PREAMBLE:
Water, one of our most important resources is facing immense challenges in the recent past. Implications of the dwindling and contaminated water resources are being felt in several parts of the world, particularly in developing countries. Water is increasingly contaminated in most parts of the country and people affected most are the poorest sections of the population, though others are not outside the reach of these adverse effects. Therefore, efficient and affordable science-based  technologies are  needed with expeditious mechanisms of delivery to provide clean water to all our citizens. It is also important to find new methods for conservation of water and ultra-low contaminant detection. Considerable expertise exists across the country at different academic institutes, national laboratories and industries to address  these challenges.

THEME MEETING:
A two day discussion meeting was organized  at Anupuram, Department of Atomic Energy township,  Kalpakkam, T.N, on May 21-22, 2010 with 36 selected participants who are actively involved in various aspects of research and product development in diverse areas related to clean water. These experts were drawn from premier academic institutes, national laboratories and industries.  This meeting was the result of the initiative of Dr. Baldev Raj, Director, IGCAR, Prof. T. Pradeep, IIT-M, Chennai and Dr. C. Anandbabu, IGCAR. This focused meeting was organized under the auspices of the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor Dr. R. Chidambaram and supported by the Department of Science & Technology (DST), New Delhi.  Dr. R. Chidambaram in his inaugural address highlighted the work already completed and challenges ahead and  the perspective and vision towards providing  clean water solutions to the nation. Dr. Prasada Raju, DST (on behalf of Dr. T. Ramasami, Secretary, DST) highlighted the importance being given to this activity by the Government in terms of various funding mechanisms for worthy research and product realization initiatives.   

On the first day, the delegates made brief presentations of their work and gave suggestions on specific areas of activity they can undertake towards achieving the objective of clean water for all. Participants refined their thoughts in the light of the discussions towards enhancing the research work for achieving the mega challenges for the nation. On the second day, they were divided into three specialist/theme groups based on their specialization viz., (i) nanostructured and related materials, (ii) membranes and related materials, contaminants (iii) Industries and product development for clean water and rural india. These specialist groups had intense discussions to arrive at specific recommendations. These were further consolidated in the final session, under the chairmanship of Dr. Baldev Raj, to arrive at a comprehensive roadmap, thrust areas and necessary way forward for implementation by the National Water Mission, GOI.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

 I) New Initiatives

1. Establishment of a National portal on clean water, showcasing available technologies for clean water, ground water resources, national data base of contaminants, standards, validation,  procedures and methodologies, new science based innovations, technologies, Resource personnel, Institutions,  Industries with emphasis on new product development. The discussion meet took cognizance of the fact that the existing efforts in India on water (www.indiawaterportal.org)  should be strengthened based on fresh inputs and ideas generated during the current meeting.

2. Establishing an interdisciplinary & inter-organization mechanism,  with robust synergy for science-based technologies for clean water as a national priority. Such a mechanism should ensure the realization of sustainable, eco-friendly, indigenous solutions for equitable distribution of this valuable resource, under the auspices of the office of the Principal Scientific Advisor.

II) Thrust Areas for R&D

1. Development of affordable, portable and innovative sensors for detecting water contaminants at ultra-low concentrations (microbial, organic and inorganic contaminants, pH).

2. Sustainable eco-friendly solutions (packaging and distribution)  for clean water.

3. Integrating new materials (noble metal nanoparticles/CNT/Dendrimeric/metal oxides/multifunctional membranes) with existing and emerging solutions.

4. Impact of the use of  newly developed materials on environment.

5. Disposability/reusability  of new materials and their filtered and/or trapped rejects in terms of toxicity considerations over the life cycle.

6. Providing potable water solutions to citizens during natural calamities like cyclones, floods.

7. Development of innovative water harvesting methods towards avoiding the ground water contamination.

8. Innovative irrigation methods and choice of crops matching with water resources as a national policy.

III) Harnessing Academia,  Research and Industry in the Mission Mode to Address the Challenges

1. Testing, Validation and Protocols development for existing and emerging products meant for clean water.

2. Pilot scale production of functional new materials with collaboration of industry.

IV) Broad Band Recommendations:

1. Spreading awareness of water quality, conservation and preservation.

2. Inclusion of eminent specialists in National Water Mission so that frontier science-based technologies are integrated into solving national water challenges.

3. Establishment of norms for the use and application of new materials in water cleaning and purification.

4. Indian Standards for components of water purifiers such as filters, membranes, sensors and associated modules should be evolved taking into the consideration of  the life cycle analysis of these components.

5. Round robin exercise with the participation of reputed laboratories in evaluating the existing technologies for large scale deployment in the country.

6. Explore and experiment with known technologies in hybrid modes to discover the strengths and limitations to enable recommendations for robust solutions for clean water.

EPILOGUE:
The participants concluded that Indian academia, research and industry have the scientific and technological ability to meet the challenges in mission mode. The expertise extends in a wide spectrum ranging from natural materials to nanomaterials and their products. The suggested mechanisms, in addition to the recommendations outlined above are continuing the work in the current hugely successful mode towards recognizing and addressing challenges through periodic meetings with focus on recognizing grand challenges in clean water. This will also involve making high impact proposals with synergy across academia, research and industry (unlike the current practice of individual and organizational). This approach is in addition to excellence and innovative pursuits of individuals and specific organizations. The approach is meant to create  a mechanism of pursuing synergy in mission mode to realize the challenges within the framework of the National Water Mission.

List of Enclosures:
1. Annexure-1-List of Participants and Specialists Groups
2. Annexure-2-Summary of three Specialists Groups

Annexure-1

List of  Participants:
Dr. R. Chidambaram, PSA, GOI, New Delhi
Dr.  Baldev Raj, Director, IGCAR, Kalpakkam
Prof. T. Pradeep, IITM, Chennai-Convener of the Workshop
Dr. C. Anand Babu, IGCAR, Kalpakkam-Convener of the Workshop
Dr. Prasada Raju, DST, New Delhi (on behalf of Dr. T. Ramasami, Secretary, DST)

Specialist Group 1-Nanostructured and related materials (Prof. Pradeep)
Prof. G. U. Kulkarni, JNCASR, Bangalore
Prof. G. T. Chandrappa, Bangalore University, Bengaluru
Prof. A. K. Ganguli, IITD, Delhi
Prof. D. Bahadur, IITB, Mumbai
Prof. B. R. Mehta, IITD, Delhi
Dr. Debabrata Rautaray, Tata Chemicals, Mumbai
Dr, B. S. Panigrahi, IGCAR, Kalpakkam
Dr. Anshup, IITM, Chennai
Dr. Shihab Maliyekkal, IITM, Chennai

Specialist Group 2-Membranes and related materials, Contaminants (Dr. S. V. Narasimhan)
Dr. S. V. Narasimhan, BARCF, Kalpakkam
Dr. M. Eswaramoorthy,  JNCASR, Bangalore
Dr. A. K. Ghosh, BARC, Mumbai
Prof. Nishith Verma, IITK, Kanpur
Prof. A. Jayaraman, IISc, Bangalore
Prof. Arindam Banerjee, IACS, Kolkata
Mr. Kiran Deshpande, Thermax India, Pune
Mr. Dangore, BARCF, Kalpakkam
Mr. A.S.L.K. Rao, IGCAR, Kalpakkam

Specialist Group 3-Industry, product development, Rural India (Dr. C. Anand Babu)
Dr. K. M. Paknikar, Agharkar Institute, Pune
Prof. Ligy Philip, IITM, Chennai
Prof. Sudhakar Rao, IISc, Bangalore
Mr. Gunesh Dekhane, Thermax, Pune
Mr. A. Jagadeesh, Nayudamma Foundation, Nellore
Dr. T. N. V. V. Rao, UL India Pvt Ltd., Bengaluru
Dr. Shrikant V. Joshi, ARCI, Hyderabad
Prof. Satish V. Kailas, IISc, Bangalore
Dr. Pradip, TRDC, Pune
Mr. S. Khuntia, IMMT, Bhubaneshwar
Dr. K.S.Krishna Rao, MAPS, NPCIL, Kalpakkam
Mr. M. Udaya Sankar, IIT-M, Chennai
Ms. Amrita Choudhary, IIT-M, Chennai
Mr. K. R. Antony, IIT-M, Chennai

Annexure-2
Summary of recommendations of the Specialist Groups

 Specialist Group 1 - Nanostructured and related materials (Prof. Pradeep)

R&D Areas:

• Sensors for detecting water contaminants (pH, microbial, organic, inorganic contaminants…)

• Pilot scale production of functional nanostructured materials for prototyping.

• Combining nanomaterials with other technologies (ex, solar)

• Development of chelating nanomaterials for radioactive contaminants

• Hybrid muti-functional nanostructured materials and devices

• Disposability/reusability of materials

• New thermoelectric materials for recycling water in thermal power plants.

Recommendations:

1. Establishment of norms for the application of nanomaterials (testing and validation)

2. Establishing a Centre/Institute for clean water technologies (CCWT, C2WT...)

3. Inclusion of eminent R&D people in National water mission.

Specialist Group 2 – Membranes and related materials, Contaminants (Dr. S. V. Narisimhan)

Major classifications

• TDS (Total Dissolved Solids)

• Organics / pesticides resultant from human activity

• Micro-organisms

• Iron

• Heavy metals, fluorides and Arsenic

The R&D required for addressing specific impurities should be strengthened and integrated with industries

RO membranes for sea water / brackish water:  World market is very high / Indian contribution is difficult due to competitions. However, R&D is available with modified membranes for heavy metals, organics and microorganisms and improving flux.

• Organics: low MW and water insoluble can be addressed by functionalized polymers that show better physico-chemical adsorption - advanced R&D level.

• Imprinted polymers for metals and organics are effective  - at  advanced R&D level.

• Carbon based materials and functional polymers from carbohydrate are good for arsenic, fluoride and micro-organism.

• Clay based materials with suitable functional groups can address organics and petrochemicals - at the R&D level. 

• Carbon-felt or cloth with suitable functionalization is under advanced R&D, this is for heavy metals, arsenic and microorganisms.

• Sequencing batch reactors based on granules with consortium microorganism can address heavy metals and organics; basic R&D are in the advanced level; further industrial developments can be undertaken.

• Dipeptide –Au Nps are suitable for low level detection and quantification of arsenic.

• Ultrafiltration-assisted removal of fluorides, iron and arsenic.  This is industry validated/demonstrated.

• Factors such as user-based specific energy consumption and energy recovery.

Recommendations

1. The R&D required for addressing specific impurities should be strengthened and integrated with industries.

2. Some of the impurities, such as, arsenic and fluorides, should be handled at the user-level.

3. Individual groups should be given access to the national portal for making the technology available. 

Specialist Group 3 – Industry, product development, Rural India (Dr. C. Anand Babu)

R&D Proposals

• TDS removal by non-membrane systems like adsorption or solar still.
• Hybrid ion-exchange and nanotechnology.
• Development of site-specific cartridge combinations.
• Personalized water bottles to remove heavy metals.
• Standardization of fluoride removal technology on priority basis.
• Need of good sanitation for contaminant free water supply in rural and suburban areas.
• Single cartridge to treat fluoride arsenic and bacteria.

Implementations

1. RO/Ultrafilter system on community basis in similar lines of Nandhi foundation which is being implemented in Andhra Pradesh and other locations.
2. Use of bronze for water storage applications in houses may be encouraged instead of recycled plastics.

Recommendations

1. Solar disinfection.
2. Arrange awareness on water, maintenance of water treatment units in the villages shall be arranged as participation of villages is important for any successful program.
3. Lateral flow assay system shall be provided to all village panchayats, which detects bacteria in 30 minutes.
4. Web portal on water shall be made.
5. Cost effective proven filters shall be supplied to all the families below poverty line on priority basis.
6. Light gray water from all the newly constructed houses (bathing and wash basin outlets) shall be sent to rain water harvesting systems by suitably modifying. Regulations may be made to implement this along with rain water harvesting.
7. IS may be brought to specify all the equipments like pipes, valves and other materials used in water treatment, keeping in view the life cycle analysis of these materials.

Group Photograph

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