Eco cistern device invented to save water

Chandigarh, Jul 1: When water scarcity is becoming a global problem, an engineer here has invented a 'syphonically operated flushing device' which drastically cuts down the water usage in present cisterns at an economical cost.

In addition to saving a massive volume of water, the novel device would also contribute to reduction in water pollution and the resultant water-borne diseases, inventor Vijay Kumar, a junior engineer with the Chandigarh Housing Board told mediapersons here.

''The objective of saving water can be achieved without changing the old (flushing) cistern at a negligible cost by installing this simple device,'' he said while giving a demonstration at a press conference.

The old cistern with 12.5 liters capacity could be converted into eight litres capacity cistern and an additional technique will further modify it to use only three to four litres of water to clean the seat after urination,'' Mr Vijay Kumar explained.

''The technique is all about air peressure and control over the flow of water,'' he said, adding that he has already applied for the patent rights.

Pointing out that the Union government had proposed to change the old cisterns to save the water by spending crores of rupees, Mr Kumar said his device could be an alternative and, thus, save 93 per cent of the expenditure.

''Instead of replacing the old cisterns, we just have to put a bell with injector holes inside,'' he said.

The invention's patent application has been forwarded by the Punjab State Council of Science and Technology (PSCST) to the Technology Information Forecasting and Assessment Council of the Centre's Department of Science and Technology. The patent application for the device has also been filed in the Indian Patent Office on February 20 last.

The invention has also been sent to President A P J Abdul Kalam and Prime Minsiter Dr Manmohan Singh who have forwarded it to the Ministry of Water Resources,'' Mr Kumar said, expressing hope that the device would be adopted not only by the government agencies but also hundreds of NGOs, who were committed to the conservation of water.

UNI