Potential of natural treatment technologies for wastewater management in India

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 500-511 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Starkl ◽  
P. Amerasinghe ◽  
L. Essl ◽  
M. Jampani ◽  
D. Kumar ◽  
...  

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.

2017 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 479-492 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sahebrao Sonkamble ◽  
Md. Wajihuddin ◽  
Mahesh Jampani ◽  
S. Sarah ◽  
V. K. Somvanshi ◽  
...  

Abstract 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 m3/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 removal of organic content (76–78%), nutrients (77–97%), and microbes (99.5–99.9%) from the wetland-treated wastewater and its suitability for agriculture applications. Furthermore, the wetland efficiency integrated with engineered interventions led to the development of NTS models with different application scenarios: (i) constructed wetlands, (ii) minimized community wetlands, and (iii) single outlet system, suitable for urban, peri-urban and rural areas, respectively.


2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. F. Hamadeh ◽  
S. K. Sharma ◽  
G. Amy

Constructed wetlands (CWs) and managed aquifer recharge (MAR) represent commonly used natural treatment systems for reclamation and reuse of wastewater. However, each of these technologies have some limitations with respect to removal of different contaminants. Combining these two technologies into a hybrid CW-MAR system will lead to synergy in terms of both water quality and costs. This promising technology will help in the reduction of bacteria and viruses, trace and heavy metals, organic micropollutants, and nutrients. Use of subsurface flow CWs as pre-treatment for MAR has multiple benefits: (i) it creates a barrier for different microbial and chemical pollutants, (ii) it reduces the residence time for water recovery, and (iii) it avoids clogging during MAR as CWs can remove suspended solids and enhance the reclaimed water quality. This paper analyzes the removal of different contaminants by CW and MAR systems based on a literature review. It is expected that a combination of these natural treatment systems (CWs and MAR) could become an attractive, efficient and cost-effective technology for water reclamation and reuse.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (23) ◽  
pp. 13500
Author(s):  
Nidhal Marzougui ◽  
Ferdaous Guasmi ◽  
Sondes Dhouioui ◽  
Mohamed Bouhlel ◽  
Mohamed Hachicha ◽  
...  

There is a great need to find cheaper but still efficient treatment methods for wastewater. This study aimed to test the purifying performance of three different Moringa oleifera varieties that were cultivated in Tunisia on raw (RUW) and secondary treated urban wastewater (TUW). The seeds of the Mornag, Egyptian, and Indian varieties were powdered, added to the water (at concentrations of 0, 50, 100, and 150 mg·L−1), and stirred for 45 min at 120 rpm, and then left to settle for two hours. A physicochemical characterization of the wastewater was carried out before and after treatment. The investigated treatments decontaminated both types of urban wastewater. The best treatments were obtained with the Egyptian variety (at 150 mg·L−1), which excelled at the reduction of EC, TSS, BOD5, Cl, SO4, Ca, Na, Cd, and Fe in RUW and BOD5, EC, Na, Mg, Cl, and Cd in TUW. High amounts of TKN was found in both types of Moringa-treated wastewater, meaning that it could be used in agricultural irrigation, leading to less use of chemical nitrogen fertilizers and thus improving sustainability for crops, soils, animals, and humans. The Egyptian Moringa variety constitutes a cost-effective and environmentally friendly adsorbent that can be used as a replacement for more expensive treatment technologies.


10.29007/v639 ◽  
2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannus Wilhelmus Wouters ◽  
Jai Sankar Seelam ◽  
Klas Jan Agema

The legislative norms for treated wastewater diffuse in terms of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations are becoming increasingly stringent in the EU region. Compliance with the consent values compelled the water authorities to implement moving bed biofilters (MBFs) for tertiary stage effluent polishing. However, on-site and field surveys reveal that numerous MBF units suffer from non-optimal operational conditions, logistical challenges and irregular monitoring. This makes meeting the N-P criterion quite a challenging and expensive affair. It is therefore important to optimize their day-to-day operations, facilitate access to reliable and real-time status updates, and troubleshoot the failures. In this direction, an "internet-of-things", radio frequency ID (RFID) and cloud based monitoring and control tool, Sand-Cycle, was successfully developed, tested and implemented to monitor MBFs. The current study presents full- scale application of the developed remote control and mote technology at two wastewater treatment works. Sand-Cycle illustrated real-time dashboards indicating performance grading factors viz. in-situ average sand circulation rate, active bed volume and filter homogeneity. This presented clear instructions for detected malfunctions and enabled the operators to optimize the MBF output with limited effort. Further technical and technological advancements of such IoT based setups can actively assist in tackling long-term sustainability and wastewater management issues.


2017 ◽  
Vol 60 (5) ◽  
pp. 1563-1574 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne E. Dare ◽  
Rabi H. Mohtar ◽  
Chad T. Jafvert ◽  
Basem Shomar ◽  
Bernard Engel ◽  
...  

Abstract. Harsh environment, severe aridity, and climate change create chronic water shortages in the Middle East. Technical challenges, socio-economic factors, and competing uses of water have escalated the difficulties in water planning at national and institutional levels. This research identifies opportunities and challenges associated with wastewater treatment systems and the potential for wastewater reuse in the West Bank, Tunisia, and Qatar through the following objectives: (1) identify the factors associated with successful and unsuccessful reuse schemes, (2) compare treated wastewater quality with end use application of treated wastewater, and (3) identify the governance and social challenges preventing the use of treated wastewater, specifically in agricultural applications. Water quality analyses and consultations with farmers, local stakeholders, and water and agriculture experts were conducted. Opportunities and challenges for treated wastewater reuse in agriculture are identified as the proximity of the treatment facility to agricultural areas, water quality, and motivation of farmers. With proper maintenance and appropriate monitoring, the modest (natural) treatment facilities in the West Bank and secondary treatment technologies in Tunisia are capable of producing effluent safe for use in production of certain agricultural products; however, in Qatar, despite massive investments in producing high-quality treated wastewater using advanced treatment technologies, there is little demand. Water policies, laws and acts, and action plans are urgently needed to be coupled and integrated for implementation. Keywords: Arid lands, Food security, MENA, Wastewater treatment, Water reuse.


1999 ◽  
Vol 39 (8) ◽  
pp. 177-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derin Orhon ◽  
Seval Sözen ◽  
Erdem Görgün ◽  
Emine Ubay Çokgör ◽  
Nazik Artan

Coastal tourist areas should be classified as environmentally sensitive areas. Effective nutrient control should be implemented to safeguard the quality of receiving waters in these areas. In this context, the applicable discharge limitations are reviewed with specific reference to European directives and criteria developed for small coastal residential areas in Turkey are reported; wastewater characterization and its impact on treatment technology selection is reviewed; appropriate treatment technologies are evaluated in terms of selecting new applications and upgrading and retrofitting existing systems.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
J Fitzpatrick ◽  
S Eisner ◽  
S Goris ◽  
J Hutchins ◽  
C O’Bryan ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 327-331
Author(s):  
Dipesh Shahi ◽  
Rajiv Sapkota

The use of different dyes and pigments is increasing with the increase in industrialization leading to the high production of effluent. The effluent contaminated with dyes and dye-stuff has harmful effects on public health and the environment. Thus, the treatment of effluent is essential. Biological approaches are gaining much interest due to their cost-effective and eco-friendly nature over various physicochemical methods for the treatment of dye-contaminated wastewater. This study highlights on the biodegradation of congo red and malachite green by using leaf and root extracts of Parthenium hysterophorus. The extract and the dye were mixed in the ratio of 1:2 and incubated at 40ºC for 90 minutes. Decolorization assay was performed using UV visible spectrophotometer which indicated that decolorization was due to degradation of dyes into non-colored metabolites. The leaves extract exhibited higher decolorizing activity than roots extract. The maximum decolorization for leaves extract was 55.8% (congo red) and 51.6% (malachite green). Furthermore, phytotoxicity test was carried out to determine the effect of dyes and their degradation metabolites on seed germination and seedling growth of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L). The germination percentage and seedling growth were more in degradation metabolites than untreated dyes, indicating less toxic nature of degradation metabolites. Hence, it can be inferred that P. hysterophorus extracts can be used to treat dye wastewater and treated wastewater can be used for irrigation. Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 6(4): 327-331


2001 ◽  
Vol 44 (6) ◽  
pp. 141-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Saravanane ◽  
D. V.S. Murthy ◽  
K. Krishnaiah

Starch manufacturing industrial units, such as sago mills, both at medium and large scale, suffer from inadequate treatment and disposal problems due to high concentration of suspended solid content present in the effluent. In order to investigate the viability of treatment of sago effluent, a laboratory scale study was conducted. The treatment of sago effluent was studied in a continuous flow anaerobic fluidized bed reactor. The start-up of the reactor was carried out using a mixture of digested supernatant sewage sludge and cow dung slurry in different proportions. The effect of operating variables such as COD of the effluent, bed expansion, minimum fluidization velocity on efficiency of treatment and recovery of biogas was investigated. The treated wastewater was analysed for recycling and reuse to ensure an alternative for sustainable water resourse management. The maximum efficiency of treatment was found to be 82% and the nitrogen enriched digested sludge was recommended for agricultural use.


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