Novel hydrodynamic cavitation based hand pump for disinfection of groundwater

Abstract

India Mark-II hand pump was successfully modified in the present study so as it can serve as an efficient tool for the disinfection of the borewell water. This modified Hand Pump works on the principle of hydrodynamic cavitation, which can potentially disrupt the bacteria and fungi rendering them unviable. The reduction in organic carbon was also found in the borewell water. However hydrodynamic cavitation technology was induced first time in the hand pump for the disinfection of groundwater. Several field trials were carried out at different field locations in Maharashtra, India to validate the modifications of this novel technology. This modification does not require any additional energy to purify the water and is found to have yielded > 90% water disinfection. The third-party analysis was carried out from NABL certified microbiological laboratories which showed that all Gram negative pathogens were successfully destroyed. Therefore, the people who rely on hand pumps across the world for groundwater pumping will be able to access quality potable water and can be rescued from pathogen-based waterborne diseases. Hand pump cavitation will be a water disinfection milestone in the emerging era of ecologically benign, innovative, and cost-effective rural water disinfection technology.