At a time when infection through drinking water is becoming a matter of health concern, the CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR-IITR), Lucknow, has come out with a safe and affordable water purification system “Oneer” that can be best utilised in homes and small establishments as well as in rural areas.

Recently, the technology of Drinking Water Disinfection System “Oneer” was transferred to New Delhi-based private firm Bluebird Water Purifiers in the presence of Union Minister of Science & Technology Dr Harsh Vardhan and Director General, CSIR, Dr Shekhar C Mande.

Dr Harsh Vardhan said that Oneer developed by CSIR-IITR will provide safe and clean drinking water at a cost of just 2 Paise / Ltr. The Community level model is of 450 LPH capacity. It can be scaled up from 5,000 to 1 lakh L/day; and is maintenance and membrane free.

“The technology will be helpful for rural people since it can be solar-powered. This development is in line with the ‘Make in India’ Mission,” he said.

The technology can eliminate all disease causing pathogens such as virus, bacteria, fungi, protozoa and cyst.

It provides safe drinking water to domestic and communities as per national and international standards prescribed for potable water. The smaller unit is particularly suitable for homes, street food vendors, and small establishments, said a CSIR official. It is an electronic device that runs on solar energy and provides clean water for less than two paise per litre. Unlike Ultra Violet (UV) water purifiers that kill microorganisms from clear water, Oneer can also treat brackish or turbid water with microorganisms.

Dr Mande said that Oneer-a safe drinking water device is especially for rural areas.

He said that currently, a large proportion of India’s rural community is consuming water that does not meet the WHO drinking water quality standards. According to the World Health Organization, “access to safe drinking-water is essential to health, a basic human right and a component of effective policy for health protection”. The device will go a long way in meeting the requirements of potable water in rural and urban areas, Dr Mande added.