7 are defunct due to low pressure in the booster / pumping station  poor maintenance.  The quality of the supply water is pink in color and salty in test.
In Gobindakati Gram Panchayet consisting of 100 numbers tube well out of which 28 is defunct for a quite some time. Total functioning tube wells are 72. Which cover 4093 families. People don’t use tube well water as the water is saline; People need to walk a long distance to fetch water from pond spending 2/3 hours everyday Water has not been tasted and there fore elements are unknown . But obvious that concentration of chemical and mineral component in water makes it saline and unacceptable taste and odor. People are afraid that prolong consumption of water may fall them sick. People prefer to use water from some selected ponds in the locality.

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To address potable water scarcity, rain water-harvesting structure is perceived.  HRF/SSF has already  been  installed . Presently 216 of families have been using the source as drinking water. The outlet water is clean with no visible suspended materials. Still now community did not feel it necessary to back wash the system. The taste of water is good and acceptable. People did not raise any complaint against quality of water; food ( rice, pulse) cooked easily maintaining taste, colour and flavour. Water also produce foam and surf while mixing with soap and help to wash clothes easily unlikely tube well water where people always complaints differently – rice not getting cooked, water does not produce foam etc etc. Regarding diarrhea cases we discussed with the health workers in panchayat and find no major incidences of diarroheal cases We talked with Pratima, 22 years old village women. She told us “we are very happy to get the filter in our village, now we are able to spend more time in our other domestic work rather than spending time in fetching water”. Maya, another village woman of 25 years age told us that “we don’t have any complaints against the water quality. Water is clean, rice is getting boiled easily, and we are able to wash clothes easily”. The Panchayat Pradhan and other block officials requested us for more HRF/SSF installation in the block area.
Conclusion: Having the capability of simultaneous sedimentation and filtration, horizontal-flow rough filtration is an applicable alternative for supplying drinking water . This pilot project was executed in collaboration with Kalitala gram Panchayet who renovated the pond and constructed 3 feet high guard wall to protect the pond water from flood. Block sabhapati / chairman already sent official letter requesting us for undertaking of more HRF project and spread the concept and adequate training / awareness among the people of the Panchayet
Present need. There is a need of at least 10 HRF/SSF in two panchayats. 9 community ponds are already existing, if situation demands Panchayet agreed to mobilize NREG fund for pond renovation/excavation. This will cater the need of 2000 families.