BENGALURU: Did you know that diarrhoea causing pathogens can be killed by simply keeping water in copper vessels? The traditional knowledge that drinking water kept in copper vessels is healthy has now been scientifically established.
A study in this regard has been published in three international journals, claims TransDisciplinary University (TDU), Yelahanka.
TDU’s Dr Padma Venkat and her six-member team have been researching on it for past eight years.
“Initially we found that keeping water in copper pots for 16 hours would kill diarrhoea causing pathogens, rotavirus, salmonella typhi, cholera and E.coli. But we wanted to bring down the purifying time so we invented TamRas,” said Venkat, professor and adviser, School of Life Sciences.
TamRas is a 15-litre water purifier with a copper device. It was launched on Monday.
“Hundreds of children from lower socio-economic strata die of water-borne diseases like diarrhoea and typhoid.
They use methods like chlorine tablets, heating and solar disinfection but they are not 100 per cent effective,” said Venkat.
With support from National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata, and Christian Medical College, Vellore, who provided the pathogens, they contaminated the water.
“We placed the contaminated water in TamRas. In 8-10 hours, the leached copper ions killed pathogens,” she said, adding copper is also a micronutrient so it imparts health benefits.Priced at `1,500, it is going to hit the markets first in HD Kote, Raichur and Male Mahadeshwara Hills through self-help groups like Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement, Jenugoodu and Samuha. These places were selected as they have a history of poverty and water access and water quality issues.
“Initially around 500 units will be manufactured by a Coimbatore start-up called Roone Industries and given to the SHGs. After adequate training, the sale would begin from June,” she said.
The Tata Trust is funding the project. It was tested in seven villages of Karnataka and Kenya. A 37 per cent drop in diarrhoeal incidence was seen among under-five children in Kenya. While the seed funding was provided by Department of Biotechnology, funds for field testing were provided by Great Challenges Canada grant.
“It cannot be compared to filters or reverse osmosis plants. It only kills pathogens and does not act on fluorides or pesticides residual that may be found in tap water in urban households. But if urban households put purified water in TamRas, they can be benefited by copper. It facilitates absorption of iron and can help anaemic people,” she said.
What is TamRas?
A 15-litre water purifier with a copper device. The leached
copper ions in the device take 8-10 hours to kill the pathogens. This is developed by city-based TransDisciplinary University in Yelahanka.]
We found that keeping water in copper pots for 16 hours would kill diarrhoea causing pathogens... But we wanted to bring down the purifying time so we invented TamRas Dr Padma Venkat, professor, School of Life Sciences