Flood Relief Efforts in Jorhat: Distribution of Water Purification Units

In Jorhat district, ongoing floods have left 59 villages submerged and over 20,000 residents in need of assistance. To address the critical shortage of safe drinking water, authorities have distributed 100 gravity-based water purification units. These units, designed for emergency use, can serve both individual households and communities. The initiative, part of a corporate social responsibility effort, aims to alleviate the suffering of those affected by the floods. With a history of deployment during natural disasters, this technology promises to provide essential relief in times of crisis.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 9, 2026, 15:10 IST

Critical Flood Relief Measures in Jorhat

Representative Image.

Jorhat, Aug 9: As 59 villages remain submerged and over 20,000 residents are impacted by flooding in Jorhat district, the urgent need for safe drinking water has led to the deployment of 100 gravity-based water purification systems.

According to officials, 75 of these units are designated for individual households, while 25 are allocated for community use.

“We distributed five units each for household and community use at Jonakimondal village in the Titabor block. The remaining 90 units were given to the Jorhat district commissioner, who will oversee their distribution,” an official stated.

This purification system operates without electricity, utilizing gravity to treat water, making it ideal for emergency situations like floods.

A household unit comprises two 22-litre containers, sufficient to meet the drinking and cooking needs of approximately five to six individuals when used for one hour daily. The community unit, which includes two 100-litre containers, can serve around 10 households, according to officials.

“The unit is user-friendly and does not require electricity. Its portability and ease of installation make it particularly beneficial in emergencies and flood-affected areas,” another official noted.

This technology was initially developed in 2006 after floods in Barmer, Rajasthan, and has been adapted for use during various natural disasters, including last year's flash floods in Jammu and Kashmir.

The units were created by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). The distribution event was attended by CSIR-NEERI Director S Venkata Mohan and CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology (CSIR-NEIST), Jorhat, Director V M Tiwari.

This initiative is part of a corporate social responsibility (CSR) effort, with the remaining units allocated to the Jorhat district commissioner for distribution to affected communities.

Previously, 288 villages in Jorhat faced flooding, with 59 still under water. A total of 166,084 individuals have been affected, with 20,209 still in need of assistance.