CSIR-CMERI Water Technologies

The scarcity of water resources is one of the most significant challenges which need to be dealt with on a priority basis. In this context, the Water Resources Management Infrastructure requires a substantial infusion of practical Science & Technology. Providing potable and safe Drinking Water sources for the Nation's burgeoning population remains one of the most pressing challenges for the Administration. Multiple standard Water parameters decide the drinkability of water, such as TDS, bacterial contamination, the proportion of nutritional elements, and a disproportionate amount of harmful components. As per WHO, around 80% of all diseases are water-borne diseases, such as Diarrhoea, Cholera, Typhoid, Fluorosis. The presence of excess elements such as Iron, Fluoride, Arsenic, and bacterial contamination might severely alter the Water Quality Index affecting the overall suitability of Water for drinking purpose. Water Scarcity could become a major obstacle to Public Health profile, Ecosystem, and Agriculture on a massive scale. Therefore, the importance of optimum utilization and effective management of Water Resources cannot be more aptly stated.

The Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation, under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, is also focussed on ways to tackle this crisis. The objective of the National Rural Drinking Water Mission is to Provide Safe Drinking Water to the Rural Sector and CSIR-CMERI, Durgapur, is very much in tandem with the objective and purpose of the above stated Mission.

The philosophy of the CSIR-CMERI developed Water Purification Technologies is strict adherence to Indian Standards (BIS) for Drinking Water and low pricing for enhancing the acceptability of the technology by the MSMEs and the Rural Stakeholders. The issue of Safe and Clean Drinking Water affects both the Rural and Urban Landscape of the Nation. CSIR-CMERI, Durgapur, through its bouquet of Water Purification Technologies, is bent upon ensuring the provision of Clean Drinking Water for all and boosting the Indigenous Water Purification Technologies to the entire Nation. CSIR-CMERI, Durgapur, has developed the following Water Purification technologies as categorized below:

Domestic Usage Technologies:

1. Domestic Arsenic Water Filter
2. Domestic Filter for De-fluoridation of Water
3. Domestic Iron and Arsenic Filter
4. Domestic Iron Water Filter
5. Domestic Level Fluoride, Arsenic and Iron Removal (FAIR) technology

Community Usage Technologies:

1. Community Level Arsenic Removal Filter (Model-I)
2. Community Level Arsenic Removal Plant (Model−II)
3. Community Level Fluoride Removal Plant
4. Community Level Improved Iron Removal Plant
5. High Flow Rate Iron Removal Filter
6. High Flow Rate Arsenic Removal Filter
7. Community Level Fluoride, Arsenic and Iron Removal (FAIR) technology

The popularity and acceptability of the above-listed technologies can be gauged from their successful transfer to 47 MSMEs. CSIR-CMERI developed Water Purification Technology that is an integral part of the ‘Smart Village Project’ of the Institute. Therefore, it has the potential to alter the Contaminated Water Handling Capability of the Nation. CSIR-CMERI is also steadily venturing towards Decentralised Waste Water Management. CSIR-CMERI envisions a Drinking Water Abundant India with an Integrated Comprehensive Waste Water Disposal System indigenously developed. These technologies will adequately supplement the Make in India, Atma Nirbhar Bharat, and the Swachch Bharat initiatives of India's Government.

Study (https://bit.ly/31YGyeT) says that the Coronavirus may remain active in untreated Waste Water for more than a month. Coronavirus may contaminate water sources through the Sputum, Faeces, and other excreta of Infected Patients, especially from Quarantine Facilities/Isolation Wards. Thus, Waste Water treatment and purification ought to be an inseparable objective of every Civic Administration entities. We are happy to inform you that CSIR-CMERI, Durgapur, is working consistently for the development of Water Treatment Technologies to address the above issues.     

Last updated on: July 07, 2020

Mechanical Ventilator - A crucial device in the era of COVID19

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the National Medical Infrastructure so hard, that the most challenging task in hand at the moment happens to be handling and managing heavy inflow of critical patients bearing a highly infectious contagion.

The primary target of the novel corona virus is the lungs of an individual. The exponential spread of the virus within the respiratory system of an Individual renders the lungs to be dysfunctional within a few hours. It is at this moment that the Medical Ventilators play a crucial role to maintain the basic parameters required to keep the patient alive. The primary function of a Ventilator is to infuse adequate Oxygen into the lungs of a critical patient and flush out Carbon-dioxide. The mechanical system developed as ventilator remain unintelligent without appropriate sensors and coded action plan. Therefore, Closed-loop monitoring system of the Mechanical Ventilators is essential to sense the breathing parameters of a critical patient and act to provide controlled delivery of the prescribed amount of tidal volume into the patient’s lungs.

To handle the prevailing situations, currently, India imports a considerable number of ventilators, to support the medical infrastructure of the country. CSIR-CMERI has, therefore, stepped forward with an Indigenous mechanical ventilator to aid in this period of crisis. In tune with the clarion call of the Prime Minister, the CSIR-CMERI developed mechanical ventilators would help India become Atma-Nirbhar or self-reliant in one of the most essential critical medical equipment.

CSIR-CMERI, Durgapur has developed a Mechanical Ventilator after innumerable feedbacks from registered Medical Professionals as greater understanding of proper functioning and usage of ventilator was essential. As a testimony, M/s Vivekananda Hospital Pvt. Ltd., Durgapur has certified that the system is suitable for emergency department, during transport, field management and in Critical Care Units. Further, a team of medical professionals from M/s Healthworld Hospitals, Durgapur has highly appreciated the indigenous mechanical ventilator of CSIR-CMERI and stated its suitability for Emergency departments, Critical Care Units and during transport/ field management outside the hospital settings. The current pandemic has forced the authorities to develop makeshift Quarantine/ Isolation wards for the COVID-19 affected patients. In such isolation wards/ small clinics/ nursing homes, the CSIR-CMERI developed Mechanical Ventilators are very much useful and provides a cost-effective solution. We believe that this technological intervention from CSIR-CMERI will play as one of the most significant medical intervention device in this current situation. These Mechanical Ventilators, in combination with relevant medications and timely intervention of Nursing/ Medical Support Staff, can be the vital deciding factor between Life & Death of a critical patient.

We are sure that the import substitutions of mechanical ventilator by the indigenous one (as that from CSIR-CMERI) might save a substantial amount of the import bill of the nation.