A Water Technology Park, established by Gramalaya, a voluntary organization at its Institute of Water and Sanitation at Kolakudipatti, was declared open on the occasion of World Water Day.
The park provides an opportunity for local communities, health practitioners, voluntary organizations and government officials to learn about water sources, treatment and conservation.
The park was declared open by Devadas Manoharan, Vice Chancellor, Anna University of Technology, Tiruchi.
The hand pumps on display at the park include long handle deep well pumps and shallow well models, suitable for places where it is necessary to dig deeper and areas with high water table.
Miniature models of check dam and recharge wells also provide an insight into the workings of these structures.
A kitchen garden has been established within and it uses the run off water generated from the pumps.
The garden would be maintained by children of the local community, according to J.Geetha, Executive Director, Gramalaya.
A separate park on various toilet models, including eco-san toilets, and a unit of Appropriate Rural Technology for Water, Environment and Sanitation has been set up by the Gramalaya already.
Luke Whaley, a water and sanitation practitioner from London, is helping the organization design various toilet and rainwater harvesting, water filtration and ground water recharging models, she said. A booklet would soon be brought on these designs, estimates and the technologies.
D.Paul Sathianathan, Chief Executive Officer, Guardian MFI, S.Damodaran, Country Director, Water.Org, and others were present.