Design & Development of Ultra Low Cost Water

Purifier for Indian Rural Market

P Prakash!, Manas R Mishra2, R Sri Krishna Prabhu3, Dr. Abhay Kumar4
'student, M.Sc. (Engg.), 2Asst Prof,
Centre for Product Design, M.S.Ramaiah School of Advanced Studies, Bangalore
3Technical Head EFL, 4General Manager for Purification System EFL, Bangalore.

Abstract
Water is the vital source of existence of life on earth. Drinking pure water has changed from luxury to necessityfor
the past few years. In general the people living in urban areas have access to good drinking water by having water purifier
and at times can afford for packaged drinking water. However, ifwe look at scenario in rural India, most of the people do not
have a source of clean drinking water and because of illiteracy, they are not aware of the hazards caused by drinking unclean
water. Even if they know it, their poor economic status prevents them to afford even a water purifier. To solve this problem,
keeping economic considerations and practical functionality in mind, the project was taken to design a water purifier for rural
India. The project was aimed at designing a low cost water purifier suitablefor rural conditions.
The design process began with product context study where a thorough understanding of the product was made by
going through literatures and by undertaking discussions with the industry experts. Traveling to different villages and having
one on one interview with the people with a list of questionnaires was the method adopted for data collection. Also
interviewing suburban shops and observations made during the visits gave a clear insight of the rural lifestyle and their
expectations. Data collection was followed by different design process like Quality Function Deployment, Morphological
Analysis, Mind Mapping, etc he outcome of which was implemented during generation of concepts.
Finally, the purified waterfrom functional product was subject to stringent lab testing at an equipped testingfacility,
recognized by water quality association, U.S.A. The report outcome saw a 99% reduction of bacteria, virus and protozoa.
Smell, taste and the temperature of water werefound to be non objectionable.

Key Words: Cost, Water, Purifier, Safe

1. INTRODUCTION 2. PRODU,CT STUDY

Design as a process can take many forms depending on 2.1 Water Purifier Technologies
the object being designed and the individual or individuals Various methods of water purifier were studied to have a
participating. Designing normally requires considering comparative knowledge of the product [2]
aesthetic, functional, and many other aspects of an object, Reverse Osmosis
which usually requires considerable research, thought, Ozone
modeling, interactive adjustment, and re-design. Product UV based
Design can be defined as the idea generation, concept UF based
development, testing and manufacturing or implementation Resin based
of a physical object or service. It is a sub field and has
evolved from the field of Industrial Design. Product 2.2 Data Collection and Analysis
Designers conceptualize and evaluate Ideas, making them
tangible through products. For the product considered Water
purification is the most important function. It is removal of
contaminants from raw water to produce drinking water that
is pure enough for human consumption or for industrial use.
Substances that are removed during the process include
parasites (such as Giardia or Cryptosporidium), bacteria,
algae, viruses, fungi, minerals (including toxic metals such
as Lead, Copper etc.), and man-made chemical pollutants.
[I] Many contaminants can be dangerous-but depending on
the quality standards, others are removed to improve the
water's smell, taste, and appearance. A small amount of
disinfectant is usually intentionally left in the water at the
end of the treatment process to reduce the risk of re- Fig 1. Data Collection
contamination in the distribution system. Various methods
and processes for development of design to solve the above From the survey it has been found that majority of the
issues were followed. The proposed product thus made rural people use ground water for drinking purpose, from
should solve the above issues within the limited cost so that interviews as shown in Fig I, Fig 2. It was concluded that
it is in the reach 0 the Indian village segment. due to lack of awareness on the importance of pure water,
rural people are more likely to get affected with water born

SAsTECH 86 Vol. VI, NO.1, April 2007

diseases. The data collected indicates that due to the
Affordability issues, people in the rural areas are using
ineffective methods like: Water filter (ceramic candles),
Chlorine technology, Boiling the water, Amla stem, Alum
powder, Cotton cloth. [2]

Fig 4. User Environment

3. PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

Fig 2. Interviews
In semi rural shopping there is no water purifier Only 71.0 71 71.7 71

Steel water filter are sold and the cost of the product starts
from 340 rupees. When researched in the urban market, it
was found that, Resin based Water purifiers were available
in urban market costing 1500 rupees to 2000 rupees, Off-
line purifiers were also available costing around Rs. 600.The
competitors in this market are Eureka Forbes, Usha Brita,
Hindustan Lever Ltd.

2.3 Target Customer ,..

Fig 5. Population Graph

As shown in Fig 5, it is noticed that 72% of Indian
population belong to the rural section of which the children
between the age group of 3 and 6 are most vulnerable to
water borne diseases like diarrhea, gastroenteritis and
cholera, all of which can cause severe dehydration and even
death. In India, nearly six lakh children die every year due to
diarrhea related causes in the age group of less than five
years.
As per the survey conducted Fig 6, the issues
concerning the rural segment was, Water Complaint, lack of
awareness, No need of purifier Environment, etc. From the
above identification, Water from the 15 villages was brought
for sampling test, Fig 6.

Fig 3. Target Customers

The product context study is undertaken by any company to

understand the different environments in which the product
is likely to be used and finding customer needs. The product
context is shown in Fig 3, Fig 4.was carried out. A
questioner was prepared and the corresponding details were
collected from the users to understand there need better. The
answers for the questioners where collected from about 50
villagers from 15 villages. Fig 6. Sample Collections
Then water samples were taken to EFL laboratory for
testing the output. The water result was matched with IS-

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 10500: 1991, Edition 2.2, (2003-09) that indicated that only 3.3 Product Design Specification.
the ph value was matching with the specified norms, but
hardness, alkalinity, chloride, nitrate, sulphate, TDS were PP
cloth,
leachreturn
tap,
Performance
(low and
standard
standard
resin),
yarn
drinking resin
ISThe
Suspended
purpose,
specification Water
Nearly
Ruralwater
European
would
Specifications People
450taken
be Rupees
should be10100%
guidance of pure
in theand safe
design.
not matching. literCompany
10500:storage
1991, tank, Standards
Product cost for
45beshould
Indian
of Standards
becausing
Mass
iodinated Produced.
specifications 250gm Constrains
ofEdition liter Cost
10should
2.2,
activated
Impurities (2003-09)
filter
Customercarbon
Drinking be should
tank,
(non
removed, coated),
100%
cclow,
silver
disease
It Pure
Destroy
should be and Safe Drinking
bacteria
appropriate Water,
and virus,
according It
to the

3.1 Quality Function Deployment

User

Affordable
Purified water
Long life
Harmless structure
Easy to carry
Stable
Dust proof material
Function
Easy to clean
Withstand all climates
4. CONCEPT GENERA nON

4.1 Form generation

Fig 7. Output from QFD Sketching exercises were carried out to generate form
for the product. Few of the sketches are as shown in Fig 9.
Output from the QFD matrix indicated the important [5].
issues, which are illustrated in Fig 7; this gave high ranking
for Cost, Technology and Material.

3.2 Technology Research

Seliment Filter

Iodinated Low
Leach Resin

4
Activated Carbon
(Non-Silver Coated)

••
Fig 8. Resin Based Technology
Fig 9. Form Generations
From Fig 8, It is found that resin based technology
would be appropriate for the given situation. Resin based 4.2 Form exploration
technology has 3 stages. PP yarn cloth, [3]. Iodinated resin Overall selection of few concepts were done for which three
(low leach resin), Activated carbon (non silver coated) [4]. dimensional form was explored. Fig 10. [6].

SAsTECH 88 Vol. VI, NO.1, April 2007

 Fig 10. Form Explorations

4.3 Concepts
The probable concepts
illustrated in Fig II. [7].
Fig 13. Final Concept
were modeled and rendered as
The naturally available material was Stone, clay &
metals. Fig 13. Comparing with these, we found clay was
very cheap than stone and Metals. Due to the easy
availability and low cost, Clay was selected as the material
for the final concept. The process adopted for manufacturing
the product is pottery. Fig 14. [10].

5.2 MANUFACTURING DETAILS

Details of manufacturing of pottery by traditional
method were explored to suit the product. Provision of
required fittings and arriving to the proposed dimensions
was also explored.

Fig 11. Concepts 1-9

5. FINAL CONCEPT
The final concept is selected, by following the Dot Stick
method as shown in Fig 12. The selected concept was taken
and investigated to ensure all the product design parameters.
The final concept is shown in Fig 14. [8]

Fig 14. Manufacturing Detail Images

Fig 12. Concept Selections
5.1 Material Selection
Material selection and Manufacturing process should
meet the Aesthetic of the product. Material should be
friendly with the environment conditions. Low material cost.
Low manufacturing cost, Mass Production, Biodegradable,
Availability in rural area was the main criteria for material
selection. [9]
5.3 Research and Results
Smell test was done between normal ground water and
purified water. The results showed that there was no smell of
mud, pipe or any other material in purified water. When
tested for taste, the purified water was free from any of the
objectionable parameter.
The tested water gives 99.999% reduction of E.Coli
from the input of IOe3/ml spiking load.

SAsTECH 89 Vol. VI, No.1, April 2007

5.4 Cost of Product REFERNCES

[I] www.eurekaforbes.com
DESCRPTION MATERIAL PRICE inRs
[2] www.allproducts.com
JoP pot . CJay 35 [3]http://www.aquadepot.com/Residential/Countertop/
Bottom JJQL ~ __ 35 _ Water Filtration
Stand ~ 5 [4]http://www.starlingwatersystems.com/site/68 859 51
_GJlP- . ._ __ _.G!~y page/50199I
[5]http://www.heartspring.net/water_fiIters~uide.htm
..s.~gjm~J:ltf.i.lI~r PP.y~c..lQm.. 30
I#charcoal
H~~~gQ!lN\lt. .,@S.(pI~!i.C.}i:.!.i [6] http://www.aquasanastore.com/
H~~~gQn~LThJ:eadPipe.". AB.,s. (Pl~!i.c.L!4.i [7] P. Ranganath Nayak Ph.d and John M
~eL_____Ny)QJ:l___ __ L4 __._____ Ketteringham Ph.d, (1986), "Breakthroughs!,"
G~igge___ _..• i\I3S.(pl~ti.c.)_.., ! 1>,tt!:2±2"""" """,-1 Published simultaneously in Canada by Collier
Tap set
Gum
AIlS (plasti'!:L
Standard
i 3Q_
i 8.5
Macmillan Canada, Inc. -
[8] Stuart Pugh, (1991), "Total Design," Published by
Tota! , ,.!J12>Q, . Addison-Wesley
Publishing Company, Massachusetts.
Fig 15. Cost Chart [9] Mike Baxter, (1996) "Product Design," Published
The total cost of the product is Rs.312.501- the details of the by Chapman & hall, Chennai, India.
product and its cost have been explained in Fig 15, [11]. [10] Ian Wright, (1998) "Design Methods in
Engineering and Product design,"
5.5 Usage Board Published by McGraw-Hili, Berkshire, England.
The designed product was taken to the actual users to be [II] Karl T. Ulrich and Steven Eppinger (2003)"
tested for its usage related issues, Fig 16. Product Design and Development",
Third edition

Fig 16. Usage board

6. CONCLUSION
A product success mainly depends on the customer
aspects. In this project the Ultra Low Cost Water Purifier is
taken for Design for the rural market. Even though the
product can be made in some low cost plastic, this product is
made in clay keeping the rural people in consideration. In
this product the total product context study with the relevant
market study was made to understand the user. Then, the
PDS was made keeping the user needs as base, Concepts are
generated with reference to Product Design Specification.
Analysing the existing systems of water consumption in
rural area, lifestyle of the user, mood board and the usage
board of the targeted customer helps to generate the
concepts. Product was designed for the rural area, so all the
concepts were exhibited for the rural people and feedback
was collected to pick the best one. Working model of the
final product was developed to give the justification in terms
of low cost and hygienic water for the rural area.

SAsTECH 90 Vol. VI, No.1, April 2007