- TamRas, a water purifier with a copper unit has been developed TransDisciplinary University, Yelahanka
- Water stored in copper pots are contain minerals, essential to human body
- These purifiers are economical and will be made available in backward districts of Karnataka
In a boon to prevent diarrhoea, the most common infection found in children, especially among those who have no access to safe and quality drinking water, a new water purifier with a copper device, 'TamRas' has been launched in the city. Developed by the TransDisciplinary University (TDU) in Yelahanka, TamRas has been tested and tried by researchers to prevent water-borne diseases like diarrhoea and typhoid. In fact, drinking water stored in copper pot is an age old method to stay healthy as copper is considered an essential mineral for our body. Ayurveda strongly recommends drinking water from copper pots.
The 15-litre container can have an immersible copper unit that filters the exact litre of water that is free of common pathogens, rotavirus, salmonella typhi and cholera - that cause diarrhoea and typhoid - after storing water for over 10 hours. The units will be distributed in HD Kote, Male Mahadeshwara Hills and Raichur districts on a pilot project. People in these places have little access to clean and quality water. These copper filters are economical - priced at Rs 1,500 per piece - and an ideal way to have clean and quality water.
A six-team researchers led by Dr Padma Venkat tested the water after keeping it in copper vessel for over 10 hours. "The leached copper ions killed pathogens when water was stored in copper pots for 16 hours," reports The New Indian Express.
The experiment was tested in Karnataka and Kenya and 37 per cent drop was recorded in diarrhoeal incidence from under-five children in Kenya. The Tata Trust is funding the project that was developed with the support of National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata and Christian Medical Colelge, Vellore who provided pathogens, that contaminated water.
Last Updated 31, Mar 2018, 6:45 PM IST