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Technology for Eco-friendly Disposal of Human Waste

Dev Vrat Kamboj Scientist

Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO)

Defence Research & Development Establishment (DRDE)

Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh) e-mail: kamboj_dev@drde.drdo.in

October 2, 2014 (Gandhi Jayanti): PM emphasized that his priority will be making toilets

According to UNICEF / WHO estimates:

About 1/7thof world population still openly defecate

in the absence of any toilet/ latrine, of which 60%

live in India

Present Scenario

According to Registrar General Census of India

(2011):

69% households in rural & 19% in urban sector

have no access to toilets which leads to open

defecation

This makes India the number one country in the

world where open defecation is practiced

Indonesia with 63 million is a far second !

<10% Gram Panchayats in India are ODF

Large number of toilets are still cleaned manually

(directly or indirectly by animals)

The Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993

The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013

Open toilets

Discharge by railways

Untreated sewage system

Organic pollution

Aesthetic nuisance

Water borne diseases

Viral gastroenteritis, typhoid, cholera

Diarrhoea (annually kills 500,000 children)

Viral hepatitis (100 cases per 100,000 people)

Sources of Pollution……

Consequences……

Houses without Toilets in India (10.5 % improvement in 10 years)

Practices for Human Waste Management in India

Dry pit toilets

Twin pit pour-flush toilets/ Leach pit toilets

Ecosan Toilet

Septic tank

Biogas Toilet

Source

Handbook on Technical Options for Onsite Sanitation.

Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation (May 2012)

Dry Pit Toilets

Ventilated Dry pit toilet Twin (Dry) pit toilet

Drawbacks: Unhygienic Risk of ground water contamination Pit needs periodic evacuation leading to manual scavenging

Most commonly used by NGOs in TSC

Ecosan Toilets

Closed loop system where it treats

human excreta as resource

Urine is segregated from faecal matter

Urine is directly used in Agri for

nutrients

Faecal matter is stored for six months

before disposal

Limitations

Not useful where water is used for

cleaning

Not suitable for Indian Cultural

conditions

Cost is very high

Acceptability in Indian communities ???

Twin-Pit Pour-Flush Toilet (Leach Pit Toilets)

Pits are constructed in brick line (like a honeycomb to facilitate the liquid to flow out)

A wooden or concrete slab to prevent people falling into them

Pits should be placed symmetrically at the back of the latrine pan and have a minimal distance of the pit depth to prevent cross-contamination

Distance not

less than the

pit depth

Drawbacks:

Risk of ground water contamination

Not suitable for high water table areas

Dislodging of toilet is required in every 3-5 years

Drawbacks:

Bigger volume

Requires larger space

Costly to build

Not efficient

Obnoxious smell

Sludge needs periodic evacuation

Maintenance intensive

Unhygienic disposal

Septic Tank

Consists of a water-tight settling tank Contains one or two chambers/ compartments, to which waste is carried by

water flushing down a pipe connected to the toilet

Wide variation in temperature:

-50°C to 50°C

Variety Of Terrain:

High altitude, Hilly, Marshy, Plains, Desert,

Coastal Areas & Islands

Water Conditions:

Low / High Water Table

Dry / Flooded / Water Logged Areas

Economic Constraints, Awareness, Lack of

Concern

Human Waste Treatment Challenges

DRDO Biodigester Technology

BACTERIA (INOCULUM) Anaerobic microbial consortium

developed by acclimatization/ enrichment of microbes at low temperature and bio-augmentation with critical group of bacteria

DRDO Biodigester Technology

BIODIGESTER

Fermentation device for accelerated microbial degradation of organic waste

Biodigester is made of mild steel/ SS/ FRP/ bricks Dimensions and internal design vary with no. of users, water availability & geo-climatic conditions

Advantages

Eco-friendly & cost-effective

Wide applicability under different

climatic conditions

Customized & easily adaptable

Maintenance free

Minimizes water consumption

Recycling of effluent water

Reduction in organic waste by more

than 90%

More than 99% pathogens reduction

Generation of odourless and

inflammable biogas

Safety Studies

Oral toxicity of effluent

Acute toxicity

Chronic toxicity

No clinical signs such as excitability, CNS stimulation,

uncontrolled urination, bulging eyes, depression, etc

observed

No change in biochemical parameters

Conclusion:

No toxicity found in both rat and fish models

Genesis of the Problem & Solution

Strategic deployment of Forces No natural decay of faecal matter (sub-zero

temperature) Bacterial contamination of water/ ice Organic pollution Aesthetic nuisance Contagious diseases

Sanitation at High Altitude/ Glaciers

Present Practices: Open Defecation Burying in the Ice Deep Trench Latrine (DTL) Ladakhi Toilet

Options: Transportation Incineration Chemical treatment Biodegradation

Difficulties: Sub-zero temperature Non-availability of conventional

energy sources Hilly terrain Scarcity of water Low Oxygen

Aerobic vs. Anaerobic Biodegradation Aerobic biodegradation Anaerobic biodegradation

Forced aeration/ agitation is essential which is energy

intensive

No aeration is required

Incomplete/ partial aerobic condition leads to foul

smell

Complete anaerobic conditions

Not effective in pathogen inactivation More than 99% Pathogens inactivation

Can not tolerate detergents/ phenyl Anaerobes can degrade detergents/

phenyl

Generates large amount of sludge Sludge generation is very less

Repeated addition of bacteria/ enzymes are required One time bacterial inoculation is enough

Maintenance & recurring cost is high Minimal maintenance & no recurring cost

Biodigester Development

Metal – 50-60 men

FRP – 50-60 men

Temp controlled: 20-25 men

: 7-10 men (Modular)

Soil Glacier

Biodigester

Stationary Biodigester

For Armed Forces

For Snow Bound

Regions

For Soil Bound

Regions

For Civil application

For coastal areas

(Lakshadweep)

For cold climates (Laddakh)

Biodigester for mobile

vehicles

For Indian Railways

Variants of Biodigester

Modular Biodigesters for Glacier

Low Temperature Biodigesters for Soil Bound High Altitude Areas

Temperature Controlled Hybrid Biodigester

Working at North Pullu (16400ft) since July 2006

Digester Solar Panel Grinder & Toilet Grinder

Kitchen waste and human waste degradation

Railway Biodigester More than 15000 bio-toilets fitted in passenger coaches

50000 existing coaches to be retro-fitted with biodigesters by 2019

View of Draft Gear of Railway Coach

Fitted with four Biodigester tanks Fitted with conventional toilet

Biodigesters at Lakshadweep

12000 biotoilets are being installed

FRP: 5-6 users

Size: 700 L

Biodigesters Installed at Civil Locations

Aravali Vikas Sangathan, Gurgaon Vivekananda Needam, Gwalior

Games Village, New Delhi Model Town, New Delhi

APIIDC – Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrasturcture

development corporation

Biotoilets Installed in Andhra Pradesh

Client: M/s Shapoorji Pallonji &

Co Ltd, Kajhaguda (A.P.)

Industrial Partner: M/s Banka Enterprises, Hyderabad

Biotoilets Installed at Dhamra, Odisha

Biotoilet Installed at RML Hospital, Delhi

Shelter Associates Pune

Mobile Biotoilets in Rishikesh

Mobile Biotoilets in Kumbh Mela

Design of Low Cost Biotoilet

FRP tank of 8 mm thickness.

Diagonal partition wall of 8 mm thickness (adequately

stiffened by ribs).

Tank is buried 600mm deep, and anchored by 300mm

long stainless steel (SS316) anchor bolts at corners.

Tank Internal Dimensions 1336x1036x900 (lxbxd).

Provision of water sealed outlet from the tank.

Low Cost Bio-Toilet for Rural Areas

Low Cost Biotoilets

M/s SuperFlow Industries, Gwalior In Assam

Biodigester A Low cost Eco-friendly alternative of Septic Tank

Size: 1/4th to 1/10th

Less space requirement

Low material/ construction cost

Can treat bathroom/ kitchen wastewater also

No foul smell

Maintenance free Biodigester

Biodigester cum Reed Bed

Biodigester Park in DRDO Residential Complex Delhi

Biodigester and its Components

S.

No.

No. of

Users

*Volume of Septic

Tank (m3)

Volume of Biodigester

(m3)

1 5 1.12 0.7

2 10 1.8 1.2

3 15 2.34 1.7

4 20 3.28 2.3

5 50 10 6

6 100 19.87 9

7 150 30 12

8 200 39.6 14

9 300 60 17

Biodigester-Septic Tank Comparative Volume

*IS:2470 (SIZES FOR ASSUMPTIONS WITH CLEANING IN ONE YEAR)

Quality Parameters Septic Tank Biodigester Biodigester with Reed bed

pH 6.7-7.5 7.0-7.2 7.0-7.5

Turbidity (NTU) 500-800 70-90 2-5

TSS (mg/L) 150-300 90-120 50-80

TDS (mg/L) 500-850 350-450 250-300

VS (mg/100ml) 50-60 20-30 5-12

COD (mg/L) 2000-2500 250-300 15-25

BOD5 (mg/L) ~500 70-120 2-4

Fecal Coliforms (MPN/ml) >3000 300-350 0-12

Biodigester cum Reed Bed System: Water Quality

Biotoilets Orders

Memorandum of Understanding for Biodigester Technology

MoU signed between DRDO and Ministry of

Railways on March 9, 2010

MoU signed between DRDO and BMTPC

(Ministry of HUPA) on May 9, 2011

MoU signed between DRDO and MDWS

(Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation) on

July 26, 2012

MoU DRDO, FICCI and Ganga Action Parivar

(Parmarth Niketan) for Clean Ganga Action

Plan on November 3, 2012

Training on Biodigester to Govt Officials & Industry

Participants: Meghalaya Govt & DUSIB

Participants: Indian Railways & Industry Hands on Training Session in Laboratory

Valedictory Function after Training

Biodigester Locations/ Industrial Partners

Industrial Partners: 38

Installed so far

High Altitude Low Temperature Areas: 166

Indian Railways: ~15000

Plain areas: 58 + 1700 (Lakshadweep by M/s MRC, Kapurthala)

Silvassa (Dadra & Nagar Haveli): 85 (M/s MRC, Kapurthala)

People’s Group, Bhopal: 12 (M/s MRC, Kapurthala)

Eco Tourism, Forest Deptt, Nagpur: 20 (M/s Superflow, Gwalior)

Chandrapur Bird Sanctury, Nagpur: 15 (M/s Alfa Systems, NOIDA)

Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (M/s MRC, Kapurthala)

RML hospital (M/s MRC, Kapurthala)

Current Status of Bio-toiltes/ Biodigesters

Curent/ Future Assignments

UT of Lakshadweep:12000 (M/s MRC, Kapurthala)

Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council: 750 (M/s SuperFlow, Industries,

Gwalior)

Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board (M/s MRC, Kapurthala)

Allapalli Forest Department: 310 (M/s CAPARO International, Gurgaon)

Significant Highlights

Patents

Granted: 7 (4 foreign)

Filed: 8 (2 PCT)

Publications: 29 (18 foreign)

MoU: 4 (Indian Railways, BMTPC, MDWS, GAP-FICCI)

ToT: 70

Defence Technology Spin-off Award-2007

For Enquiry & Contact

Dr Lokendra Singh Director Defence R&D Establishment (DRDE), Jhansi road, Gwalior – 474 002 Phone: 0751-2341550, 2343972; Fax: 0751-2341148 Email- director@drde.drdo.in

Mr S Radhakrishnan Director Directorate of Industry Interface & Technology Management (DIITM), DRDO HQ,

Rajaji Marg, New Delhi – 110011 Phone: 011-23013209; Fax: 011-23793008 Email- radkrishnan100@gmail.com

Mr Nirankar Saxena Director Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) Federation House, Tansen Marg, New Delhi 110001.

Link for EOI for Biodigester Technology: http://drdoficciatac.com/TechnologyDetails.aspx?TechID=T00004

…………. for better Health & Hygiene