SWaDeS addresses one of the most persistent logistical hurdles for the Indian Armed Forces: the "last-mile" supply of potable water. In areas like Pangong Tso (a high-altitude saline lake in Ladakh) or remote islands, transporting fresh water is often more expensive and dangerous than transporting ammunition.

Key Technical Variants:

1. Manual Hand-Operated Unit:

• Portability: Lightweight enough to be carried by a single soldier in a backpack.

• Power: Requires zero electricity or fuel; it operates via a manual pump mechanism.

• Capacity: Designed for emergency use, supporting a group of 10–12 personnel during long-range patrols.

2. Engine-Operated Unit:

• High Performance: Can treat water with Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) as high as 35,000 mg/L (standard seawater) and reduce it to below 500 mg/L (WHO drinking standard).

• Speed: Can be deployed and operational within 2–3 minutes.

• Capacity: Suitable for small outposts, supporting 20–25 soldiers daily.

Operational Importance:

• Strategic Self-Reliance: Under the "Atmanirbhar Bharat" initiative, SWaDeS reduces the carbon footprint and high costs associated with flying in water tankers to high-altitude zones or shipping them to naval outposts.

• Versatile Terrain: While designed for the Navy and Coast Guard, its ability to handle the hyper-saline waters of inland lakes makes it a critical asset for the Army in the Himalayas.

• Disaster Relief Potential: Beyond military use, the DRDO has indicated that SWaDeS can be deployed during natural disasters (like Tsunami or floods) where local water infrastructure is destroyed but seawater or brackish floodwater is abundant.

The Science Behind It:

The system utilizes advanced reverse osmosis (RO) technology scaled down to a portable size. By applying pressure (either manually or via a small engine), water is forced through a specialized semi-permeable membrane that blocks salts and heavy minerals, allowing only pure water molecules to pass through.