Dr Anjana Pant WWF India, WWF India Forestry Symposium 2011 organized by University of Sri Jaeywardenepura, Sri Lanka. http://fesympo.sjp.ac.lk/

1. Pilot Testing of Bioremediation as an Alternative
Treatment Technology for Municipal
Wastewaters
Dr Anjana Pant WWF India, WWF India
Forestry Symposium 2011

2. Structure of the Presentation
Introduction
Study Area
Objectives
Methodology
Analysis and Results
Way Forward

3. Introduction
Wastewater (Ganga Basin) – some facts
• Of the Total wastewater generated, 75% is Municipal sewage (NRCD
2006)
• Of this municipal sewage, only 65% gets treated (NRCD, 2006)
• Priority and focus has been on GAP towns only (due to financial
limitations)

4. Wastewater treatment using Decentralized Options
• Site specific: Understanding what the site allows can be economic
and environment friendly
• Very Low Infrastructure costs and low O&M costs
• Provides opportunity to reuse treated wastewater
• Energy Efficient: A forward looking plan for an energy scarce future
Bioremediation is the use of living organisms, primarily
microorganisms, to degrade the environmental
contaminants into less toxic forms.

5. Factors governing Bioremediation
Existence of desired microbial population capable of degrading
the pollutants;
Availability of contaminants to the microbial population;
Environment factors (temperature, pH, and Nutrients).

6. Study Area Key Sites
River Ganga Basin
Location of Target Areas for Intervention
Narora
Kanpur
Cities
Agriculture
Industry ( Paper & Pulp, Sugar & Distillery, Tanneries)

7. D ZOO LAKE
C
B BAR SCREEN
PUMPING STATION
FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE,
KANPUR
SHARDA NAGAR DRAIN VIKAS NAGAR DRAIN
A

8. Objectives
• To treat the wastewater on channel using ‘Bioremediation’ to improve its
water quality to prescribed discharge standard of inland surface water by the
Ministry of Environment and Forests or better, on a pilot basis.
2. To reduce/eliminate the threat to the health of Kanpur Zoo animals due to the
entry of sewage into the Zoo lake through the drain.
3. To ensure an odorless atmosphere, devoid of microbial pathogens, to the
inhabitants surrounding the drains and thus make the place more habitable.
4. Demonstrate ‘Bioremediation’ as an alternative low cost sewage treatment
technology which is energy efficient..

9. Stakeholder Participation
Methodology
Kanpur Nagar Nigam
Local NGOs
CPCB
UPPCB
NGRBA
Kanpur Zoo
UP Jal Nigam
IIT-K
WWF India
Technology partner
Media
A stakeholder group consisting of the Kanpur Zoo, Urban Local Body of
Kanpur, Jal Nigam, Local Communities and Media was constituted

10. Point A – Inlet point Point B – Mid-point
Point C – Outlet point Point D – The Zoo Lake (sink)

11. Point D
Sink or the Zoo Lake
BIOREMEDIATION: EXPERIENCES IN THE ZOO DRAIN
Point B
Pumping station
ZOO
LAKE
BAR SCREEN
PUMPING
Point A STATION Point C
Forest Research FOREST RESEARCH Before water
Institute entrance INSTITUTE,KANPUR enters the zoo lake
SHARDA NAGAR
DRAIN

12. a) liquid spray b) slow release tablets

13. Analysis and Results
Average Reduction in TSS
TSS
Std
250
Suspended Solids
Reduction
200
150
m
S
L
g
T
)
(
/
100
50
0
Inlet Mid-point Outlet Lake
Point A Point B Point C
Point D
Points along the drain

14. Average reduction in BOD
140
BOD Reduction
120
100
80 BO
D
Std
m
60
O
D
B
L
g
)
(
/
40
20
0
Inlet mid-point Outlet Lake
Point A Point B Point C Point D
Points along the drain

15. Reduction in Faecal Coliform
9.0 x 108
Faecal Coliform Reduction
8.0 x 108
7.0 x 108
Inlet
6.0 x 108
5.0 x 108 Std
Outlet
4.0 x 108
3.0 x 108
2.0 x 108
1.0 x 108
0
Wk 1 Wk 2
Time

16. S. N. Cost Head Capital cost Recurring Remarks
cost (PA)
1 Zoo Pumping 42.00 16.00 Source of Data - Project Manager, E &
station M Sewerage Division, Rakhimandi,
Kanpur, UP Jal Nigam
2 Water for the 1.08 Jal Kal Vibhag, Kanpur (9000 per
Zoo lake month)
3 Environmental During times of (a) power cut, (b) breakdown of either/both of the
costs pumps, the wastewater continues to enter the lake and pollute it.
Even during times it was being pumped to another drain it was
(a) polluting the other drain and also the Ganga river
(b) lake received no water and hence became dry. The Kanpur Zoo
had to buy water from the barrage to fill the lake which also
included pumping costs.
4 Bioremediation NA 39.50 Pilot Experiences