Current scenario and challenges of septage treatment - A societal perspective

Abstract

This paper analyzes the problem of septage management related to opportunities and solution. in accordance with present treatment technologies. The scenario in India is about 41 % of septage sludge is disposed in local area without treatment Still some of the individual housing is not connected to suitable public sewage system. The current scenario of FSM in Warangal city is 77 % of the households have proper access to toilet and 23% insanitary toilet and open defecation were found. The samples were collected from the Warangal city and were tested for the characteristics. BOD and COD were very high above 9800 mg/l. As per CPHEEO norms TSS should be less than 15000 mg/l, but it is observed in all the samples it is in the range of 24,800 mg/l to 82,460 mg/l. Currently the treatment such as sludge drying beds, lime treatment, anaerobic baffled reactor, stabilization pond, constructed wetland, composting with solid waste, Mechanical dewatering,. Neglected septage waste ash was tried for several trial run in the mix design and found 20 % to be optimum replacement of septage ash. Strength enhancement is achieved by adding glass chopped strands and workability is improved by Super plasticizer Polycarboxlate ether. Utilization of residue in septage treatment plant in cost effective and ecofriendly way by replacing cement in concrete was tried in the pilot scale study near Warangal and proven to be effective.