An Outfit for Improving Potability of Water in Snow-Bound Areas

Abstract

A water sterilising outfit has been developed for improving potability of water in snow-bound areas by converting snow-melted water into safe drinking water. The outfit(wt.50g) contains a rectangular tin box and two types of tablets-white sterilising tablets and pink thio-mineral tablets-stored in pharmaceutical packings and provides 35 litres of wholesome drinking water as per World Health Organisation and Indian Council of Medical Research standards. The sterilised and mineralised water obtained from this outfit is not only free from turbidity, colour and bad taste, but also supplements the deficiency of iodine which has been found as a primary cause of goiter in high altitude areas by health authorities. Minerlised water containing 0.04 mg/I of iodine provides a daily dose of about 0.08 to 0.12 mg of iodine to a person consuming 2 to 3 litres of water in snow-bound areas. The item has been introduced in Armed Forces for the regular use.