Planning and Designing Faecal Sludge and Septage Management Systems

Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) successfully completed a Training on “Planning and Designing of Faecal Sludge and Septage Management Systems. This workshop was held at Anil Agarwal Environment Training Institute (AAETI) from 20-23 February 2024. We had a total of 25 Participants from states like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Training Team: Mr. Jyoti Parsad Dadhich, DPM (CSE), Mr. Faraz Ahmad, DPM (CSE), Mr. Sarim Ansari, PO (CSE) and Mr. Anurag Naidu, PO (CSE).

The participants arrived at CSE head office on 19 February and then departed from Delhi to AAETI for further sessions.

Day 1 of the training, the session commenced with an ice-breaking activity where each participant was paired up and tasked with introducing their partner. This was followed by a context-setting session led by Mr. Jyoti Parsad, DPM, Water Programme (CSE), setting the tone for the entire training by delineating its purpose and expected outcomes. Mr. Anurag Naidu shed light on the FSSM scenario in India, emphasizing on FSSM terminologies, FSM value chain and its components, challenges and major FSM land marks in India etc. Session 2 of the day was led by Mr. Sarim Ansari on overview of onsite sanitation systems, its types, design and approach. Further to adopt sustainable sanitation approach, Mr. Jyoti Parsad presented a session on tools and approaches for sanitation which included various sanitation approaches and tools like CSP, CWIS, sanitation 21, SFD, CSDA, Sanipath, Sanikit, MOUNT etc. This was followed by a detailed session on Shit Flow Diagram by Mr, Sarim Ansari. Mr. Anurag Naidu further discussed faecal sludge management planning, followed by an exercise on the quantification of faecal sludge. The day concluded with an overview of FSM treatment technologies presented by Mr. Jyoti Parsad, followed by feedback and closing remarks from CSE.

Day 2 of training, we visited FSTP Lalsot with 25 participants. It was a SDB based FSTP. The visit was accompanied by the plant operator as well as the engineer from Lalsotnagarpalika. The engineer explained the entire working of the system in detail. This experience allowed participants to learn more about, FSTP operations and maintenance, its reuse and business model.

Day 3 of the training program, Mr. Jyoti Prasad commenced the proceedings by revisiting and summarizing the key points discussed during the initial two days. Further he presented a session on co-treatment for septage and faecal sludge within Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), underscoring the significance of adopting integrated approaches for effective waste management.During the second session, participants actively engaged in an insightful exercise focused on the design of PDB/SDB by Mr. Jyoti Prasad, providing attendees with a hands-on understanding of the design aspects related to Faecal Sludge and Septage Management (FSSM). Mr. Faraz Ahmad took the sessionon business models and resource recovery in FSSM. His presentation shed light on the economic dimensions of managing septage and faecal sludge, emphasizing sustainable and viable approaches. In the following session, Mr. Anurag Naidu shared invaluable insights into the policies, regulatory frameworks, and institutional mechanisms governing FSSM in the context of India. This comprehensive overview helped participants comprehend the broader context and regulatory landscape surrounding their work. Mr. Jyoti Prasad then shifted the focus to the operational and maintenance aspects of Faecal Sludge Treatment Plants (FSTPs), incorporating considerations for occupational health and safety. This holistic approach aimed at ensuring the efficiency and sustainability of FSSM practices. Building on practical knowledge, Mr. Anurag Naidu presented case studies illustrating real-world applications of Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) strategies. These case studies not only provided a deeper understanding of the subject matter but also showcased successful implementations. The day was concluded by engaging participants in a discussion on insights and challenges specific to different states, fostering a rich exchange of experiences. Lastly feedback for day 3 were taken from the participants. 

Day 4 of the training began with a recap session by Mr. Jyoti Parsad, followed by an introduction to exercise on FSM planning by Mr. Anurag Naidu. Participants were given a case study of an imaginary city with all the necessary data points and were asked to plan a FSTP for the city by calculating the demand and supply gap, mapping stakeholders across the value chain, suggesting suitable treatment system, along with business model for O&M of the plant with reuse option. The 25 participants were divided into 5 small groups and were asked to prepare an FSM plan. The time given to complete the exercise was about 1hours. The exercise was followed by a small 5 minutes presentation to explain each component of the plan. This exercise not only reinforced the participants' understanding of the material but also fostered a sense of community and shared expertise among the diverse group of attendees. As anappropriate conclusion to the training program, the session wrapped up with a feedback session where participants had the opportunity to share their thoughts on the overall experience. Certificates of completion were then distributed, acknowledging the participants' dedication and successful completion of the program after that participants’ departure to Delhi.

For more information kindly contact -

Training Coordinator

Anurag Naidu
Programme Officer- Urban Water & Waste Management
Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi, India
Mob. +91 7276497968
Email:anurag.naidu@cseindia.org