The fastidious among us keep a safe distance from smelly public urinals. But here’s an innovation that promises to magically dispel the customary stench. Four students have come up with a ‘magic flush’ that can keep urinals clean and sweet smelling by utilising only 30% of the water used during conventional flushing.
Ravi Jaganure, Shivanand Gundannavar, Vikram Ganiger, and Poornima Patil, of Industrial Production (IP) branch from BVB College of Engineering and Technology (BVBCET), Hubballi, have developed the ‘magic flush’ at a cost of ₹4,000, under the guidance of professor Praveen Petkar. It is an automated mechanical flush which releases predetermined and controlled amounts of water after each use.
The product has been developed under the aegis of the Centre for Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CTIE), headed by director Nitin Kulkarni, and its makers vouch that it is best suited for public urinals.
The team members installed the product at one of the urinals on the college campus four weeks ago and it seems to be working smoothly.
According to Mr. Jaganure, the cost of maintenance is minimal.
“It works on spring and valve mechanism. After the individual steps off the platform of the urinal, the valve releases a specified quantity of water from the secondary tank. Another advantage is that it can be easily dismantled and installed at another spot. Moreover, quantity of water to be released can be adjusted, depending on the requirement,” he said.
Now, the team members are hoping that they get some assistance from the government or non-governmental organisations so that the technology could be used for a wider audience.
With mass production, the cost could come down further.
