Safe Water Network, Honeywell launch 100th safe water station

Safe Water Network (SWN) and Honeywell India today launched their 100th 'iJal safe water station' in Telangana, which they said is now providing safe water access to 3,30,000 people across the state.

"In addition to 100 safe water stations, we have committed to set up 30 more stations in Telangana by 2019. Cumulatively, these will provide safe water access to 420,000 people in the state," Honeywell India President Vikas Chadha said.

Over the last two years, Safe Water Network and Honeywell India have set up safe water stations in Telangana districts affected by severe groundwater contamination, including from fluoridesand provided employment to nearly 400 persons including over 150 women, who are involved in operations and management, and are gradually becoming entrepreneurs and operators of these safe water stations, he said.

Safe Water Network CEO Kurt Soderlund said "through strategic partnerships, technology and innovation, on-ground community engagement, we have been successful in deploying market-based social enterprise model that provides sustainable access to safe water especially to the bottom of the pyramid and is generating livelihoods, as many as four livelihoods per safe water station,enabling each person in the value chain to become an entrepreneur, operator, distributor, and/or technician".

These locally-owned and locally-operated safe water stations deploy six-level filtration technology, including reverse osmosis and ultraviolet filtration to purify water.

Technology interventions such as solar-powered water treatment plants, Internet of Things-based remote monitoring system,and water ATMs ensure uninterrupted and sustainable supply of clean and affordable drinking water, they added.