1. Biogas plants based on animal dung and toilet linked for their biogas production quality of biogas
Year: 2014-16 Location: Gujarat state , Client : WASTE , The Netherlands/ FINISH, India
Main project features: The project objective was to performance evaluation of family size biogas plants (constructed in over 700 families) based on animal dung and toilet linked for their biogas production quality of biogas, plant nutrient capacity of sludge/ effluent and effect of agriculture outputs and economics of biogas technology in rural areas.
Activities performed: Carried out measurement of production of biogas production from each selected households having animal dung based biogas plant linked with toilet or without toilet with fixed quantity of feed material (animal dung). Studied the additive effect of human wastes on biogas production, if any, on cow dung based biogas plant. Analysed biogas from different sources, plant nutrient values in sludge/effluent from different sources and their effect on agriculture output when used for agriculture purposes, elimination of helminthes and other pathogens from sludge and effluent for safe reuse.
2. Generation and utilization of biogas from human wastes and animal wastes and training on sanitation and biogas to entrepreneurs.
Year: 2010–2011 Location: India Client: WASTE, The Netherlands
Main project features: The Project involved household surveys and workshop in different villages to find out interest of people and availability of animal dung for biogas plant implementation.
Activities performed: Investigated the feasibility of household biogas plants based on human wastes mixed with animal wastes. Developed suitable design biogas plant with bill of quantity and cost estimates for different capacity of biogas plants. Provided training on pour flush double pit system including distances between toilet and the pits, between the pits, how to convert a single pit to a double pit, water seals, pans, philosophy behind the double pit, materials of construction, difficulties one may encounter in the field (e.g. limited space), advantages and disadvantages of double pit, how to convert a single pit into a double pit.
3. On-site treatment of Wastewater from a Major Drain Flowing to Hindon River, Ghaziabad
Year: 2011 Location: India Client: Sheetal Industries Pvt. Ltd.
Activities performed: Provided a design for settling contact aeration system for wastewater treatment. Components of the project included uses of coir ropes as bacterial growth media and aeration is provided by air pump with air diffusers using non-returning valves at multiple points; Flow of air through pump only 100 lmp that operates only on 55 watt of electricity; final BOD of treated water is
4. Formulation and execution of several projects related to household on-site sanitation, public toilets, biogas plant linked with public toilets, decentralized wastewater treatment and on-site effluent treatment of biogas plants, in different states through Department of Urban Development Government of India and Municipalities in different states
Year: 1995–2010 Location: Different states in India
Client: Department of Urban Developments, different states in India
Main features of the project: Implementation, operation and maintenance of Public toilets, biogas plant linked with public toilet, decentralized wastewater treatment and household toilet implementation in different states are the main objectives of Sulabh International. These are on-going activities of the organization. Total cost of the project is difficult to calculate during my association with the organization. Total cost may be a few thousand crores rupees. A few thousand of public toilets were implemented out of which about 200 were linked with biogas plant during the period. Hundreds of thousands of on-site household toilets were implemented during the period.
Activities Performed: Provided technical support particularly for biogas plant attached with public toilets, and wastewater disposal system from public toilets and design for on-site household sanitation system for different hydro geological areas.
5. Evaluation of Balmoral Tanks for Sewage Treatment
Year: 2008–2009 Locations: New Delhi, India
Client: Reliance Industries/ Aquaplast Industries, Delhi, India
Main feature of the project: Balmoral Tanks for sewage treatment has been developed and marketed by Ms Balmoral Company, Sweden. Reliance Industries procured one such plant to evaluate its performance under Indian conditions.
Position held: Technical Advisor
Activities performed: Provided guidance for proper installation, attachment with toilets, analysing its working performance and testing of sewage parameters like BOD, COD, TSS, pH, nitrogen, phosphorus and Feacal Coliforms on weekly basis for over a period of 18 months and also provide suitable modification to suite Indian condition for operation, maintenance, treatment and cost of the system.
6. Clean Yamuna Project, Agra
Year: 2006–2007, Location: India , Client: Ministry of Environment & Forests, Govt. of India / JBIC
Activities performed: Worked as Coordinator for the project. A detail survey report along with technical inputs required to make Yamuna pollution free were submitted to the client. Coordinated among NGO partners, local municipality, Jal Nigam Agra, NRCD, Ministry of Environment and Forests and PMC of the JBIC. Organised several workshops and meetings with different stakeholders to focuss the situation of River Yamuna and its restoration.
7. Technical Review and Verification of the Draft Design of Innovative Public Sanitation Complexes
Year: 2006 Location: Adis Ababa, Ethiopia Client: UN-HABITAT
Main project features: The assignment included technical review, verification and finalization of the draft design of innovative public sanitation complexes to be constructed in Addis Ababa. Carried out review and verification of the draft design of innovative public sanitation complexes to facilitate sanitation access to the poor. Finalized design/ technologies for sanitation and wastewater treatment mission.
8. Faecal Sludge Management through Vacutug in Low Settlement Areas
Year: 2005–2006 Location: Delhi, India , Client: UNHABITAT, Nairobi
Main feature of the project: The Project involved use of Vacutug to clean faecal matter from pits and septic tanks in slums and small communities to transport sludge to disposal point on wheels, with sludge pump, and pulled manually. Evaluated the performance of Vacutug in slums and small communities and slums. Submitted a report to the UNHABITAT and presented a detail paper on the functioning of the system in a symposium of UNHABITAT held in Dakar on 8th May 2006.
9. Demonstration and Evaluation of Treatment of Effluent from Night Soil Based Biogas Plant for Reuse and / Safe Disposal
Year: 2003–2006 Location: India Client: Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources, Government of India, New Delhi
Main feature of the project: The project aim to developed a sustainable method to treat effluent of human wastes biogas plant on-site to make it free from any odour, colour and pathogen and lowering its BOD less than 10 mg/l, for its safe reuse for agriculture, horticulture and other washing purposes without any health and environment risk. Based on the design a number of projects on on-site treatment of effluent of biogas plant based on human wastes have been implemented in different states. Responsible for proposal writing to its execution (one paper on this topic, presented in a workshop of ADB at Manila, available on the site of ADB).
10. Public Toilets Linked with Biogas Plants in Kabul
Year: 2007 Location: Kabul, Afghanistan Client: Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India and Kabul Municipality, Kabul.
Main project features: Under the project 5 nos. of Public Toilets linked with biogas plants were implemented at different public places in Kabul. Winter temperature in Kabul/ Afghanistan goes down to sub zero. It was a challenging task to design a biogas plant to work at such low temperature. All the plants worked well even in winter when temperature was recorded up to minus 150C. Produced biogas is being used for cooking, lighting, and even for electricity generation. Besides, effluent of biogas plant, after on-site treatment, is made odourles, and pathogen free and used for horticulture purpose. The project had also an important component on awareness, motivation and public participation.
Positions held: Technical Advisor
11. Duckweed based Wastewater Treatment System and Assessment of Nutritive Value and Economic Return
Year: 1995–1999 Location: India Client: Central Pollution Control Board, Government of India, New Delhi
Main project features: Under the project a detail design, operation, maintenance and cost analysis for Wastewater treatment through duckweed and its economic return in term of pisciculture. It is only waste water treatment system having economic return out of it. Based on the results of the project, the Central Pollution Control Bard, Govt. of India published a guideline for wastewater treatment through duckweed, in the year 2001. Based on the guideline several projects have been implemented in India. Being the Principal Investigator, I was overall responsible for the project. It included from writing a proposal to implement it through preparing design, analyzing different chemical and bacteriological parameters for waste water treatment.
12. Employment generation and economic development of rural communities through duckweed based pisciculture in ponds in rural areas in Gurgaon and Faridabad districts in Haryana.
Year: 1995–1998 Location: India, Client: Ministry of Rural Areas and Employment , Government of India
Main features of the project: Research Development cum demonstration Project. A detail methodology of treating wastewater through duckweed and use of this weed for pisciculture was developed and demonstrated to rural communities. Economic return through pisciculture and employment avenue through the system was explained to the community.
Activities performed: As the Principal investigator worked from writing the proposal to evaluate the performance to submission of report to the Client.
13. Demonstration Project: Improvement of Village Sanitation and Economic Return Through Duckweed Production and Fish Farming in Existing Ponds
Year: 1995–1998 Location: India, Client: CIDA, New Delhi
Main features of the project: A duckweed based wastewater treatment system coupled with pisciculture was developed in 3 villages under the project in Orissa State. There was significant improvement of sanitation in the targeted community through collection of black water and its treatment through duckweeds and economic return in term of pisciculture.
Activities performed: As the Principal Investigator, I was responsible for writing the proposal and completing the research works to submitting final report to the Client. Under the project I visited Kumudani hospital, Mirzapur, Bangladesh, for observing duckweed based waste water treatment and other sites where pisciculture was being used.
14. Low maintenance Decentralized Waste Water Treatment System in Developing Countries
Year: 1995–1997 Location: , India, Client: BORDA (Bremen Overseas Research and Development Association) Germany/ European Union Commission
Main feature of the project: Under the project different designs for Decentralised Waste water treatment have been developed. A total of 8 projects were implemented under the project. The technology based on biological method, is suitable for sewage and agro-industries wastes. The developed technology known as DEWATS is being widely replicated in different states through a consortium of NGOs established by BORDA in India. The technology is more suitable for towns /cities having no sewer system or affordable waste water treatment system. For institutions like hostels, and restaurants, hotels this is perhaps the best affordable technology for on- site treatment of waste water. Several DEWATS have been implemented in different states based on the technology developed during the project.
Activities Performed: Responsible for overall management including planning designing, execution of DEWATS plants and their performance evaluation and monitoring of effluent quality as per the requirement.