The quality of drinking water is a matter of serious concerns and it is one of the major factors contributing to high mortality of children and high cost of disease with adults. Different low cost methods of water treatment are now available and appropriate solutions of water purification system should be installed according to the size of the communities and water distribution systems. One appropriate method is using chlorine solution, a powerful disinfectant used widely. Antenna WATA is a small device producing a concentrated chlorine solution from water and common salt based on an electrolysis process. This device has recently been tested out in the field in Bolivia, Madagascar, Zambia, India, Bangladesh and Nepal.

To share, to learn and to demonstrate the technologies, modalities and best practices, a seminar on ‘Safe Drinking Water, was jointly organized by Environmental Camps for Conservation Awareness (ECCA Nepal), Vertical Shaft Brick Kiln (VSBK) and ANTENNA Technologies, Switzerland on April 21, 2009 at Hotel Himalaya, Lalitpur. About 30 participants representing different social organizations, I/NGOs participated in the one-day seminar.

Eight papers were presented by representatives of five different organizations from four different countries including Nepal, Bangladesh, India and Switzerland. The papers were a general sharing to implement WATASOL Approach in different parts of the world, short briefing and demonstration of the technology and the marketing approach for safe drinking water.
Urs Heierli from Antenna Technologies, Switzerland presented different approaches applied for marketing safe drinking water in different parts of the world. Similarly, Carole de Bazignan representing Antenna Technologies, Switzeland described the technological aspect of WATA device and demonstrated the working principles of operating the device. She informed that the Antenna WATA line features three different models, the Mini-WATA, the Standard WATA and the Maxi-WATA. The Mini-WATA kit produces 1.5 litres of concentrated Chlorine Solution (6000 ppm) in 12-hours productive period whereas Standard WATA kit produces 1 litre per hour and Maxi-WATA kit produces 180 litres per day in 12-hour productive period.
Jai Rajbhandari from ECCA Nepal presented the approach and achievements of WATA device in context of Nepal. He told that ECCA Nepal has already installed WATA device at twelve different locations and has provided training to the device handler. Among the 12 locations, eleven are producing chlorine solution using Mini WATA and one is using Standard WATA. The chlorine solution production stations are mostly schools, a brick factory and a community water distribution system. He added that ECCA – Nepal produced Chlorine solution in its office premises for the relief of flood victims during the time of flood disaster in the month of August, 2008 at Eastern Nepal. The supplied chlorine solution was sufficient enough to treat 80,000 litres of water. Therefore the device can also be very much helpful in contracting the waterborne diseases during the time of disasters. As long as the chlorine solution production unit is nearer to disaster areas, the quicker supply of chlorine solution can be provisioned hence reducing the number of patients and death tolls.

Similarly, Lilian Lehmann from Antenna Technologies, Switzerland also presented her experiences on marketing WATA devices to consumers at base of pyramid. Similarly, Usha Maskey Manandhar from VSBK presented her experience on implementing chlorination program to disinfect water for the workers in different brick kilns. Mirza Md. Rafiqul Islam from Bangladesh representing Center for Mass Education of Science (CMES) presented the condition of their study with WATA device and their plan to implement in the Basic School systems and alternative empowerment opportunities to disadvantaged groups. Mr. M. Manoj Kumar, a representative of Development Alternatives, Delhi, India presented a paper on case study carried on by the organization in Gol-Kuan Slum that could be a draft plan on WATASOL approach on South Asia.

The seminar concluded with a round table discussion on likes, dislikes and improvements to be done and mainly about the achievement through the seminar. The program ended with documentary show about implementation of safe drinking water in a Fadani village scripted/filmed by members of Laxmi Nature Club, Letang with the help of Editor Christopher Hoadley.

Source: ECCA Nepal