“Efficient Use of Water through Treatment and Recycling of Waste Water”

1. “Efficient Use of Water through Treatment and Recycling of Waste Water” By Mahendra Mehta Ground Water Management Expert EU SPP, Rajasthan former Commissioner, MOWR, GOI

2. Water Scenario India is the second most populous country in the world. 16% of the world’s population resides in India against 2.45% of the total land of the world. Annual precipitation - including snowfall of about 4000 billion cubic meters bcm). Average rainfall - 1170 mm Average annual potential flow in rivers - about 1869 bcm Annual utilizable water - about 1122 bcm Surface water resources - 690 bcm Ground water component - 431 bcm.

3. Demand & Supply • Increasing demand of water to meet the ever-increasing needs for a growing population is putting an stress on the available water resources. • With the population expected to stabilize at 1640 million by the year 2050, • the gross per-capita water availability is expected to decline from ~1820 cubic meter per year in 2001 to as low as ~1140 cubic meter per year in 2050 (< 1000 CuM /yr under stress condition) • Unscientific and inefficient use of this vital resource is contributing to its increasing scarcity, steep decline of water levels and deterioration in quality of water.

4. Demand & Supply Ground water management is major factor for the sustainability. Demand driven exploitation without regulation measures and understanding of area specific problems, leads to crisis for present water supplies. Need to manage demand - supply gap by adopting scientific strategy for optimal utilization, if necessary with regulation to ensure sustainability. Increasing water use efficiency, recycling and reuse of water, for domestic, industrial, agriculture etc. are some of the measures to be adopted.

5. DYNAMIC GROUND WATER RESOURCES OF INDIA(As on 31 March 2009) • Annual Replenishable Ground Water Resources 431 bcm • Net Annual Ground Water Availability 396 bcm • Annual Ground Water Draft for Irrigation, Domestic & Industrial uses 243 bcm • Stage of Ground Water Development 61% • Categorization of Blocks / Mandals/Talukas Total Assessed units 5842 • Safe 4277 • Semi-Critical 523 • Critical 169 • Over-Exploited 802 • Saline 71

6. Saline Ground Water Almost 99 percent of groundwater came from freshwater aquifers. Very little saline groundwater is being used. A very small amount was used for industrial purposes( 6%), but most of the groundwater used in mining is saline. About 31% of the total area of Rajasthan comes under saline groundwater (>3000 MCM).

7. Management Issues Storm water management Sewage disposal and management Ground water management Water conservation and efficient use Recycling of water Use of poor quality of water Regulation

8. Management Issues - ………contd. Water conservation and efficient use With proper conservation & treatment technology water demand can be reduced up to 40-50 % in domestic and industrial sector: Re-cycling of water Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) Effluent Treatment Plants (ETP) Dual pipe line system Efficient use of water in irrigation This will reduce the stress on ground water resources Control the ground water pollution Increase the availability of water and Reduces loads on common pool of water supply.

9. Re-cycling of water • Re-cycling of water in urban & industries can reduce the demand up to 40% • Concept of zero out flow in industries to be adopted • Use of modern technology can be the alternative for additional water resources

10. Use of Poor Quality GW • India has huge saline ground water • Limited data is available for saline GW • Inland salinity is geogenic • In canal command areas it is due to over irrigation • Withdrawal of saline GW will provide the space for fresh GW-Improvement in GW quality • Technologies are available which are affordable, environmental friendly & maintenance free

11. Implementation Strategy for Water Treatment & Re-cycling Huge volume sewage & industrial effluent goes as waste can be put to effective use. Provision of sewage treatment plants (STP’s) should be made mandatory for residential complexes & Institutions in all urban areas The cost of domestic sewage plant (80,000 lit / day) for 120 flats / houses is around Rs. 12 lakhs; i.e. which is about Rs. 10,000 per flat / house, which is only 3 to 4% of the cost of flat. The running cost - around Rs. 100 per flat /month. 70,000 lit of water per day which can be used for irrigating lawns / green areas etc. Industrial areas, should opt for STP / ETP individually or in group for treating the wastewater.

12. Benefits of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP): Reduction of water demand by 40 to 50%. Less depending & stress on municipal water supply. Reduces ground water pollution. Expenditure on sewage lines can be reduced many fold. Generates good manure, which can be used locally for maintaining the greenery. More availability of water for irrigation & green belts Not very expensive yet environmental friendly. No foul smell which is common fear- with use proper technology.

13. New Technology A new technology which uses a computer to generate the required frequencies as these have to very accurate and transmitted in a specific order. The computer runs on a low voltage power source and consumes very small amounts of power. This means even the largest systems, (which can process over 5000 cubic meters of water per day) have an operating cost of about Rs 3,000 / yr

14. Quality Improvement Sodium chloride will break into Na & Free Chlorine (Cl2 ) which disinfects the water and vents off as a gas HCO3,NO3 & SO4 will be broken down and show up as increased dissolved oxygen (DO) in the water , with the other elements no longer toxic. This will reduce TDS and salinity in water Ca & Mg will still be available to provide health benefits The presence of CaO3 & MgCO3 will be negligible and reduce the potential health hazards such as kidney stone, fungal skin infection etc

15. ADVANTAGES OVER CONVENTIONALTECHNOLOGIES 1. Low capital outlay. 2. Minimal fitting cost and time (Very simple plumbing and electrical) 3. Minimal running costs. 4. Maintenance Free. 5. No limitation on flow rate. 6. No downtime for servicing. 7. No salt regeneration. 8. Portability (easily fitted or relocated) 9. Uses no chemicals. 10. No generation of effluent/brine. 11.Treated wastewater can be used for irrigation. 12. Can be fitted to any diameter water pipe .

16. New technology( Hydrosmart) have three basic components Power supply (not shown) (low voltage transformer or solar power) Computer unit (to generate the resonance frequencies) Antenna Coils (to transfer the frequencies to the flow)

17. April 2006 - 15,500 ppm TDS bore water - Plantation Equestrian Centre, Dubai October 2006 -Healthy fast grass growth with low level of pest attack

18. Sum up • Water management in India to be Tackled from all dimensions • The success of water management depends on social acceptance, community participation and political will • Water resources are limited and actual cost have to be paid Let’s join the hands to motivate Community to manage the limited water resource for future generations “Samridhi Salila Adhineh”