Scientists from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre have built a plant that will desalinate sea water and generate 6.3 million litres of potable water a day.
As states across India grapple with the severe water shortage crisis, scientists at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) have come up with a solution that might keep the crisis from worsening: desalination of seawater.
Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu is home to the pilot desalination plant, built by scientists of BARC. Using waste steam from the nuclear reactor, the plant is able to desalinate and purify seawater, making it fit for consumption.
The plant has the capacity to create a whopping 6.3 million litres of potable water a day.
Image for representation only. Source: Pixabay, Flickr
The desalinated water is being used in the Kudankulam Plant and is reported to taste just like fresh water.
KN Vyas, Director of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre told NDTV that several such plants have been installed in Punjab, West Bengal and Rajasthan.
This is not the first time that scientists at BARC have tackled the water shortage problem. They had previously developed filtration methods to purify groundwater.
“BARC has developed several membranes, by which, at a very small cost, groundwater contaminated by uranium or arsenic can be purified and make fit for drinking,” Dr Vyas explained.
These and household water purifiers are currently in use in several houses of drought-hit Marathwada.
BARC has also developed a water purifier bicycle. The bicycle uses the energy produced during pedalling to purify contaminated water and make it potable.
Featured image for representation only. Source: Pixabay, Flickr
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