Hydrodoser Installation, February 2020
After completing the Hydrodoser installation in Patimul, the next Hydrodoser installation was slated for the community of Majhi Ukhura. In order for the system to operate without electricity, through the gravity-power of water alone, it is required to be mounted on a stand. Community members constructed this concrete stand prior to the team’s arrival so that they were able to begin construction of the Hydrodoser when they arrived on January 31, 2020.
Having just completed the Patimul Hydrodoser, the Gram Vikas (GV) and AguaClara Reach (ACR) team was able to efficiently construct and install the new disinfection system in Majhi Ukhura. Their first step was to install the chemical delivery plumbing. Following this, the Hydrodoser was connected to the existing drinking water system for the community. The tie-in involved digging trenches and installing pipe to feed raw, untreated water to the Hydrodoser, and feed disinfected water from the Hydrodoser to the existing water storage tank.
Installation team members connecting the Hydrodoser system to the existing water distribution network.
Construction was completed on February 4th. During start-up and testing, minor system modifications were made to ensure correct chlorine dosing. The Majhi Ukhura Hydrodoser is designed to provide a chlorine dose of 0.2 mg/L to 2.0 mg/L in the raw water. This design addresses two driving factors - delivering a maximum chlorine residual of 2.0 mg/L, capped so that chlorination does not adversely affect the taste of the water, and to maintain a minimum chlorine residual of at least 0.2 mg/L at the farthest tap in the system. Chlorine residual tests were conducted at multiple system taps with results showing the Hydrodoser was delivering the accurate dose of chlorine to successfully disinfect the drinking water!
Hydrodoser chlorine residual testing results (at tap closest to Hydrodoser), showing safe dosage of chlorine for disinfection.
The installation in Majhi Ukhura is another success in the GV and ACR partnership. Follow us next time as we wrap up our field work in India on the road with ACR!
One of Fletcher’s favorite aspects of his job is getting to know members of the communities he works with.
A community member gathering fresh coconut water for the Hydrodoser installation team.
Our work in India is made possible by our incredible partners at Gram Vikas and the Tata Cornell Institute. Thank you so much for your support.