Topic: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
6. What do you understand by “Reverse Osmosis” Technology? Critically discuss the indiscriminate use of RO technology from the environmental point of view. (250 words).
Reference: Business Standard
Why this question:
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has set the year-end as the deadline for the environment ministry to bar the use of reverse osmosis (RO) water purifiers in places where the available water conforms to the prescribed quality norm of dissolved solids content of below 500 mg per litre. The move aims chiefly at preventing the wastage of water and several useful minerals and essential salts that are lost during RO treatment.
Key demand of the question:
This is a straightforward question where one must discuss in detail the concept of reverse osmosis technology. Discuss its usages and why the RO technology is being used in such large scales. One must also argue how the RO technology has been affecting the environment.
Directive:
Critically Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a fair judgment.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start by explaining the concept of Reverse Osmosis and the NGT judgement.
Body:
Discuss the usages of Reverse Osmosis.
Why there has been an increase in the usage of RO technology.
Now argue about how the RO Tech has been impacting the environment.
Provide alternative measures, if any.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
