Potential of natural technologies for decentralised wastewater management in India (original) (raw)

Potential of natural treatment technologies for wastewater management in India

High population growth, increasing urbanization and rapid economic development are exerting pressure on the already scarce water resources in India. Treatment and reuse of wastewater can play an important role in addressing some of the urban water challenges. Conventional treatment plants have many challenges, therefore, natural treatment systems (NTSs) are viewed as a cost-effective alternative, which are more suitable in the Indian context. This study builds on a desktop study of NTSs and presents a rapid sustainability assessment of 12 NTSs, highlighting the potential and viability of NTSs in India. The results show that the NTSs have a high potential for wastewater treatment. However, there are still gaps in knowledge related to aspects that hinder the sustainability of the systems. Risks associated with reuse of treated wastewater in agriculture, operational problems and social acceptance were perceived as frequent challenges. Self-sustaining financing methods and the use of by-products were viewed as added benefits.

Natural treatment system models for wastewater management: a study from Hyderabad, India

Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research, 2018

Wastewater generated on a global scale has become a significant source of water resources which necessitates appropriate management strategies. However, the complexities associated with wastewater are lack of economically viable treatment systems, especially in low- and middle-income countries. While many types of treatment systems are needed to serve the various local issues, we propose natural treatment systems (NTS) such as natural wetlands that are eco-friendly, cost-effective, and can be jointly driven by public bodies and communities. In order for it to be part of wastewater management, this study explores the NTS potential for removal of pollutants, cost-effectiveness, and reuse options for the 1.20 million m/day of wastewater generated in Hyderabad, India. The pilot study includes hydro-geophysical characterization of natural wetland to determine pollutant removal efficiency and its effective utilization for treated wastewater in the peri-urban habitat. The results show the ...

A Sustainable and Economical Approach to Water Treatment : A Review in Context of India

Scientific Reviews and Chemical Communications, 2015

Recent papers related to the field of water purification, environmental economics and biosorption were studied and are reviewed. Considering the existing economic disparity and sustainability concerns in the developing and underdeveloped nations and the incapability of the rural people to afford modern fancy water purifiers, we present some economical water treatment processes. All the prescribed methods were also found to be eco-friendly and technically efficient. For reducing the turbidity of water, we discuss the use of Sari and Burlap cloth sheets and Moringa Oleifera powder. For improving the aesthetic qualities of water, we have used the sand and gravel filtration approach wherein the water is passed through different layers of sand and gravels before being consumed. For removing disease causing microorganisms from water, use of SODIS technique, copper pots, and biosand filter is advocated. Finally, for the removal of inorganic chemical contaminants and radioactive substances,...

Efficient Wastewater Management for Sustainable Development: Challenges and Prospects an Indian Scenario

International Journal of Health Sciences and Research, 2017

The past few decades have witnessed a drastic decrease in the availability on natural water reserve, as a result of increasing global population and industrialisation. Understanding the need of the available resources is of utmost importance for any nation to function efficiently. Adversely affected water generates wastewater which contains potential hazards such as organic as well as inorganic pollutants which intern have a detrimental effect on the environment and human health. The amount of wastewater generated to the amount of wastewater treated varies greatly, depending on the economy of the country, at the same time the amount of wastewater reused is very less. The declining trend and cause of reduction in water availability is a serious concern which is indicated in the present study. The present study also focuses on the aspects of wastewater management and its importance for reuse along with suggestions of improved technologies for wastewater treatment. The motive of the study is to understand the importance of wastewater reuse in an efficient manner so that sustainable development can be maintained, thus reducing encumbrance on the natural resources.

Wastewater Treatment in India: An Update Review

Bulletin of environment and pharmacology and life sciences , 2022

Growth of big cities and industrial setup along the rivers has posed serious pollution problems. Huge sewer discharge and discharge of industrial wastes into the river systems have, at times polluted the water to the extent that dead fishes were seen floating on the water surface. During ancient times human wastes were simply discharged into the nearest body of water, such as lake, stream, river or ocean. In rural areas of many developing countries, this practice still continues. As the human population size grew these water bodies became degraded, affecting aquatic wildlife due to depleting levels of oxygen. Moreover waterborne diseases began to threaten human lives also. Human activities create vast amounts of various solid and liquid wastes. The release of these materials into the environment causes serious health problems as they make undesirable changes in our land and water resources making them unfit for use. Disease like cholera, jaundice, typhoid, dysentry and tuberculosis became very common. So the proper treatment of such wastes is necessary, using microbial biodegradation/ detoxification etc.

Potential of Decentralised Wastewater Treatment Systems Applicable to India

Current World Environment, 2016

Appropriate sanitation facilities are still a challenge in many parts of the world, particularly in developing countries. With regard to almost 950 million people defecating in the open, the question arises whether the existing treatment facilities are sufficient to provide for a healthy sanitation in the world. This paper mainly emphasizes on developing countries (particularly, India) where cost is generally a very important parameter of judgment for choosing the appropriate system. This makes decentralized treatment systems much more suitable for installation as they are easier to build and operate, both financially and technically. This paper includes basic differences and fundamental explanations about the processes involved in different decentralized treatment systems and their comparison on the basis of installation cost carried out by using a technology ranking method. It is concluded that waste stabilisation ponds would be most cost effective solution from capital investment...

Clean Water: Design of an efficient and feasible water treatment plant for rural South-Bengal

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Research and Developments, 2018

Wastewater treatment is an important issue because of lessening water resources. The primary reason for wastewater treatment process is to expel the different constituents of the polluting load: solids, natural carbon, supplements, inorganic salts, metals, pathogens and so on. In this paper, the mainly decentralized method is considered as a solution. A new rural wastewater treatment process is introduced with proper planning and designing by using empirical equations. This paper exhibits the wastewater treatment technologies present in Bangladesh, to expel contaminants from wastewater, for example, halogenated hydrocarbon mixes, overwhelming metals, colors, pesticides, and herbicides, which speak to the fundamental toxins in the wastewater. This research shows that the proposed decentralized system is more feasible economically and environmentally (about 75% BOD removal) since the centralized system needs modern machinery and high initial investment. To design a sustainable wastewater treatment system for developing an area, further assessment of environmental, health, social and institutional aspects are recommended.