Effectiveness, user acceptability and sustainability of Arsiron Nilogon: a rural technology for arsenic removal from drinking water

Abstract

An investigation of groundwater of Kuruabahi village in the Golaghat district of Assam, one of the worst arsenic-affected states in India, revealed a widespread contamination of arsenic up to 344 μg L⁻¹, much above the WHO guideline value of 10 μg L⁻¹ for drinking water. Except a few, most of the villagers were unaware of its connection with prevalent cancer and other arsenicosis symptoms in the village. This study examines the experience of implementation of Arsiron Nilogon, a rural technology, for removal of arsenic at all 320 households in the village. Water samples from all groundwater sources (tube wells) were tested for arsenic and other heavy metals using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) attached to a hydride vapor generator (HVG) and for other water quality parameters by standard methods. The arsenic concentrations in all 320 treated water samples have been found to be undetectable (<2 μg L⁻¹) using an AAS-HVG, along with other relevant water quality parameters including heavy metals conforming to the WHO guidelines during periodic testing, which confirm the very good technical performance of the Arsiron Nilogon method in the field. The pH of all water samples was between 6.32 and 7.13 initially, which increased to 7.3 after treatment. The increase of the pH between 7.0 and 7.3 after treatment may be correlated to recovery from the chronic acidity problem after they started use of the filters, as reported by some villagers, an additional benefit of the filter. The safe tiny solid sludge was collected by all users as advised for proper disposal. The overall percentage of uninterrupted users two years postimplementation was found to be 70.63%, which endorse the good user acceptability of the filters.