In a city where clean water has become a commodity that is delivered to the highest bidder, the poor often have to go without. Yet those who have money can easily get enough. In Mumbai's wealthy suburbs, large tankers delivering water are commonplace. Every day more than 5,000 tankers deliver some 50 million litres of water to people who can pay, according to unofficial estimates cited by the newspaper Mumbai Mirror.
In a city where clean water has become a commodity that is delivered to the highest bidder, the poor often have to go without.
Yet those who have money can easily get enough. In Mumbai's wealthy suburbs, large tankers delivering water are commonplace.
Every day more than 5,000 tankers deliver some 50 million litres of water to people who can pay, according to unofficial estimates cited by the newspaper Mumbai Mirror.
BBC News - India's Tata launches water filter for rural poor
The Indian industrial conglomerate Tata Group has launched a new low-cost water purifier, aimed at lower-income households in rural areas.The Tata 'Swach' purifier is less than one metre tall, and does not need running water or electricity to work. The firm is hoping to revolutionise the business of providing clean water, a lack of which affects almost one billion people globally. Tata says the device is the result of a decade of research and development. The Tata Group includes India's largest carmaker Tata Motors, and also has interests in steelmaking, IT, and chemicals.
The Indian industrial conglomerate Tata Group has launched a new low-cost water purifier, aimed at lower-income households in rural areas.
The Tata 'Swach' purifier is less than one metre tall, and does not need running water or electricity to work.
The firm is hoping to revolutionise the business of providing clean water, a lack of which affects almost one billion people globally.
Tata says the device is the result of a decade of research and development.
The Tata Group includes India's largest carmaker Tata Motors, and also has interests in steelmaking, IT, and chemicals.
Tata Group launches water purifier for the masses - The Globe and Mail
The Tata Swach - Hindi for "clean" - meets U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards, and doesn't require running water, electricity, or boiling, executives said. It's cheaper than boiling water, cheaper than bottled water, and 2.5 times less expensive than Hindustan Unilever's low-cost Pureit filter, according to data provided by the companies.Tata will sell two versions of the 19-litre Swach container, priced at 749 rupees ($16.11) and 999 rupees ($21.48), depending on the material. The filter itself costs 299 rupees ($6.43). It will purify 800 gallons (3,000 liters) of water - enough for a family of five for a year - before it automatically shuts down. [...] Tata Group launches water purifier for the masses - The Globe and MailTata's water filter grew out of a decade of research and development. It uses paddy husk ash as a matrix, bound with microscopic particles of silver to kill the bacteria that cause 80 per cent of waterborne disease, executives said. The current model doesn't neutralize chemicals like arsenic and fluoride, which contaminate some ground water in India, but future versions will, executives said. Paddy husk ash has long been known for its cleansing properties - it has been used traditionally for tooth washing - and India produces about 20 million tons of it a year.
The Tata Swach - Hindi for "clean" - meets U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards, and doesn't require running water, electricity, or boiling, executives said.
It's cheaper than boiling water, cheaper than bottled water, and 2.5 times less expensive than Hindustan Unilever's low-cost Pureit filter, according to data provided by the companies.
Tata will sell two versions of the 19-litre Swach container, priced at 749 rupees ($16.11) and 999 rupees ($21.48), depending on the material.
The filter itself costs 299 rupees ($6.43). It will purify 800 gallons (3,000 liters) of water - enough for a family of five for a year - before it automatically shuts down.
[...]
Tata's water filter grew out of a decade of research and development. It uses paddy husk ash as a matrix, bound with microscopic particles of silver to kill the bacteria that cause 80 per cent of waterborne disease, executives said. The current model doesn't neutralize chemicals like arsenic and fluoride, which contaminate some ground water in India, but future versions will, executives said. Paddy husk ash has long been known for its cleansing properties - it has been used traditionally for tooth washing - and India produces about 20 million tons of it a year.
Tata's water filter grew out of a decade of research and development. It uses paddy husk ash as a matrix, bound with microscopic particles of silver to kill the bacteria that cause 80 per cent of waterborne disease, executives said.
The current model doesn't neutralize chemicals like arsenic and fluoride, which contaminate some ground water in India, but future versions will, executives said.
Paddy husk ash has long been known for its cleansing properties - it has been used traditionally for tooth washing - and India produces about 20 million tons of it a year.
