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: [email protected]
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- [email protected]
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- [email protected]
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
