Wastewater is a major source of pollution and health risk in India, where millions of people lack access to safe and clean water. However, some innovative projects are using nature-based solutions to turn wastewater into a valuable resource for irrigation, energy, and income generation.
Natural filtering
(Photo : TAUSEEF MUSTAFA/AFP via Getty Images)
One of these projects is PAVITR, which stands for Promoting and Validating Integrated Technologies for Wastewater Treatment and Reuse in India. The project is jointly funded by the EU and India as part of an EU-India Water Partnership, as per Phys.org.
PAVITR is using the natural filtering power of trees to treat wastewater and produce biomass. The project has set up a demonstration site in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, where it has planted a dense crop of bamboo, willows, and poplars on one hectare of land. The plants are irrigated with municipal wastewater that is dammed in a pond.
The system works in perfect harmony: the nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus in the wastewater help the trees grow while the bacteria in the roots naturally clean the water.
Analysis shows that this natural treatment results in the wastewater meeting the necessary regulations for reuse.
The system is also cheap to install and operate compared to conventional wastewater treatment plants that require high amounts of chemicals and electricity.
Moreover, the trees attract birds, insects, and other wildlife, enhancing the local biodiversity.
The trees and bamboo can be harvested every two to three years, providing a sustainable timber crop that can be sold to import-dependent Europe or used locally for construction and manufacturing. Biomass can also be used as a source of renewable energy, such as biogas or biofuel.
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Circular economy
Another project that is using nature-based solutions to treat wastewater is PAVITRA GANGA, which stands for Platform for Improving Water Quality through Nature-Based Solutions along Ganga River Basin.
The project is also jointly funded by the EU and India as part of the same partnership.
PAVITRA GANGA is focusing on the Ganges River, which is sacred to the Hindu religion but also severely polluted by domestic and industrial waste, as per Horizon.
The project aims to improve water quality and sanitation along the river basin by implementing nature-based solutions such as constructed wetlands, biofilters, and phytoremediation.
These solutions use plants, microorganisms, and natural materials to remove contaminants from wastewater and restore the ecological balance of the river. The project also promotes the reuse of treated wastewater for irrigation, aquaculture, and other purposes.
By doing so, PAVITRA GANGA contributes to the circular economy, which is a concept that aims to minimize waste and maximize resource efficiency.
The project also supports the social and economic development of the communities living along the river basin by creating jobs, income, and awareness.
Both PAVITR and PAVITRA GANGA are examples of how nature-based solutions can offer multiple benefits for wastewater management in India.
They not only improve the water quality and health of the people and ecosystems but also provide opportunities for value creation and climate resilience.
The team is testing a secondary filtration treatment system and "polishing" technologies in Kanpur to get rid of impurities like chromium.
The sewage is first filtered via a particular kind of membrane, which separates it into "permeate," which is water that will be reused, and "retentate," which is the residual organic debris.
The permeate is then cleaned further in constructed wetlands. At this point, a combination of sorbent materials created expressly to remove contaminants may also be introduced. The term "polishing technologies" refers to them.
If enough materials are collected, even substances like chromium can be recycled through the circular economy system.
Local business partners for the project who collaborate with IIT Kanpur have a significant part to play.
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