Disinfecting water: Need to overcome waterborne diseases
About 70 percent diseases in Pakistan are waterborne.
ISLAMABAD:
About 70 percent diseases in Pakistan are waterborne and there is a crucial need to overcome this challenge. This was stated during a seminar on water purification on Monday by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI).
The seminar was on ‘Household Water Treatments, Best Practices: Solar Water Disinfection’ organised by SDPI in collaboration with Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) at the National Press Club.
Speaking on the occasion, Planning Comission Chief of Water Nasir Gillani said 80 million people are in need of safe drinking water in the country. He said it was necessary to use technologies for purifying drinking water.
He added Solar Water Disinfection (SODIS) is an option which proved effective in Africa.
Sheldia Associates, Project Manager Dr Shaukat Farooq said that the ultraviolet waves disinfect water and also kill bacteria. Citing from studies, he said that disinfection was most effective at temperatures between 40 and 46 degrees Celsius.
SDPI Research Associate Mome Saleem said that the technology is low cost.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 4th, 2011.
About 70 percent diseases in Pakistan are waterborne and there is a crucial need to overcome this challenge. This was stated during a seminar on water purification on Monday by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI).
The seminar was on ‘Household Water Treatments, Best Practices: Solar Water Disinfection’ organised by SDPI in collaboration with Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) at the National Press Club.
Speaking on the occasion, Planning Comission Chief of Water Nasir Gillani said 80 million people are in need of safe drinking water in the country. He said it was necessary to use technologies for purifying drinking water.
He added Solar Water Disinfection (SODIS) is an option which proved effective in Africa.
Sheldia Associates, Project Manager Dr Shaukat Farooq said that the ultraviolet waves disinfect water and also kill bacteria. Citing from studies, he said that disinfection was most effective at temperatures between 40 and 46 degrees Celsius.
SDPI Research Associate Mome Saleem said that the technology is low cost.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 4th, 2011.