Compendium of Research Projects (Vol-III)

COMPENDIUM

OF

COMPLETED R & D PROJECTS

Volume-III

Ministry Drinking Water and Sanitation New Delhi

May 2013

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INDEX

S.

No.

Contents Page No.

Drinking Water Projects

1. Correlation studies of Ground Water Quality variables with special

reference to Fluoride in Ten Blocks of Dindigul District and

Development of viable, eco- Friendly polymer- based

Defluoridation medium

1

2. Salinity & trace element associated with water reuse in irrigated

system process sampling proposal remediation technology and site

specific.

7

3. Employment of NML’s arsenic removal process in the ground water of sahebganj District for providing safe drinking water.

13

4. Project proposal from Tamil Nadu supply & Drainage Board

Chennai, Recharging the fractured aquifer through defunct bore

well for sustainable drinking water development in Puduchatrum

block Namakal District T.N.

23

5. Project proposal on captive Resource and Ground Water Sanctuary

Development for Drinking Water Source well in Chittoor District

Andhra Pradesh.

26

6. Development of solar powered reverse osmosis desalination unit for

hamlets without electric power 38

7. Artificial Recharge and Recovery in Desert areas Harnessing

surplus storm Runoff Drinking Water Source creation from National

Geophysical Research Institute Hyderabad

43

Sanitation Projects

8. Study On Impact Of Human Waste Compost Application On Soil

Health In Relation To Crop Growth And Ground Water Quality 47

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DRINKING WATER PROJECTS

Project - 1

Correlation Studies of Groundwater Quality Variables with Special Reference to Fluoride in Ten

Blocks of Dindigui District and Development of a Viable, Eco-Friendly Polymer-Based DE

fluoridation Medium by Dr. K.P. ELANGO, Department of Chemistry, Gandhigram Rural

Institute-Deemed University, Gandhigram 624 302( Tamil Nadu) ( File No. W-11035/03/2005/TM-

II (R&D))

Introduction

The largest available source of fresh water is beneath the ground. Even today most of Indian rural

population (77% of the population) depends on groundwater for drinking and irrigation purposes. Of the

2,27,000 villages experiencing water problem the majority suffer from pollution due to biological and

chemical contamination of the consumables water Potable or drinking water can be defined as the water

delivered to the consumer that can be safely used for drinking, cooking and working. Water quality of

drinking water is to be maintained for the protection of public health and thus elimination or reduction

to a minimum of constituents that are known to be hazardous to health and well being of people. The

basic requirements of the drinking water according to the WHO are

Its free from pathogenic organisms Containing no compound that have an adverse effect, acute or long term on human health Fairly clear Containing no compounds that cause an effective taste or smell Not causing corrosion or encrustation of the water supply system norstaining washed in it.

Physical characteristics relate to the quality of water for domestic use and are usually associated

with the appearance of the water, its colour or turbidity. Chemical composition of the ground

water is related to the soluble products of rock weathering and composition and changes with

respect to time and space

Fluoride pollution

Fluoride exists naturally in water sources and is derived from fluorine, the thirteenth most common

element in the Earth's crust; its constituent is 0.078%. Fluoride passes to and from the atmosphere,

water, soil and rocks and living organisms due to natural phenomena or due to man’s activities. Geochemical characteristics of the earth’s crust, which result from the volcanic and plutonic activities,

are the primary sources of fluoride while water and food are the secondary sources. Fluoride is

commonly found in fluorspar (CaF2), fluoroapatite (Ca5F(PO4)3), cryolite (Na3AlF6), sellaite (MgF2),

and villiaumite (NaF). Fluoride concentration in groundwater is generally found to be in the range of 0-

10 mg/L, but seldom exceeds and may range up to 50 mg/L or more. Surface water very rarely contains

more than 1 mg/L of fluoride. Sea water contains about 1 mg/L while rivers and lakes exhibit the

concentrations of less than 0.5 mg/L . The principal sources of fluoride to the physiology of man are

water and food. Calcium rich constituents of teeth have calcium fluoroapatite crystals during the

mineralization of teeth with excess of fluoride. Fluoride although beneficial, when present in

concentration of 0.8 to 1.5 mg/L. But it causes dental and skeletal fluorosis if the concentration of

fluoride exceeds the level of 1.5 mg/L. If the water contains less than 0.5 mg/L of fluoride then the

dental caries may occur.

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Defluoridation methods

In countries like India, where the majority of people live in villages with bare infrastructure facilities,

illiteracy, lack of awareness, poor sanitation and hygiene, the concept of safe potable water assumes

greater significance. If water containing excess fluoride is consumed consistently, it is found to be

highly harmful to health. In India, fluoride endemicity has been reported in several districts of Andhra

Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Orissa, Punjab, Maharastra, Mathya Pradesh, Rajasthan,

Haryana, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Kerala, Assam, Delhi and Jammu & Kashmir.

The highest concentration observed in India upto date is 48 mg/L in Rewari district of Haryana. The

affected population is 25 million and at risk is 66 million, including 6 million children below the age of

14 years. It is very important that safe drinking water is the primary need of every human being. In

India, groundwater is the primary source for many village populations. Fluoride content of groundwater

in endemic villages therefore plays a vital role in the people’s health. In the absence of any available potable drinking water sources, the possibility of defluoridation technology may be adopted for availing

safe drinking water. The methods reported for the removal of excess fluoride from drinking water

includes, adsorption chemical treatment ion exchange membrane separation electrolytic de-fluoridation

and electro dialysis etc. Among these methods, adsorption is still one of the most extensively used

methods for defluoridation of water due to its cost and viability. During the past few years good amount

of work has been carried out by many researchers on the removal of fluoride ions from water. The

recent

literatures pertaining to the removal of fluoride ions some of them are alumina cement granules nano-

hydroxyapatite kaolinite cellulose supported layered double hydroxides, Fe-Al-Ce trimetal oxide

adsorbent, Tunisian clays (H, MK, ZB), laterite, chitin, chitosan and lanthanum-modified Chitosan,

quick lime , Spirogyra sp.-IO2, calcined MgAl-CO3 layered double hydroxides, MgAl-CO3 layered

double hydroxides, magneticchitosan , carbon slurry, Zirconium impregnated coconut shell carbon,

montmorillonite, powdered corn cobs, bayerite/SiO2/Fe3O4 , K-Al2O3 , magnesium oxide, plaster of

Paris, agave sisalana Perr carbon, aloe vera carbon and news paper carbon etc.

Objectives of the present work

a) Primary objectives

To identify, by conducting the laboratory experiments, a cost effective natural/synthetic polymer

based defluoridation medium and carryout kinetic and thermodynamic studies for universal

applications. To develop a viable and replicable domestic defluoridation model for rural applications. To prepare a cumulative data bank of water quality parameters and carryout correlation analysis

in order to understand the seasonal variations in the ground waters particularly of fluoride

endemic regions in Dindigul district.

b) Secondary objectives

Development of pollution maps by (through the application of GIS and Remote Sensing

techniques and other statistical methods) using Isopleth technique. Statistical analysis of water quality parameter data sets for the purpose of characterizing

groundwater quality populations. Development of documentary materials on fluoride toxicity for the awareness generation

programs among the rural community.

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Results and Discussions

Study area

Dindigul district is situated in the southwestern part of Tamil Nadu in South India. On the west it is

bounded by the Coimbatore and Theni districts and in the north by Karur district while in the east by

Sivaganga district and south by Madurai district. Dindigul district lies in between the geographic co-

ordinates of North latitude 100 05” to 100 9” and East longitude 770 30” to 780 20”. The geographical

area of this district is 6267 sq. km. The population of the district as per the provisional census 2001 is

19, 23,014. The district enjoys tropical climate and the period from April to June is generally hot and

dry. The average annual rainfall of the district is 813 mm. The major water bearing formations of the

district are weathered and fractured Charnockite and Granite Gneisses which are the predominant

geological formations in the study area. The groundwater of this district belongs to Ca-Cl, Ca-HCO3

and Na-Cl type. Dindigul district consists of fourteen blocks viz. Dindigul, Sanarpatti, Athur,

Reddiarchatram, Kodaikanal, Natham, Palani, Thoppampatti, Nilakottai, Vattalakundu, Oddanchatram,

Vedasandur, Vadamadurai and Gujiliyamparai (Fig.1). Out of which ten blocks viz. Dindigul,

Sanarpatti, Natham, Palani, Thoppampatti, Nilakottai, Oddanchatram, Vedasandur, Vadamadurai and

Gujiliyamparai blocks (Fig.1) were selected for the present study to investigate the effects of seasonal

variation on the water quality parameters, in general, and fluoride in particular. These ten blocks were

selected for the study as the people of these blocks largely dependent on groundwater for their drinking

purpose and also are moderately affected by dental fluorosis. Further, in the remaining four blocks

major parts are forest area and hence they were excluded from the present study. The water samples

were collected from the bore wells of 25 habitations each from these ten blocks by random sampling

technique. This ensures that the composition of the sample is identical to that of water body from which

it is collected and the samples share the same physico-chemical characteristic with the sampled water at

the time and site of sampling.

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Fig.1. Study area (Dindigul district)

The collection of water samples was done in the first week of the middle month of every season viz.

post monsoon (PoM), summer (Sum), pre monsoon (PrM) and monsoon (Mon) seasons during the year

2007. The samples were analyzed for important water quality parameters viz. electrical conductivity

(EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), pH, total alkalinity (TA), total hardness (TH), Ca(II), Mg(II),

chloride (Cl-), fluoride (F-) and sulphate (SO42-) ions using standard procedure.

Physico-chemical characteristics of water samples

The EC values were in the range of 170 to 4700 S. The higher EC values may be due to the presence of

large quantity of dissolved mineral salts in these water samples thereby making it unfit for drinking

purpose. This similar observation was shown by the TDS also which is observed in Dindigul district.

TDS of the water samples ranged from 125 to 3290 mg/L. The high value of TDS may be due to the

presence of the hard rocks in these areas. The pH values were found to be in the range of 5.0 to 8.2 and

are within the permissible limits. The alkalinity values were almost within the permissible limit (12-

1670 mg/L) as recommended by WHO. The TH values of water samples were found to be in the range

of 24 to1680 mg/L, which shows a little bit higher values than the standard values. Although hard water

has no known effect on health but it is unsuitable for domestic uses due to the scale formation on

utensils and poor leathering of soap. The chloride ions ranged from 3-1160 mg/L shows may harm the

metallic pipes and imparts salinity to water. The concentration of sulphate ion ranged from 2 to 420

mg/L shows it falls within the permissible limits. The fluoride in present in water is ranging from 0.1 to

2.88 mg/L. This slight excess amount of fluoride ions is responsible for the observed dental fluorosis in

the district.

Mapping of fluoride endemic regions

The fluoride map of Sanarpatti and Natham blocks (as representative cases) for all the easons were

prepared on the basis of the fluoride levels of groundwater sources by GIS mapping technique. From

this map the areas are identified as the ones containing the maximum fluoride pollution. Such a mapping

of fluorotic areas helps in the locating the regions that require immediate attention by the government

for remedial measures to minimize fluoride intoxication.

Water Quality Index

A water quality index (WQI) provides a single number that expresses over all water quality at a certain

location based on several water quality parameters. The objective of water quality index is to turn

complex water quality data into information that is understandable and usable by the public. In this

study the following ten parameters were considered to calculate the water quality index for drinking

purpose with Central Public Health Environmental Engineering Organization (CPHEEO) standards: EC,

TDS, pH, TA, TH, Ca(II), Mg(II), Cl-, SO42- and F- ions based on the method endorsed by the

Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment

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Fig.2.Fluorotic zones of Sanarpatti and Natham blocks in post monsoon 2007.

The WQI values were calculated and presented in. The WQI values of all the habitations during the

period of the study in the ten blocks of Dindigul district shows that the water quality of more than 80%

of the habitations are good or excellent for drinking purpose. Though in some of the areas containing

more amount of fluoride still the water is potable. This may be due to the fat that the WQI of a

habitation decrease drastically when majority of the water quality parameters of the given water sample

exceeds their corresponding permissible limits.

Salient Findings

Groundwater samples were collected form 25 habitations each from ten blocks viz. Palani,

Thopampatty, Oddanchatram, Vedasandur, Guziliyamparai, Vadamadurai, Sanarpatty, Natham,

Dindigul and Nilloakottai of Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu for four seasons viz. post monsoon (January-

March), summer (April-June), pre monsoon (July-September) and monsoon (October-December)

seasons during 2007. Ten important water quality parameters such as total hardness, total alkalinity, pH,

electrical conductance, total dissolved solids, calcium, magnesium, chloride fluoride and sulphate were

estimated for the samples by adopting conventional analytical/spectral techniques.

The fluoride map of Sanarpatti and Natham block (as representative cases) for all the seasons were

prepared on the basis of the fluoride levels of groundwater sources by GIS mapping technique. Such a

mapping of fluorotic areas helps to locate the regions that require immediate attention by the

government for remedial measures to minimize fluoride intoxication.

The Water Quality Index values of all the habitations during the period of the study in the ten blocks of

dindigul district shows that the water quality of more than 80% of the habitations are either good or

excellent for drinking Purpose.

The results of seasonal variation study on the prevalence of fluoride indicated that the number of water

samples containing fluoride ion concentration greater than 1.5 mg/L decreased during post monsoon and

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monsoon seasons of 2007. While the number of safe water samples as for as fluoride is concerned, was

found to be minimum during summer. This observation can well be explained using rainfall data,

groundwater type and geology of the regions. The concentration of fluoride in ghe ground waters

decreased either during or immediately after rainfall i.e. during monsoon and post monsoon seasons.

The major water bearing formations of the district are weathered and fractured Charnockite and Granite

Gneisses which are the predominant geological formations in the study area. The groundwater of this

district belongs to Ca-C1, Ca-HCO3 and NaCI type. During monsoon, fluoride gets dissolved, from

fluoride bearing minerals, in the water and causes the enrichment of fluoride ion. Also during

monsoon, the concentration of calcium ion increases significantly as evidenced from the ground water

type. Such an increase in the concentration of calcium ions might have precipitated fluoride ions as

fjuorite leading to decreased in the concentration of fluoride ions in the ground waters.

The findings of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) reveal that any water quality parameter

represented by the first four PCs could be used as an indicator for potential contamination of salts and

acidity. In other words, any arbitrarily selected parameter form these PCs could be used as a

marker variable to detect potential contamination. Probable candidate for this purpose could be

any one of the easily measured parameters such as EC for PC1and pH for the other PCs. This

marker parameter selection might be used as a technical tool for designing water quality

monitoring net works. These marker parameters are measured on a continuous basis on several

selected stations and any anomaly in the recorded values could be evaluated as a potential

contamination risk. Under such circumstances, regular full-spectrum of water quality parameters

could be analyzed for assessing the real extent of contamination. This procedure would not only

be cost effective and but also save crucial response time to potential contamination risks.

Several polymeric materials such as polyanilines, polypyrrole and their composites were screened

for their capacity to remove fluoride ions from water by batch sorption method. In addition,

materials like graphite and aluminium bearing compounds were also tested. The results of the

equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic studies indicated that the conducting polymers and their

alumina composites possess commendable capacity to remove fluoride ions from water. These

materials may be used to fabricate defluoridation medium for

field applications. Spectral techniques such as FT-IR, SEM, XRD, EDAX etc. were employed to

substantiate the mechanism of removal of fluoride ions by these adsorbent materials.

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Project - 2

Salinity and Trace Elements Associated with Water Reuse in Irrigation Systems: Processes,

sampling Protocols , remediation technology and Site-Specific Management in Tannery area of

Kanpur &Unnao by Dr Padma S Vankar IITK (File No. W-11035/07/2008-R&D)

Objective 1: Development of novel guidelines and protocols related to salinity of soil and zero

discharge from tanneries of Kanpur/Unnao area for the sustained use of degraded water quality

including drainage waters and municipal waste waters.

Action delivered in Project Phase: We have identified the hot spots of contamination in the Kanpur/Jajmau area

of industrial belt. We have developed trapa based biofilters for the remediation of Cr-VI at the tanneries sites

for efforts to attain zero discharge at these Polluting sites. Some of the important outputs are given below:

a) Water analysis of GPS points

Date 12.01.2009

GPS points pH Salinity

(ppt)

Conductivity

(us/cm)

Resistivity

(ohm)

TDS (ppm)

Dabka Ghat 8.09 0.754 ppt 1.936 mS/cm 686.1 ohm 956.8 ppm

Gahira

bridge

8.32 2.653 ppt 2.653 mS/cm 219.3 ohm 2.675 ppt

Date: 29th Jan 09

GPS

Points

pH Conductivity

(µs/cm)

Resistivity

(Kohm)

Salinity

(ppt)

TDS (ppm)

Bangali

Ghat

7.47 1217 1.343 0.398 628.6

Bhatta 7.17 1207 1.038 0.524 691.1

Kurriya 7.31 1170 1.151 0.434 581.1

Nanarao

Ghat

8.24 602.9 2.237 0.212 254.8

b) Development and implementation of Trapa based filter

Concept of Bio based filter design

Trapa based filter (figure below) was designed for continuous flow of industrial effluent and proven to

be successful in terms of remediation. In the filter design, core hollow tube was filled with trapa particles

of uniform size. Inlet of effluent directly in core tube allows efficient remediation of Chromium and

other heavy metal because effluent first passes through core tube then it perforate toward space between

outer tube. After filling of outer tube effluent flows outward via outlet.

As project communications and requirement, Project was initiated with surveying of point of source,

point of conviction, and point of effect. In situ analysis was carried to spot point of source in various

areas of Kanpur. Jajmau, Gahirapul, wajidpur, nanaraoghat, budiyaghat were the areas where In situ

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analysis was carried out. Each site was GPS tagged and analyzed for heavy metals concentration in

ground water as well as open source water.

Objective Accomplishment Report

In situ analysis of water at Jajma In situ analysis of water at Wajidpur

In situ analysis of water at Gahirapul Nanaraoghat

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Budiyaghat

Objective 2: Evaluate the use of geophysical and geographic information system technology to

monitor and collect information regarding spatio-temporal changes of soil for electrical conductivity,

pH, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and water properties, salinity, trace elements with in the period of

two year to schedule degradation rate of soil in Kanpur/Unnao region.

Kanpur is one of the imperative industrial centers in northern India, where nearly 800 industries are involved in

manufacturing at city side. Their products known over the entire world diverge from textiles and leather goods

to chemicals, fertilizers and drugs as well as cold drinks and edibles. Engineering and thermal power plants are

also important and the number of industries in the city is growing steadily, as shown in Table 1.

Table 1. Industrial Profile of Kanpur

Industry pH BOD COD Suspended

solids

Pollutants

Tannery 8–12 6,000–7,000 – 3,000–3,300

Zn, Fe, Ni,

Pb and Cr

Distillery 4–6 26,000–

29,000

60,000–

65,000

3,000–4,000 Cu, As, Zn,

Fe, Ni,

Straw-board 7–12 1,500–2,000 4,000–5,000 2,500–3,000 Cu, Zn, Fe,

Ni,

Sugar 7–8 600–1,000 65–100 1,500–1,800 Cu, Ni, Pb

Textile mills 8–12 200–600 300–1600 100–2,500 Ni, Pb,

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detergents,

carbonate,

alkalis and

other

chemicals

Motor

Servicing

stations

7–9 100–300 – 20–80 Cu, Cd, As,

Zn, Fe, Ni, Pb Oil

and grease

Apart from the large scale units, city also has about 5457 mixed type of Small Scale Industries which

grew as ancillary to major units with the predominance of metal products (830), Leather products (819),

Food Products (443), Rubber & plastics (416), Machinery parts (396), Hosiery & garments (387),

Chemical (337), paper products (318) and Cotton textile (246).

Tanneries are known for heavy metals like chromium emission but other factors like salinity also cause

environmental hazards. Salts are used to preserve skin and these curing salts generate a huge amount of

pollution and salinity in the form of total dissolved solids (TDS) and chlorides (Cl−) during leather processing (Vankar et. al. 2009 Desalination). Recent concern over potential ecological hazards has

become more deliberate and sodium chloride features lot of disadvantages in agriculture as most of the

tannery effluent is flown in agricultural fields in India (Vankar et al. 2009 JHM). The effluent from this

process carries a lot of saline water, very large quantities of salt run down the effluent stream to pollute

the sub soil water resources, which, when used for irrigation, cause crop damage. Common salt causes

major salt pollution. Curing process alone contributes to more than 40% of the total dissolved solids

(TDS) load that is generated in the entire process of leather manufacturing.

An important factor affecting soil salinity is the quality of irrigation water. About 100,000 acres

irrigated land in tannery areas each year are no longer productive because of the salinity problem. When

the soils are irrigated with saline effluent discharge, the salts accumulate, unless they are leached out.

Furthermore, saline irrigation water along with low-soil permeability, inadequate drainage, low rainfall

and poor irrigation management, all cause salts to accumulate in soils, which has deleterious effects on

crop production. Saline effluents from tanneries are manmade salinization which is causing destruction

of the global biospheric mechanism (Vankar et al. 2006 desalination).

Figure 1. Geomorphic distribution of industries in Kanpur

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Representation of information through easy-to-read maps helps in quick and realistic decision making

process. The scale of 1:25,000 was adopted. For the environmental mapping, the factors and the

parameters were identified and theme maps were prepared. The reference maps helped to understand the

spatial implications. Field surveys, environmental monitoring, application of GIS tools and water quality

modeling are required for preparing various maps.

were identified and theme maps were prepared. The reference maps helped to understand the spatial

implications. Field surveys, environmental monitoring, application of GIS tools and ater quality

modeling are required for preparing various maps.

Interpretation of Results

. There were differences between variations of heavy metal contents. In comparison to other metals,

there were differences between variations of heavy metal contents. In comparison to other metals, Cr,

Ni, and Zn had the highest concentrations in the area, followed by Co, Pb, and Cu had moderate

concentrations while Cd was not found in sample. Frequency histograms of each element revealed that

each element generally found in first part of histogram while Cr was found in each part of histogram

Objective 3: To promote group efforts for demonstration of waste reduction/cleaner production

techniques in tanneries with the promotion of minimum pollution load causing chemicals and to

provide opportunities for sharing views and knowledge on waste reduction and pollution prevention

. These objectives are necessary for effective and protective implementation of irrigation with impaired

water quality improvement as well as for industrial development. The stated objectives was achieved by

pursuing parallel lines of research, they were combined with the development of management practices.

The monitoring technology objective is also essential for future field evaluation, and to estimate the

efficacy of the protocols developed by us.

b) Deliverables/output in specific terms including intermediate outputThis project has developed

methodologies:

1. To reduce the rate of degradation of agricultural and public land, and where practical, recover,

rehabilitate or manage salt-affected land.

Through awareness programmes conducted by us we tried to emphasise the need for effluent treatment

and the alarming contamination level/situation of the agricultural and public land. We even emphasised

on safer techniques for lowering salinity caused due to sodium chloride by using our method of hide

treatment where we have proposed and exemplified the safer use of sodium sulphate-sodium chloride in

which sodium chloride content is far lower than the conventional hide treatment method. We have had

practical hand on this work with the cooperation of Mirza tanners and Super house tannery (the two big

tanneries). We have published this work. Sodium sulphate as a curing agent to reduce saline chloride

ions in the tannery effluent at Kanpur-- a Preliminary study on techno-economic feasibility, Padma S.

Vankar, Ashish Dwivedi & Rishabh Saraswat, Desalination, 201, 14-22, (2006). Tannery effluent waste

minimization with sulphate salts - methodology to reduce Chlorides and dissolved solids, Padma S

Vankar and Ashish Dwivedi, Journal of Indian Leather Technologist, December, 920-927, (2008).

2. To protect and restore key water resources to ensure salinity levels are kept to a level that permits safe

potable water supplies in perpetuity.We have demonstrated that the use of filters designed by us can

actually protect and restore the qualities of portable water.

3. To protect and restore high value wetlands and natural vegetation, and maintain natural (biological

and physical) diversity within the region.

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We have shown that once the salinity is controlled both the natural vegetation and the wetland will have

reduced levels of contamination and would show good productivity.

4. To provide communities with the capacity to address salinity issues and to manage the changes

brought about by salinity.

During the awareness program the members of the village communities were made aware of how and

why control of salinity is a must. It was also told to them that such changes can be controlled by proper

effluent treatment in the identified areas.

5. To protect infrastructure affected by salinity.

During the awareness program that was conducted for the villagers it was also that many of the

infrastructure would also get slowly affected by the uncontrolled salinity in due course of time

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Project 3

Employment of NML’S Arsenic removal Process in the Ground Water of Sehhab Ganj

District for providing safe Drinking Water by Aplied Chemistry &Corrosion Division

National Matallurgical Laboratory CSIR JAMSHEDPUR (File no W 11035/14/2004 TM II

R&D)

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Project 4

File No W-11046/33/2001 TM R &D

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Project 5

Project proposal on Captive Resource and Ground Water Sanctuary Development

for Drinking Water Source well in Chittor District, Andhra Pradesh.By National

Geophysical Research Institute Hyderabad File no 2/Misc /Seminars/99/TM-II

R&D

Semi-Arid climate, fluctuating seasonal rainfall, shallow basement, inadequate aquifer storativity and

interconnectivity with indiscriminate usage of groundwater by agricultural sector eventually leads to over-

exploitation of groundwater resulting in declining of water table and deterioration of quality in most of rural

areas. Groundwater based Rural Drinking Water supply schemes experiences acute problems on demand

sustainability due to source depletion. Apart from the source inadequacy, the quality of groundwater also

deteriorating due to over-exploitation causing concern in safe drinking water supply. In such an ambient

dynamic conditions, there is a need for arresting further deterioration of these conditions through

management strategies such as increasing the groundwater recharge through rainwater harvesting and

artificial recharge measures covering the entire over-exploited areas at village, watershed and sub-regional

levels. However, in order to achieve a safe and sustainable drinking water in rural areas, creation of

groundwater sanctuary exclusively for drinking water becomes a plausible strategy through appropriate

rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge measures.

National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) of Council of Scientific & Industrial Research has

undertaken a research project in association with Water And Land Management Training and Research

Institute (WALAMTARI) and Panchayat Raj Engineering Department (PRED) of Govt. of Andhra Pradesh

on creation of groundwater sanctuary in one of the villages located over in Chittoor district of Andhra

Pradesh with the support of Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission. The main objective of the

project is to harness the runoff in the catchment part of the village itself and create a sustainable shallow

aquifer regime over the wasteland part of the downhill of ranges and protecting the source thus created and

achieves a groundwater sanctuary.

Selection of Site

Geomorphological conditions of more than 30% of villages in India favor creation of groundwater

sanctuary with a catchment in the form of hills or ranges and a good stream origination. Irrespective of

monsoon function, the rainfall-runoff volume is adequate to manage the water resources exclusively for

safe drinking water on a sustainable basis. The adjoining areas or foothill zones are generally of

undulating with erosional features such as gullies, gravely, etc. making the area unsuitable for

agriculture activities and in general earmarked for pasturing. Such areas are suitable for development of

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groundwater sanctuary where the resource is not pirated for any other utilities thus the source is

naturally protected. Augmentation of groundwater could be achieved by harvesting the runoff water

generated by the streams originating from the hill/s.

Badland topography at foot hills Pile of deposited soil sediments at foothill zone

Micro-Watershed Approach

The foothill area of a defined drainage system from the hill ranges could be earmarked as a micro-

watershed for creation and management of sanctuary. This will facilitate in planning the

hydrogeological investigations and selection of appropriate sites for grounding various engineering

components of sustainable drinking water source development on a sustainable basis.

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Nearly 2 Sq. Kms. area of micro-watershed delineated with the help of the stream draining from the hills

near Gurukanipalle village in Somala Mandal of Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh was selected on a

pilot scale development of groundwater sanctuary. The village was selected on the basis of over-

exploitation of groundwater for agriculture and non-sustainable groundwater based drinking water

schemes with fluoride problem. The three main villages located in the downstream part of the

delineated watershed are falling in acute scarcity of drinking water in addition to the quality problem.

Rain Fall

Monsoon rainfall is the main source of water resources as groundwater gets augmented by percolation

during rainy season. As shallow aquifer management is the prime component of groundwater sanctuary

creation, it is necessary to understand the rainfall in terms of rainy days, amount of rainfall, runoff

generating events, harnessable potential of runoff from the catchment, etc. The study area witnesses

rainfall during both southwest and northeast monsoon. The average rainfall observed at Somala for the

monitoring period of 10 years works out to be 800 mm. Further analysis of monsoon seasons of 2000-

2010 independently pointed out that 60% of the seasonal rainfall is contributed by southwest monsoon

and remaining 40% during northeast. As, the monsoon is spread over six to seven months of period, the

area is found to be more suitable for groundwater sanctuary creation.

Catchment groundwater movement studies

Catchment part of micro-watershed area covered with hills and vegetation plays an important role in

hydrological cycle. The rainfall received over the hills apart from draining through the stream also

makes part of the rainfall to percolate through fractures and joints in the rocks. The infiltrated water

moves deeper and flow through the fractures and emerges in the form of springs at different topographic

levels within the catchment or joins the groundwater system at the foot hills zone. It is necessary to

ascertain the time taken for its movement towards the area of drinking water source well for

understanding the sustainability of the resource during post-monsoon period. Potassium Iodide salt was

used as a tracer to identify the arrival of percolated water from the hills to reach the downstream area

and knowing the time taken. Monitoring of tracer arrival was done through drilling of number of

shallow holes on the downstream at different distances from the hill ranges. The daily groundwater

sample collection and analysis indicated that the time taken for the percolated water in the hills to reach

the downstream is about 90 to 110 days. This finding helped in resource availability from the hill after

3 months of cessation of monsoon, i.e. April month onwards which would be a critical period for

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drinking water supply. The tracer study helped us in selection of site for investigation to develop a

source well tapping shallow aquifer regime.

Drilling of Observation Wells in Micro-Watershed

Geophysical Surveys

The shallow aquifer (phreatic aquifer) being confined to weathered part of the rock strata, it is necessary

to make investigations to map the thickness variations in the micro-watershed area through either by

shallow drilling or by conducting shallow geophysical investigations. As the area of investigation down

below the hill range is going to be part of the groundwater sanctuary, geophysical investigations

following shallow vertical electrical sounding and profiling were preferred to cover the entire area.

Based on the tracer studies, some of the locations across the stream course were selected for the

structures and investigated in details along an axis for a detailed mapping.

THREE COMPONENTS OF GROUNDWATER SANCTUARY DEVELOPMENT

The concept of groundwater sanctuary creation is of three components and is: a resource well tapping

shallow groundwater, a check dam for augmenting the groundwater resources around the well and a sub-

surface barrier to retard the groundwater outflow from the area to sustain the resource for safe drinking

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water supply. However, in order to achieve the sanctuary function, the other important criteria are such

as that the resource thus created in the area should be protected from aquifer piracy by selecting the site

in unculturable land area and avoid bringing power to the location of well site which may accelerate the

exploitation by others. In the present pilot study, the well location was selected in an erosional landform

with gullies and being located at a higher elevation than the villages, the water supply system adopting

gravity-siphon there by avoided the energy dependency. Further, availability of round-the-clock

drinking water made through gravity siphon with required discharge, the villagers adopted on their own

judicious utilization of water and thereby conserved the resource.

CHECK DAM(Mini-Percolation Tank)

Based on cadastral survey, geophysical and stream width, several locations were investigated in a short

interval along a profile line for knowing the sub-surface nature. Based on the investigated results, an

axis (New Dam) was selected for designing a suitable water harvesting structure. Using geophysical

results, hydrogeological sections were prepared for understanding the receptive nature of the area while

ponding through cross-section and as well to understand the movement of percolated water towards

further downstream and benefit the resource well through a transverse section.

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Cross Section across the stream along the new tank axis

Transverse Section connecting check dam, resource well and sub-surface barrier

A check dam for a length of 31 m with a height of 4 m was designed on the basis of geophysical

inference across the stream and constructed in the year 2002-03 to impound the water in the monsoon

year of 2003. Storage for few months by the check dam after the cessation of monsoon on upstream

facilitated in augmenting the aquifer tapped by the resource well. It is expected that the rise in water

table below the check dam due to ponding would retard the groundwater flow from further upstream

(hilly catchment area) till the local mound recedes (drying stages of ponding area). The resource well is

expected only to receive groundwater contribution from the hilly areas once the check dam recharge

ceases. This natural phenomenon further strengthened the sustainability of resource well during the dry

period.

Filled Check dam Dry

RESOURCE WELL (Large diameter dug well)

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Decision of Resource well to be a open well (dug well) is made due to location of the project site with

shallow to moderate depth to basement and follow-up sustainability strategies confined to the shallow

aquifer. Based on resistivity investigation results, a well with a dia of 6 m and a depth of 10 m was

recommended for development. A resource well was developed in the year 2001-2002 as per the design.

The well source was tapped through a 90 mm dia siphon pipe and with reduction to 60 mm near the

village Seelaiahgaripalli and connected to public tap points. A control valve is provided in the pipe line

to regulate the required discharge.

SUB-SURFACE BARRIER

Based on geophysical investigations at four locations in the micro-watershed area, a site was selected

downstream of resource well and a sub-surface barrier (SSB) design was made and suggested. A new

concept on retarding the groundwater flow by SSB in water table fluctuating zone alone, leaving the

groundwater to move further downstream above the barrier when water table becomes very shallow

(less than 2 m) and continuously flow from the bottom to protect riparian rights of the downstream

groundwater users. The design adopted variable height at top and bottom of the barrier depending upon

the sub-surface conditions along the SSB axis.

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The SSB component was taken up in the year 2005-06 after assessing the performance of the well over

four years of continuous water supply to Seelaiahgaripalle village before extending the water supply to

other two villages Gurukanipalle and Gattuvaripalle Village. With its grounding in the year 2006, the

resource well supplies safe drinking water to all the three villages covering nearly 1500-2000 population

round-the-clock on sustainable basis. Two piezometers installed on either side of SSB enabled in

monitoring the effectiveness of barrier in retarding the groundwater flow.

Photograph showing excavation for construction of Sub-Surface Barrier

Monitoring and Performance Assessment

Monitoring is an assessment strategy of any research & development specifically in terms of source

sustainability and water supply system performance in drinking water sector. The resource well after

development in the year 2002 was assessed for its yield and aquifer response by conducting yield test

without the other two components of check dam and sub-surface barrier. Nearly 15 hours of free gravity

discharge pump test was carried to understand the nature of drawdown in the well when the groundwater

being utilized for drinking purposes. A net drawdown of 0.35 m is observed after 15 hours of discharge.

The discharge was regulated through gate valve to obtain a constant discharge of 60 LPM which is

preferred to supply 60 litres of water per capita per day. However, the water being distributed through

stand-posts alone and 2002 monsoon(503 mm) below normal, the well performance assured that the

water supply could be on a sustainable basis for the village. In order to understand the performance of

well during pre-monsoon period of 2003 year with the uninterrupted water supply, the well behavior

was continuously monitored with the help of automatic water level recorder.

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Gravity Discharge near village Well Performance Test

Water Level Monitoring Design Water Level behavior – May 2003 (Pre-monsoon)

Water Supply

Water Supply distribution from the gravity-siphon line was designed by PRED and provided through

stand-post at several parts of the village facilitating the villagers to fetch water at any time. In the case

of Gurukanipalle and Gattuvaripalle, the gravity supply line was connected to the existing ground level

reservoir and from there the water is distributed to several locations of villages.

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Village drinking water supply system through Stand-Post

In the year 2006 when two more villages have been connected with the resource well supply, the

construction of sub-surface barrier was taken up before the on-set of 2006 monsoon and completed

before the monsoon. The well supply performance with three villages covering population more than

1500-2000 in total, the well was monitored in terms of water level behavior and Panchayath Raj

Engineering Department of Govt. of A.P. The performance Report was submitted to the government for

assessment.

Project Monitoring System (Cumulative Since Commissioning)

Captive Resource and Ground Water Sanctuary Development for Drinking Water Source Well at

Gurukanivaripalli , Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh.

Year

Maintenance

No.of

Stand

Posts

Breakdown

Particulars if any

Restoration

Particulars

Water Quality

Item of work Expr.

Incurred

In Rs.

Agency Date Reasons Date Expr

.

Total

Hardness

(Caco3)

Fluorid

e

mg/l

2002-03 Chlorination 600 RWS 2 25.04.03 Break

down of

Syphon

action

12.5.03 1200 160 0.4

2003-04 Chlorination 600 GP 2 155 0.39

2004-05 Chlorination 600 GP 10 160 0.41

Pipeline

Leakage

300 RWS 150 0.39

2005-06 Chlorination 600 GP 12

Replacement 900 GP

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of Gate valve

2006-07 Chlorination 800 GP 12 120 0.35

2007-08 Chlorination 1000 GP 12 80 0.2

5400 1200

(Source: PRED, Govt. of A.P.)

Project Monitoring System report clearly brought out the sustainable performance of the system over the

years from 2002 to 2008 with total recurring expenditure of Rs.6600 only towards the drinking water

supply to the remote rural villages. The data on quality of water supplied clearly points out that the

water is potable and with a constant fluoride level much below the permissible limit. Further

monitoring of performance of the water supply system till 2010 also reflected the same function.

Government officials from Central and neighbouring state visited the site as it is an unique experiment

where the groundwater sanctuary created in a remote area supplies safe drinking water on a sustainable

basis without any breakdown or recurring expenditure. The Secretary Mrs. Shanta Sheila Nair of

Department of Drinking Water Supply & Sanitation visited the site in the year 2008 to assess the

performance of water supply system. Similarly, officials from Tamil Nadu Water Supply Board

(TWAD) of Tamil Nadu Government visited the site to understand various methodologies adopted for

replicating in suitable geomorphological terrains in Tamil Nadu.

Photograph of Secretary’s isit to ground ater sanctuary site

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TWAD Board Officials at Resource Well TWAD Board Officials interaction with villagers

Achievements & Replicability

The assured drinking water supply throughout the day made the public to adopt one-pot water collecting

habit and thereby conserved the resource indirectly through discontinuing multi-pot water storage habit

and wasting. Due to non-dependency on energy availability, the Panchyath and villagers were less

burdened with expenditure and benefitted with an assured water supply even in summer months. Since,

the water is available in front of their houses at any given time, the house members (both male &

female) were able to earn their wages daily for their livelihoods instead of one to stay at house to fetch

the water in earlier borehole water supply system through pumping whenever current comes in a day.

Continuous water availability throughout the year and over the years made the villagers to own and

protect the system infrastructure.

In the quality affected pockets such as fluoride, the groundwater sanctuary model able to dilute the

fluoride content of groundwater and create quality sustenance also. Few more experiments of this

nature would strengthen the analogy.

Ten years of uninterrupted safe drinking water supply round the clock in remote villages without energy

clearly demonstrated that the methodology of groundwater sanctuary creation would be an ideal solution

to remote villages located in similar hydrogeomorphological environment of our Semi-Arid Tropical

tracts. The adoptability of the concept exclusively for drinking water supply is very simple and easily

executable with proper selection of site.

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Project 6

Development of solar powered reverse osmosis desalination unit for

hamlets without electric power by VJ Shah Central Salt & Marine

Chemicals Research Institute Bhavnagar (File No 11046/63/98-TM II R&D)

Introduction

In our country till date a large number of hamlets and small villages are faced with twin problems of

non-availability of (i) electric power supply and (ii) safe and potable drinking water. Due to the small

population and geographical location of such hamlets, the provision of electric supply and water

pipelines both become uneconomical and impossible. Under such situation, installation of compact solar

powered desalination units comprising of photovoltaic (PV) solar panel, battery and a small RO unit

could be the only alternative for providing safe drinking water to the rural people/tribals. The panel will

be designed in such a way so as to provide electricity or lighting for at least 3 hours during night time.

Justification of the project

This Institute has already developed expertise for fabrication and installation of membrane based RO

units for brackish water desalination. Small domestic water purifiers are also been developed which can

reduce salt content and simultaneously remove bacteria and virus to protect from water born diseases.

The institute also has past experience in operating solar PV systems. Hence all the expertise is readily

available in the Institute for the development of such units.

Objectives of the project

To develop solar power operated RO membrane based desalination unit to reduce salt content and to

obtain safe drinking water.

Membrane and Module Characteristics

We have indigenously developed thin-film composite (TFC) Reverse Osmosis (RO) membranes (1m x

25m) which 2000 ppm NaCl solution at 200 psi pressure gave about 94-95% salt when tested in sheet

form with module which when tested with 2000 ppm NaCl solution at 80 psi pressure gave about 90-

92% salt rejection with a product water rate (output) of 100 ml/min (6 lit/hr.). The uniqueness of this

membrane module is that it can do both the jobs of water purification and water desalination at a very

low operating pressure.

Characteristics of the solar powered RO unit

We have developed lightweight, rugged and maintenance-free solar power-operated RO unit. This RO

unit provides about 50 liters of safe drinking water in five hours. This amount is sufficient for a family

of 10 members who an average consume about 5 liters of water per person for drinking and cooking.

The power requirement for this unit is about 200 watts for RO unit and 200 watts for lighting. Hence our

desalination unit has a panel and battery, which can deliver about 500 watts power in a day. The

optimization studies for this unit were carried out in the lab and performance data collected over a

period of time with respect to stored power.

System Design Initially the solar operated Reverse Osmosis desalination unit was designed as per the flow diagram

given in Figure-1 based on our experience in RO system and solar power utilization.The comlete system

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comprised of the following

Solar Power panel with stand Battery Inverter Saline water tank Booster pump Micron filter (Pre treatment) Carbon filter (Pre treatment) Membrane filter Carbon filter (Post treatment)

The detailed specification for each of the above item is given in Annexure.

Experimental Results

Initially four solar panels manufactured by Central Electronics Ltd., Sahibabad were connected in

parallel and the total output data were collected for 3 months. Table – 1 shows the average performance

data of solar panel. In the first phase of work, panels were used to charge the battery . This charged

battery was then used to operate the desalination unit. The battery charging and discharging time is

given in Table -2 Table - 2 gives information regarding the time required for charging the battery and

the number of hours that the desalination unit can be operated on battery through Inverter. Theoretically

the battery should be able to operate the desalination unit for 21 hours, while in reality it was on an

average operating only for 3 hrs. resulting in only about 12-14% efficiency (Table-3). While analyzing

the low efficiency problem it was found that these losses are due to inverter and transformer. The

desalination unit was operating effectively with battery-power and removing on an average 90% salt

while producing 6 lits/hr. potable water. The system was maintained at 70 – 80 psi pressure. During

sunshine period, the battery used to get charged and later on the battery power was used to operate the

desalination unit. But due to low efficiency of electrical circuit, the desalinated water output was low.

Hence to increase potable water output and increase system efficiency we procured 24 V, DC motor

pump unit to drive the desalination unit directly and as a result we could remove the battery and Invertor

from the initial design system. In the next setup, the solar panel power is directly used to drive the

desalination unit (Figure 2) and as a result we are able to save on battery and inverter cost and the

maintenance of it. As per this flow diagram, we are able to operate the desalination unit for about 6 – 7

hours daily with only two solar panels, while in the earlier case we could operate for only 2-3 hours

daily with same number of solar panels.

Improvement in solar panel

In the earlier system we were using two solar panels to drive the desalination unit but now we have

designed and developed a compact high efficiency solar panel. We have experimented the operation of

desalination unit with single panel, which has following characteristics:

Increase in efficiency Reduction in system weight Increase in product water output. Reduction in system cost.

Improvement in pre-filtration system

In the earlier system we had used in-line type filter, which was a disposable type and needed to be

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replaced every six months We have now gone for different kind of filtration system where the cartridge

will be replaced only once in a year and the filter is a reusable type.

Table- 1

Solar panel power output for the Months of May & June, 1999

Facing South

10.00

11.00

12.00

13.00

14.00

15.00

16.00

17.00

17.75

17.50

17.30

17.00

17.00

17.10

17.20

17.40

3.52

4.40

4.70

4.90

4.60

4.20

3.40

2.40

62.48

77.90

81.30

83.30

78.20

71.80

58.40

41.70

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Time Ave. Voltage Ave. Current Ave. Power (Watts) (hrs) (V) (A) W= V X A -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Panel Installation Details :

(1) Angle of Inclination

(2) Direction

:

:

30°

Facing South

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Figure 1: Schematic drawing of Solar powered RO system

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Figure 2: Solar powered RO desalination unit

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Project 7

Artificial Recharge and Recovery in Desert areas Harnessing surplus storm Runoff

of Drinking Water Source creation from National Geophysical Research Institute

Hyderabad(File No. 11046/54/98-TM-II R&D )

Low seasonal rainfall, brackish groundwater and extreme climatic conditions give rise to scarcity of

potable drinking water in major part of Thar desert in India. The main source of drinking water in this

area is the rainwater collected in traditional water harvesting storage structure namely the Kund. The

other traditional structures in which the rainwater is collected for general purposes are in Tankas, Johads

and Nadis. The efficiency of collection and storage is mainly depends on the nature of the constructed

and developed catchment area and the storage capacity of Kund. The runoff collection of the other

water harvesting structures are mainly depends on the areal extent of the catchment and inter-dunal

depression slope and stabilized length. Annual Drinking water requirement at household level are

generally met from the collection in Kund. The safe drinking water availability becomes a problem

during the drought years especially on a larger scale during consecutive years of monsoon failure.

During this period, the population in the area is depended on the groundwater, which is unsafe for

consumption due to brackishness.

Among the districts of Rajasthan State, Churu district experiences the extreme hot and dry

conditions in a year. The annual rainfall varies from 300 – 400 mm with high annual coefficient of

variation. The research program on “Enhancement of runoff to traditional water harvesting structures

in Thar desert by treating the sandy soil of catchment areas with water based non-toxic polymer

formulations” carried out by NGRI during 1995-98 with the support of Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking

Water Mission established a well rapport with the Bhoruka Charitable Trust in Bhorugram village,

Rajgarh Tehsil of Churu district. The extensive hydrogeological data collection made during the

research period helped in understanding the drinking water problem persisted in Rajgarh Tehsil. The

present research program was therefore planned to be taken in one of the village in Rajgarh Tehsil with

the collaboration of Bhoruka Charitable Trust.

Rainfall record of Rajgarh obtained from Indian Meteorological Department for the period

(1906-80) and the record collected from Rajgarh Tehsil office for the period 1977 to 2000 was subjected

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to analysis of studying the behaviour of monsoon in Rajgarh Tehsil area. The rainfall record of nearly

100 years clearly indicated that the average annual rainfall of Rajgarh as 339 mm, with a standard

deviation of 159 mm and coefficient of variation of 47%. It was observed that the maximum amount of

annual rainfall is contributed by few storm events in this area. Also it was observed that the daily

rainfall when exceeds the order of 20 mm/day, runoff was generated and flows towards the water

harvesting structures. During normal monsoon years, all the water harvesting structures were unable to

accommodate the entire runoff volume generated from its catchment area and the water spills over the

structured and the surrounding areas gets inundated. The rainfall analysis on number of rainy days with

rainfall amount between 20-50 mm/day for 23 years (1977-2000) indicated that the area receives 8-10

days rainfall between 20-50 mm once in 5-6 years period in a cyclic manner.

Having able to predict the good monsoon years and seeing the surplus water available, an

experiment was carried out for conserving the harvested surplus runoff water through recharge of the

groundwater. Before undertaking the field experiment, a study was initiated to study the regional level

of fluoride and groundwater quality and their areal variation in Rajgarh Tehsil by collecting the

groundwater samples from dug wells in the villages for analysis of fluoride and electrical conductivity.

180 ground water samples were collected and analyzed. The results of analysis indicated that the

groundwater quality in terms of electrical conductivity varies from 300 – 17000 micro-mhos. The

groundwater conductivity image for Rajgarh Tehsil was prepared and the image analysis indicated that

the area in west-southwestern and central eastern part is not suitable for drinking purposes. Fluoride

analysis indicate that the groundwater used for domestic purposes in normal years and for drinking

during monsoon failure years are very much in unsafe. Fluoride level ranges from 0.02 to more than 10

mg/l. Nearly 76.6% of groundwater samples collected are above the permissible fluoride limit of 1.5

mg/l. Fluoride distribution image analysis indicated similar features that of the conductivity analysis.

X-Ray diffraction study of the soil samples indicated the presence of fluoride bearing minerals like

Hornblende and Illite in aeolian soil samples. Fluoride in groundwater of this region is probably due to

dissolution from fluoride bearing minerals. Soil Fluoride leaching experiments conducted to a depth of

18 m (to a depth of water table) indicated that the soils in unsaturated zone has a total fluoride content of

119.4 gms/per sq.m/18m depth.

Based on preliminary studies, a site near Dhanauti Badi village with a population of more than

2000 was selected for conducting the artificial recharge experiment harnessing the surplus flow from an

open Johad near the village. This 50 year old Johad with a capacity of 1862 cubic meters (nearly 18

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lakhs litres) has a good defined catchment area. The surplus from the johad used to flow outside during

the monsoon year. A pipe line was laid to carry the overflow from the johad into a filter shaft near this

johad. The dimensions of the circular filter chamber/recharge shaft are: dia 3 m and depth 6 m. The

bottom of the filter chamber is lined with bricks and the sides are plastered with cement. The bottom

was lined for preventing the larger percolation through the soil column and gaining of fluoride

concentration in the filtrating water through leaching process. In order to transfer the filtered water

directly to the recharge well, a pipe line of 50 mm dia was laid connecting the bottom of the filter

chamber and the well.

A recharge experiment was conducted by pumping the water from the tank and transferring to

the recharge shaft through the 150 mm PVC pipe line. The effectiveness of filtering mechanism is

monitored by measuring the turbidity of filtered water and found to be less than 1 NTU. The water level

change in the filtered water chamber of the shaft was monitored continuously at minute interval using an

automatic water level recorder. As the height of water in the bottom chamber increased with the time

and reached the out-flow pipe level, the filtered water was transferred to the recharge well. The

recharge began from 36th

minute of the experiment. The rate of recharge was estimated at different time

of the experiment and average recharge rate is estimated as 270 litres per minute. The experiment was

conducted for 360 minutes and the water levels in recharge well and observation wells were monitored

continuously.

The monitoring of water quality at regular interval after the recharge experiment was continued

to assess the improvement of groundwater quality. The groundwater conductivity of 4800 micro-mhos

before the artificial recharge experiment at the recharge site remained less than 1000 micro-mhos

during the post recharge period observed for 3 months. The reduction and persistence of conductivity

over three months indicate the scale of influence of artificial recharge. Whereas, the fluoride level of

11.92 mg/l before the experiment came down to less than 1 ppm during the post recharge month and the

observation indicated that the fluoride level reached to 3 ppm at the end of third month. The observed

scale of reduction during the pilot experiment clearly indicates that over one or two years of recharge

from surplus water from the johad would definitely bring down the fluoride level of groundwater much

below the permissible limit of 1.5 ppm. The radial influence studies indicated that the water level in the

observation well at a distance of 29.5 m from the recharge well was increased by 1 cm at the end of

three months reflecting the stabilization of recharge cone. It is necessary to monitor the stability of fresh

water sources created through cyclic annual recharge process. Monitoring over the subsequent years

indicated that the recharge well water fluoride level was remained 1.8 ppm(2004); 2.0 ppm (2006 ) and

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1.2 ppm(2008) indicating the effectiveness of the project approach in creating a safe drinking water

source in fluoride rich desert region using surplus overflow from Johad.

The results of pilot scale experiment demonstrated the utility of artificial recharge in creating a

safe drinking water source creation in desert areas. The surplus flow from the traditional harvesting

structures of this region can be effectively stored in aquifer system and retrieved during the drought

years for meeting the demand of drinking water supply in scattered rural villages of desert region.

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SANITATION PROJECT

Project – 8

Study on Impact Of Human Waste Compost Application on Soil Health in Relation to Crop

Growth and Ground Water Quality By Principal Investigator, Dr. P. Jothimani, Assistant

Professor, Directorate Of Natural Resources Management, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University,

Coimbatore

Objectives

Characterization of night soil compost for its pollution potential and suitability of soil

application.

Examining the effect of night soil compost on soil fertility (physical, chemical and biological

properties.)

Evaluating the use of night soil compost for crop growth, yield and quality parameters.

Assessing the impact of night soil compost application on ground water quality.

Summary of the work done:

Characterization of ECOSAN compost

Human waste compost/ ECOSAN compost used for this project work was obtained form the ECOSAN

compost chambers constructed by SCOPE (NGO) at Musiri, Trichy (Dt). The compost was analyses for

the physical, chemical and biological properties. The colour of the ECOSAN compost is black. The C/N

ratio of the compost was 16.2:1 and it is found to be optimum for land application. The compost

obtained from ECOSAN compost chambers are odourless after six months and free from pathogens

such as E. coil and salmonella.

Effect of ECOSAN compost on soil heath, crop growth and yield.

To study the effect of human waste compost (ECOSAN) on changes in soil properties and crop

production, an incubation experiment, pot culture (Marigold) and filed experiment (Paddy) were

conducted during 2009-2010. In these experiments, ECOSAN was compared with Vermi compost and

MSW compost. In general, ECOSAN compost and vermin compost at various doses and in combination

were found to increase to soil fertility status. Among these, the performance of ECOSAN compost@ 10

t ha-1 and 7.5 t ha -1 was found to be superior to the rest of the treatments in terms of enhancing the

soil available NPK status in the soil types such as sandy, clay loam and sandy clay loam etc. the heavy

metals in the post harvest soil were very low and in some samples it was below detectable limit. The

results of the pot culture and filed experiment were similar and in both the experiments ECOSAN

compost @ 10 t ha-1 and 7.5 t ha -1 recorded the highest yield and quality parameters. In these

treatments, the soil physical environment and CEC of the soil were improved due to ECOSAN compost

application.

Followed by the test verification, Maize Hybrid (NK 6240) and paddy (Andhra penny- 2nd

season crop)

were planted during 2010-2011 using ECOSAN compost. In both the experiments ECOSAN compost @

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7.5 t/ha (T5-50% RDF + NS compost @ 7.5 t/ha) recorded the highest yield and quality parameters of

test crops. In Maize, the highest grain yield of 6735 kg per ha was recorded in T5 and in control it is

only 5437 kg / ha. In paddy 2nd

crop, the highest yield of 4990 kg / ha was recorded in 7.5 t / ha of

ECOSAN compost applied plot and least grain yield was recorded in control in 7.5 t / ha (3950 kg/ha).

Followed by Rice, the fallow pulse Black gram var-vamban-5 was sown with the same treatment. The

results indicated the similar trend and the ECOSAN compost applied treatment @ 7.5 t/ha (T5-50%

RDF + NS compost @ 7.5 t/ha) recorded the highest yield. The results of these experiments showed

that like other organic manures, the ECOSAN compost can also be used as soil conditioner to improve

the soil physical chemical and biological properties. In all the filed experiments, the soil physical

properties were improved and found to be good due to the ECOSAN compost application.

The study the effect of ECOSAN compost on fruit crops, Sapota and Lime seedlings were planted during

2009 and applied the ECOSAN compost and Municipal Solid Waste compost (obtained from Musiri

Town Panchayat) individually and in combination. The drip system was laid in the field for application

of liquid human waste. Once in 6 months of planting, the ECOSAN compost and MSW compost were

applied as per the treatment and the irrigation is being done through drip system. Banana

intercropping was also done in the same filed.

Monitoring the ground water quality in and around the ECOSAN compost applied filed.

Well water samples were collected in and around the human waste compost applied filed of Musiri

(TK), Trichy (Dt) form four locations from June 2009 to March 2011 and monitoring was done for the

quality parameters. The test for the pathogens such as E. coli and salmonella was negative in the

ECOSAN compost as well as in ground water sample. There is no major deviation in the quality

parameters of the well water in the subsequent month of analysis. It indicates that there are no

harmful pathogens and metals in the compost as well as ground water in and around the compost

applied filed. But the long term effect of ECOSAN compost application pm ground water quality needs

to be studied.

Advantages of recycling the human waste compost for crop production

For Environment Hygiene

To increase the agricultural production & soil health

To prevent the Environmental contamination

The human faeces is converted to a good soil conditioner by composing

Pathogens (E. coli and Salmonella)- Nil

C: N Ratio - <20:1

Compendium of Research Projects (Vol-III)

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Transcript of Compendium of Research Projects (Vol-III)