Himalayan News Service

Lalitpur, February 3:

Two Iron Remover Plants (IRP) installed in Dhapagal and Belachhen Tole have been providing locals with better quality drinking water.

The plants, installed in wells from where water is pumped for drinking purpose, removes excess amount of iron, ammonia and turbidity in the well water through aeration, chemical treatment and double filtration before it is supplied for drinking purpose.

Installation of the plants was technically and financially supported by the Urban Environment Management Society (UEMS).

The plants have benefitted over 50 households and eateries in Dhapagal, which had to depend on low quality drinking water because of inadequate water supply from pipelines.

“Traditional wells have adequate water to meet the need of the locals here but it is of low quality because it is yellowish in colour,” said Nhuchhe Maharjan, the treasurer of the water users’ committee that is responsible for the maintenance and treatment of the water in a regular basis.

Each household contributed Rs 200 for the installation of the plant in Dhapagal.

About Rs 150,000 was spent on the construction of the plant.

Some 10 per cent of the total fund raised has been set aside for meeting the maintenance cost of the plant.

According to Dal Bahadur Sintan, president of the UEMS, the pilot projects are part of the programme to optimise the utility of available local water sources and upgrade its quality.

Sintan added that there is growing demand for IRPs in Patan.