The document describes an integrated smart irrigation system with a greywater treatment plant. The system uses soil moisture sensors and weather data to optimize watering schedules. It treats greywater from households using filters and disinfection to remove impurities before reuse for irrigation. This reduces fresh water needs and pollution. The system and treatment plant can be implemented commercially to help address increasing water scarcity issues.

1. Integrated Smart Irrigation System with Grey Water
Treatment Plant
Project By: Innovators (Category: Junior)
Members:
 Tirtham Haria
 Varad Mali
 Shiv Pargaokar
 Daksh Sankhe
Track 2: Water Conservation Techniques
Water is life. In Hindi, there are sayings “Jal Hai to Kal Hai”
and “Jal Hi Jeevan Hai”. Water is important for every aspect
of the human life, animal life, plants, trees and the entire
environment. It is impossible to imagine a life on the planet
without water. With constantly increasing world
population and the climate change challenges, the
availability of potable water is continuously decreasing.
Continuous constructions are replacing the farm lands &
forest lands, thereby making the situation even worse. The
tall buildings and sky scrapers increase the demand of
potable water. Globally, we are moving toward a crisis
WHY THIS PROBLEM?

2. towards the water scarcity. It is a high time that we have to
solve this problem in all possible ways.
Water pollution comes from many sources including
pesticides and fertilizers that wash away from farms,
untreated human wastewater, and industrial waste. Even
groundwater is not safe from pollution, as many pollutants
can leach into underground aquifers. Some effects are
immediate, as when harmful bacteria from human waste
contaminate water and make it unfit to drink or swim in. In
other instances—such as toxic substances from industrial
processes—it may take years to build up in the environment
and food chain before their effects are fully recognized.
Agriculture uses 70% of the world’s accessible freshwater,
but some 60% of this is wasted due to leaky irrigation
systems, inefficient application methods as well as the
cultivation of crops that are too thirsty for the environment
in which they are grown. This wasteful use of water is
drying out rivers, lakes and underground aquifers. Many
countries that produce large amounts of food—including
India, China, Australia, Spain and the United States—have
reached or are close to reaching their water resource limits.
Added to these thirsty crops are the fact that agriculture
also generates considerable freshwater pollution – both
through fertilizers as well as pesticides – all of which affect
both humans and other species.

3. As per UNICEF’s data sources:
 Four billion people — almost two thirds of the
world’s population, experience severe water scarcity
for at least one month each year.
 Over two billion people live in countries where water
supply is inadequate.
 Half of the world’s population could be living in
areas facing water scarcity by as early as 2025.
 Some 700 million people could be displaced by
intense water scarcity by 2030.
 By 2040, roughly 1 in 4 children worldwide will be
living in areas of extremely high water stress.
As per UNESCO’S data sources:
 Globally, 2 billion people (26% of the population) do
not have safe drinking water and 3.6 billion (46%)
lack access to safely managed sanitation.
 Between two and three billion people experience
water shortages for at least one month per year,
posing severe risks to livelihoods, notably through
food security and access to electricity.
 The global urban population facing water scarcity is
projected to double from 930 million in 2016 to 1.7–
2.4 billion people in 2050.
Problem Analysis

4. The above data shows the graphical presentation of
increasing population vs withdrawal of water from surface
and ground water sources.
AREAS WITHOUT WATER

5. PRESENT STATE WATER POLLUTION
The problem is so wide that it cannot be fixed by the one
solution. It required many solutions at different aspects.
Considering all these problems, our team Innovators
proposes a solution which can solve problem to a some
extent.
Integrated Smart Irrigation System with Grey Water
Treatment Plant
We propose a smart irrigation system which takes input
from the weather sensors and releases the recycled grey
water for watering the gardens & landscapes.
Proposed Solution

6. Our solution is made up by integrating following
components together:
 Smart Irrigation System
o Soil Moisture Sensors
 Install sensors in the soil to measure
moisture levels. This data helps determine
the precise water requirements of the plants.
Detailed Solution

7. o Weather Data Integration
 Integrate weather data to adjust the
irrigation schedule based on rainfall,
humidity, and temperature forecasts.
o Automated Valve Control:
 Use actuators and valves that can be
controlled remotely or automatically to
regulate the flow of water to the irrigation
system.
o Drip Irrigation Technology:
 Implement drip irrigation technology, which
delivers water directly to the plant roots,
minimizing water wastage and ensuring
efficient water use.
o Smart Controllers:
 Use smart controllers with the capability to
adjust watering schedules and durations
based on real-time data, thus ensuring
optimal irrigation timing.
o Remote Monitoring and Control:
 Enable remote monitoring and control of the
irrigation system through a smartphone app
or a web interface, allowing users to manage
the system from anywhere.

8. o Data Analytics and Insights:
 Utilize data analytics to analyze patterns and
optimize the irrigation system's performance,
taking into account factors such as plant
types, soil conditions, and weather
variations.
 Grey Water Treatment Plant
o Initial Separation:
 Begin by separating the grey water from the
rest of the wastewater produced in the
household. This could involve diverting water
from sources like sinks, showers, and
washing machines.
o Removal of Large Particles:
 Use a filter or strainer to remove larger
particles and debris from the grey water. This
step helps prevent clogging and damage to
the subsequent filtration components.
o Biological Filtration:
 Construct a biological filter using layers of
sand, gravel, and activated charcoal. This
filter aids in removing organic matter,
contaminants, and some pathogens from the
grey water.

9. o Disinfection Process:
 Implement a disinfection process, such as
exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light or
chlorination, to further eliminate harmful
bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens
present in the grey water.
o Final Filtration:
 Employ a final filtration step, utilizing a fine
mesh or fabric filter, to ensure any remaining
impurities or particles are removed before
the filtered grey water is ready for reuse in
non-potable applications like irrigation or
toilet flushing.
Normal irrigation system focuses only on the optimal
watering of plants. In addition to this benefit, smart irrigation
system takes input from weather and releases water as per
requirement. When bundled with grey water treatment
plant, the released water is actually recycled grey water.
Thereby, the fresh water required is nearly zero.
Uniqueness

10.  Soil Moisture Sensors: Costs can range from $10 to
$200 per sensor, depending on the brand and
technology used.
 Weather Data Integration: The cost for integrating
weather data can vary, but subscription fees for
accessing weather data APIs typically range from $10
to $100 per month.
 Automated Valve Control: Automated valves may cost
between $50 and $500 each, depending on the type
and functionality.
 Drip Irrigation Technology: The cost for implementing
drip irrigation systems can range from $200 for a small
garden to thousands of dollars for larger agricultural
applications.
 Smart Controllers: Prices for smart controllers range
from $100 to $500, depending on the brand, features,
and capabilities.
 Remote Monitoring and Control Systems: Costs for
remote monitoring and control systems vary based on
the complexity of the setup, with prices typically
ranging from $200 to $1000 or more.
 The cost of setting up a greywater treatment system
for a household can vary depending on several factors.
 such as the technology used, the capacity of the
system, and any additional features.
Feasibility Analysis & Budget Distribution

11.  For a simple, basic greywater treatment system for a
household, the cost can range from $3,000 to $10,000.
 This estimate typically includes the cost of components
such as filters, pumps, tanks, disinfection systems, and
any necessary plumbing materials.
Pros:
 The solution can significantly reduce the requirement
of fresh water, which helps in solving the water
scarcity crisis.
 The solution also utilizes the grey water, thereby
reducing the drainage requirements and also reducing
the water pollution.
Cons:
 Grey water treatment solution requires regular
maintenance of filters. If not filtered properly, the
untreated grey water can harm the plants.
The solution is very simple and hence it can be packaged
commercially and implemented in the housing societies
with the gardens.
PROS AND CONS:
Scope:

12. References:
 https://www.unicef.org/wash/water-
scarcity#:~:text=Over%20two%20billion%20people%20live,intense%20water%20sc
arcity%20by%202030
 https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/water-scarcity
 https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/imminent-risk-global-water-crisis-warns-un-
world-water-development-report-2023
 https://openoregon.pressbooks.pub/envirobiology/chchapt/7-1-water-cycle-and-
fresh-water-supply/