Co-treatment of Faecal Sludge and Septage at Sewage Treatment Plant, Bijnor

Date: May 25, 2021

Background

Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) under its partnership with Bijnor Nagar Palika Parishad (BNPP) is supporting the urban local body in strengthening its efforts towards achieving citywide sanitation and Faecal Sludge and Septage Management (FSSM). A City Sanitation Plan was prepared with CSE in consultation with BNPP and put forward in the fourth meeting of City Sanitation Task Force (CSTF) held on 11^th February 2019. As per the City Sanitation Plan recommendations – Bijnor being one of the target towns under Namami Gange needs to take up effective faecal sludge and septage management on priority to improve urban sanitation and river health.

Currently considerable households are not yet connected to sewerage systems within existing municipal area and the surrounding villages of extended municipal area of BNPP which are dependent on Onsite Sanitation Systems (OSS). The desludged faecal sludge and septage (FSS) from these OSS is being disposed off unsafely into land and water environment (ponds, nullahs and river), which was clearly evident during mapping of faecal waste flows (SFD 2018)

Under CSE technical support to BNPP as well as National Mission Clean Ganga on effective faecal sludge management, a Detailed Project Report (Detailed Project Report) with techno-economic feasibility for  using the existing sewage treatment plant at Bijnor for FSS co-treatment module was approved under Namani Gange Mission  (meeting minutes). The civil works of the project ‘Co-treatment of FSS at existing 24 MLD STP’ is undertaken by Uttar Pradesh Project Corporation Limited (UPPCL) and commenced the construction in June 2021 which is expected to complete by August 2021.  

Key highlights of Project

Project Type	Construction of Co-treatment Module at already functional 24 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant, Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh
Funding Agency	National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) – allotted on 14th December 2020
Monitoring & Knowledge Partner	Centre for Science and Environment New Delhi.
Implementing Agency	Uttar Pradesh Project Corporation Limited (UPPCL)
Faecal Sludge Handling Capacity	20 Kilolitres  per Day (20 KLD)
Total Project Cost	29.21 Lakhs
Capital Expenditure:	28.52 lakhs
Operational Expenditure	to be part of regular operation of the STP)
Duration of the Project	3 Months
Commencement of work	25th May 2021
Technology	Solid-liquid separation at drying beds and liquid treatment at UASB reactor.

Way forward
During next three months CSE as knowledge cum technical support partner will work with BNPP on outreach and IEC campaign to sensitise households dependent on OSS about the risks associated with unsafe disposal of FSS and need for emptying septic tanks / pits every 3 year. This will include awareness through MalaSur Campaign, training and capacity building of sanitation worker involved in FSSM and notification of FSSM guidelines /  bye-laws for construction of OSS as per standard guidelines, reasonable charges for desludging service as well as penalty for illegal and unsafe disposal of FSS.