Introduction: According to the NITI Aayog report, about 2 lakh people die every year by drinking poor quality water, and this number of deaths is increasing now. Because so many potential diseases come with the consumption of unclean water, such as Cholera, Typhoid Fever, Diarrheal Diseases, Hepatitis A, Dysentery, Polio, and more, this puts a big challenge in front of the government. A key reason for these diseases is the lack of clean water, which the government is required to provide to its people. Unclean or poor-quality water is not only harmful to people’s health but also to industries’ quality operations because so many industries require high-grade quality water.The food-producing industries for example require treated clean water to maintain high quality standards of food. Also, good quality water is required to avoid plant component failure due to corrosion and scaling.
So, water quality plays a very crucial role in every nation’s well-being. Everyone gets clean, safe, and drinkable water It becomes essential now to adopt some advanced technologies that not only purify water but also give us water that matches our health standards or industry standards that are responsible for the production of quality food and other products. This technology is called Water treatment, in which we use many chemicals that not only kill harmful pathogens, bacteria, and viral infections but also remove many metal solids, and organic or suspended matter that will give us so many incurable diseases. Thus, water treatment technology is really essential for every nation’s water system.
Yearly Analysis of The Water Treatment Chemicals Tenders: During the last year, a total of 3278 water treatment chemical tenders were advertised by 461 government agencies in India. In which maximum number of tenders were published in Maharashtra at 528, followed by 293 tenders in Tamil Nadu and 268 tenders in Madhya Pradesh. West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh were the next two ranked buyers with 267 tenders and 224 tenders respectively. Indian army was the top ranked buyer with 362 tenders, followed by Municipal administration in multiple states with 153 tenders. The Directorate of Town Panchayats published 134 tenders. It is interesting to note that local administration including the town panchayats and municipalities are key buyers of water treatment chemicals..
Cooling Water Treatment Tender: About 30 tenders were advertised for treatment of water in cooling towers. These tenders were predominantly published by procuring entities such as the National Thermal Power Corporation Limited, Indian Oil Corporation and Hindustan Urvarak and Rasayan Limited. A cooling tower system uses filtration technologies and chemicals to remove harmful pathogens and metal deposits to get clear and safe drinkable water. Many different types of chemicals are sought by the government for cooling water treatment as per the examples given herein. Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited published a tender for Supply of Cooling Water Treatment Chemicals along with services of CW Chemical Treatment in Circulating Cooling Water for four months to maintain COC performance of condensers. Similarly, Department of Economic Affairs sought to purchase Algaecides and Biocide for Cooling Water treatment.
Bleaching Powder Tenders: Bleaching powder is one of the most commonly used water disinfectants for making water drinkable. It is a compound of calcium hypochlorite, and when bleaching powder comes in contact with moisture, it releases chlorine that kills harmful viruses, bacteria, and pathogens. That is why bleaching powder has become popular to make swimming pools safe for swimmers. Due to the impressive disinfectant properties of bleaching powder also used in water storage tanks, that could be a favorable home for bacteria and other pathogens. Bleaching powder can be used in emergency water disinfection during disasters because it is quite effective and easily accessible. Because of the effective and proven results, many government agencies published bleaching powder tenders to make their water system safe and secure for their people. The Municipalities in Telangana published a tender for Supply and delivery of bleaching powder for purification of drinking water. Another tender was advertised by the Western Coalfields for Stable Bleaching Powder for Household and Industrial Use as per IS: 1065 (Part 1).
Liquid Chlorine Tenders: Liquid Chlorine is a solution of sodium hypochlorite that has the same applications as bleaching powder. Such as making water drinkable, and disinfecting swimming pools and water storage tanks. Liquid chlorine is easy to handle, and it can be used quickly without dissolving in water in emergency conditions. It doesn’t release chlorine gas, which may be harmful for lungs. Further, It doesn’t require any specific concentration for specific use. Due to its impressive advantages and quick applications, government agencies actively advertised liquid chlorine tenders. For example, AP Genco advertised a tender for Liquid Chlorine, Technical Grade as per IS-646:2020, shall be supplied in departmental or supplied tonners including Hydro testing & maintenance of cylinders. Mission Bhagiratha Department advertised a tender for Manufacture, Supply and Delivery of Sodium Hypochlorite Solution (Liquid Chlorine) to anywhere in Telangana State. Liquid chlorine is used for filter house in sewage treatment plant as well. Also, liquid chlorine is purchased in gas form by the government. For example, Vijayawada Municipal Corporation advertised a tender for supply and delivery of liquid chlorine gas for maintenance of Head Water Works.
Live Tender Analysis: As of 15 March 2024, there were 264 live tenders for water treatment chemicals. of which, West Bengal was ranked at the top with 60 live tenders, followed by Madhya Pradesh with 58 live tenders, Maharashtra with 37 live tenders, and Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh with 30 live tenders each.
Conclusion: So, how easily water treatment chemicals can solve our biggest problems and play a very crucial role in making our water system clean and safe. Whether we want to purify water for drinking purposes, make swimming pools and water storage tanks safe for use, or industries that want to maintain food production and hygiene standards high and avoid plant component failure due to corrosion by using poor quality water, all problems just have one solution called water treatment that uses many chemicals according to their suitability. Thats why the government has shown tremendous interest in adopting water treatment technology and promoting the uses of those chemicals that really have outstanding applications and disinfection properties, even in emergencies, and contribute to the nation’s advancement.