Modern technology and Indian traditional knowledge of Ayurveda have been combined to disinfect water completely and provide possible health benefits of natural oils.

Disinfection of water is essential for removing pathogenic microorganisms responsible for causing several water-borne diseases. However, the common drawbacks of chemical methods such as chlorination include the formation of harmful or carcinogenic disinfection by-products. Therefore, developing technology that provides safe and healthy drinking water at low cost with substantial ease of operation, scale-up, and without harmful disinfection by-products.

Scientists Dr VM Bhandari and his group at CSIR-NCL Pune, with support from the Water Technology Initiative of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, has developed the novel hybrid technology called SWASTIIK’ that involves boiling of a liquid as a result of pressure reduction (cavitation) and also uses natural oils having antimicrobial properties. This technology can eliminate harmful bacteria, including antimicrobial-resistant bacteria economically. It integrates Indian traditional knowledge of Ayurveda for complete disinfection of water and may offer possible health benefits of natural oils.

The technique used ---hydrodynamic cavitation combines chemistry, biology, and chemical engineering along with natural resources in the form of natural oils and plant extracts. The process, which draws inspiration from Indian traditional knowledge, has increased efficiency and reduced water treatment costs. The team achieved complete elimination for gram-negative E. coli and gram-positive S. aureus bacteria and even AMR bacteria or difficult opportunistic pathogenic bacteria in 5-10 minutes. It was observed that increased rates of disinfection using oil could drastically reduce the time of operation and consequently reduce cost compared to other advanced treatment processes.

The novel strategy of SWASTIIK (Safe Water and Sustainable Technology Initiative from Indian Knowledgebase) can have significant benefits in providing SAFE WATER and possible health benefits that can also boost immunity, a critical aspect underlined in the current Covid-19 era.