The Kerala Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (KRWSA) has advocated to the Government the necessity of budgetary allocations for comprehensive grey water treatment and management initiatives in colonies and institutions inhabited by vulnerable groups. Responding to this, the Government of Kerala has earmarked a budget provision of INR 100 Lakhs for the implementation of Grey water Management and Treatment Systems in areas predominantly occupied by vulnerable communities during the fiscal year 2022-2023.
A significant step towards this endeavour has been the installation of a Grey water treatment and management system in the hostel attached with the Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Residential Higher Secondary School, situated in the Noolpuzha Grama Panchayat of Wayanadu District. Designed to house tribal students, the hostel currently accommodates 250 students with an additional 600 students visiting for lunch during the daytime. Equipped with a canteen facility, the hostel faced challenges related to wastewater generated from bathrooms, the kitchen, and the canteen. This wastewater was previously drained into a nearby canal, adversely affecting the health of inhabitants and contributing to waterborne diseases. Furthermore, it caused pollution in nearby water bodies, prompting local residents to raise concerns and protests against the unaddressed wastewater issues.
In response to this critical situation, KRWSA has proposed the implementation of a Decentralized Wastewater Treatment System (DEWATS). The hostel and canteen collectively generate 20,000 liters of wastewater per day. The system involves the collection of wastewater from the residential hostel and canteen in a settler tank. Subsequently, it is conveyed to an anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR) and then to an anaerobic filter (AF). The treated water then passes through a horizontal plant gravel filter (HPGF) before being collected in a chamber. An automatic pumping system is installed to irrigate plants and vegetables cultivated in the vicinity. The DEWATS unit, with dimensions of 19 meters in length and 3 meters in width, boasts a capacity of 15 million liters per day (mld). An expenditure of 20 lakhs has been incurred for the implementation of these units.
To ensure the success and sustainability of this initiative, the school has undertaken awareness programs for its students. The operation and management of the DEWATS system are carried out by student residents who are also members of the Jalasree club. This holistic approach not only addresses
A significant step towards this endeavour has been the installation of a Grey water treatment and management system in the hostel attached with the Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Residential Higher Secondary School, situated in the Noolpuzha Grama Panchayat of Wayanadu District. Designed to house tribal students, the hostel currently accommodates 250 students with an additional 600 students visiting for lunch during the daytime. Equipped with a canteen facility, the hostel faced challenges related to wastewater generated from bathrooms, the kitchen, and the canteen. This wastewater was previously drained into a nearby canal, adversely affecting the health of inhabitants and contributing to waterborne diseases. Furthermore, it caused pollution in nearby water bodies, prompting local residents to raise concerns and protests against the unaddressed wastewater issues.
In response to this critical situation, KRWSA has proposed the implementation of a Decentralized Wastewater Treatment System (DEWATS). The hostel and canteen collectively generate 20,000 liters of wastewater per day. The system involves the collection of wastewater from the residential hostel and canteen in a settler tank. Subsequently, it is conveyed to an anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR) and then to an anaerobic filter (AF). The treated water then passes through a horizontal plant gravel filter (HPGF) before being collected in a chamber. An automatic pumping system is installed to irrigate plants and vegetables cultivated in the vicinity. The DEWATS unit, with dimensions of 19 meters in length and 3 meters in width, boasts a capacity of 15 million liters per day (mld). An expenditure of 20 lakhs has been incurred for the implementation of these units.
To ensure the success and sustainability of this initiative, the school has undertaken awareness programs for its students. The operation and management of the DEWATS system are carried out by student residents who are also members of the Jalasree club. This holistic approach not only addresses