Kathmandu, March 1:

A study has shown Solvatten, a newly introduced technology for household water treatment, is feasible and applicable in Nepal.

Solvatten is a portable container for purifying drinking water. It treats water by utilising solar radiation in combination with an in-built filter.

The Environment and Public Health Organisation (ENPHO) conducted effectiveness test of the technology developed in Sweden in different climatic zones of Nepal from June through November of 2007.

The test was carried out in Solukhumbu (mountain region), Kathmandu (hilly region) and Hetauda (Tarai region) under the aegis of UN-HABITAT.

The study says the technology was effective in filtering big particles, including the faecal coliforms, at different turbidity levels of water.

Water samples were collected from local sources and artificially contaminated to see the efficiency of Solvatten in treating highly contaminated water samples.

Padmaja Shrestha, programme manager at Environment and Public Health Organisation, said the technology is effective in a country like Nepal, which has varied geographical terrain, but sunny days.

She said the technology could be used for almost 65 per cent days in a year.

She said the water gets disinfected and ready to use after it is left in the container in a sunny place for around four hours.

“It (Solvatten) is better than the already available solar water purifying system known as SODIS in the sense that the former disinfects water in a lesser time, and has inbuilt filter and indicator to indicate when the water is totally disinfected,” she said.

This is the first time that the technology developed by a Swedish national was tested in Nepal.

Shrestha added Solvatten is estimated to cost around Rs 1,000 to 1,200 and that the unit would last for around five years.

“Before bringing it to the public, we are also planning to conduct a pilot study to assess its social impact,” she said.