Rural Sanitation Initiatives for Ganga Rejuvenation - are there any set guidelines?

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Rural Sanitation Initiatives for Ganga Rejuvenation is a great initiative by "Namami Gange", but are there any set guidelines for Rural Sanitation?

 

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  1. Rural Sanitation Initiative for Ganga Rejuvenation - Is there a prescribed guideline?


    Rural Sanitation Initiative
    There are guidelines on hygiene.

    What should be the minimum distance of defecation from the river bank
    (Open defecation is a common practice)
    There are guidelines.


    How can we open a toilet for environmental protection in any way?
    Foolishness, guidelines including wild animals, wildlife as well as people are necessary.
    There are guidelines.


    What is the best hygiene system that the Indian Village can use without investing in maintenance?
    There are guidelines.
    Investment is a minimum requirement, but eventually it will be solved by the Indian Village operation.It is no problem if it leads to cultivation of crops.

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    Ganga Rejuvenationのための農村衛生イニシアチブ - 規定されたガイドラインはありますか？


    農村衛生イニシアチブ
    衛生に関するガイドラインはあります。

    川岸からの排便の最小距離は何であるべきですか
    （オープンな排便は一般的な慣行なので）
    ガイドラインはあります。


    どのようにしても環境保護のために便所を開けることができるか？
    愚問、人だけでなく野生動物、野生生物も含めたガイドラインが必要です。
    ガイドラインはあります。


    インディアンビレッジがメンテナンスに投資することなく使用できる最高の衛生システムは何ですか？
    ガイドラインはあります。
    投資は最低限度は必要ですが最終的にはインディアンビレッジが運営することによって解消されます。それは農作物栽培に繋げれば問題は無いです。

     

     

  2. Distance depend the legislation of the country, mostly is 75 - 100 m. Yes is safe if the top surface has aligned. Urine Division System it will be suitable for India. 

  3. Dear Sir,

    It is a pity that GOI has only MoUD focussing upon SMART CITIES and AMRUT CITIES and no one is caring about Village clusters...GOI may not have enough will if not funds for even providing safe Sewerage System and Storm Water Drainage System at par with Metros in European or advanced Countries where even Sewers are cleaned once or twice robotically every year by 100 bar water jets from inside to disallow bacteria colonisation.

    Anyway , until GOI resolves to do the best, one can always hope for better than present options:

    • What should be the minimum distance for open defecation from the river bank (since open defecation is a popular practice)?

    May fix it as at least 1.5 KM line which should be a raised bund at least up to 0.5 m higher than HFL (Flood level of River) to restrict free flow of rainwater from fields to into the river..  

    • Can open defecation be made safe for the  environment in any way?  

    The minimum precautions can be that faecal matter should be covered with sand or loose earth so that it is say 4 to 6 inches buried and flies and insects do not come in direct touch and organic degeneration can happen thru bacteria in soil and place of use should keep changing, better to be in fields where bacteria digested organic matter is used up by plants..

    • What is the best sanitation system Indian Villages can use without having to invest in Maintenance?

    I strongly advocate Community Toilets in Village and in Schools , with Sewage going directly into Customised BIOREACTOR for anaerobic digestion of organics to the extent of 80% and semi-treated water is then stored in Lined Ponds with Bio-remediation...and ultimately, after total retention time of 45 to 60 days is used for Irrigation. It may also be possible to add Gobar Slurry into the Sewage. Biogas generated can well be used by a few families --that of Village/School Chowkidar/ Caretaker of Toilets. Schools can have trees and grass lands to be irrigated.

  5. Money still has to be invested - miracles do not happen.

    WATER PURIFICATION

    Treating the water with EMF can be performed from a distance, or under the direct influence of the motor vehicles, ships and fixed installations.
    - This leads to the corresponding parameters of GOST of drinking water, storm water, waste water removing odors.
    - Allows significantly increase the capacity of the memory, which leads to an increase in water treatment.
    - Eliminate the dependency of water disinfection with chemicals, UV light, ozone, etc.
    - Does not require reconstruction of existing and construction of additional facilities for water treatment.
    - Provides a complete decontamination of sludge and sediments and can be carried out with more complex processing:
    a) stimulator for plant growth;
    b) feed additives for animals and birds;
    c) fertilizer.
    Energy consumption of 200-300 W for the whole system.
    Water treatment is performed without the use of lime scale and other means, which exclude the calcification of heating systems.
    There, the cleaning of rivers, lakes and coastal waters are carried out to reduce the amount of pathogenic micro-organisms
    The technology enables highly efficient purification of water in artificial ponds, pools, etc.
    The main components of the complex process of water treatment
    1.1. Disinfection of water.
    Disinfection of water is carried out by non-contact or contact process (with immersion in the treated water of the converter). The goal of treatment is to eliminate pathogenic micro-organisms contained in the water. If necessary, the activity of the beneficial micro-organisms is activated. For it is in the water added to biologically active substances or liquids and processed with EMF, which are for the development of micro-organisms necessary to restore the ecological balance.

    1.2. Purification of water from oil, or other substances with similar properties.
    It is made to influence the substances. With the aim of decomposing or impurities present in the water binding The result of the separation and disintegration in the form of sediments in the water impurities present.
    1.3. Water purification of ammonia, hydrogen, sulphide and other hazardous compounds.
    As a result of processing the decomposition of pollutants, formation of insoluble compounds and formation of sediments occurs or they are absorbed in the form of gas.
    1.4. If needed, there is the possibility of processing, with the aim to change the change of the structural properties of the water, without the chemical composition. So it is possible, e.g. the red ox potential of the water to vary, which is important in the production of biologically active substances, which repeatedly increases the effectiveness, when working with the use of water as a habitat of biologically active substances in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, and so on
    1.5. In the cleaning of the waste water, the technology also enables the surface fats, for the subsequent removal and production of different types of products (detergent, vaseline, etc.) to bind.

  6. Hello Mr.  PRAKASH CHANDRA NAYAK,

    nano membrane toiletThese questions have targeted one of the most important factors in Ganges pollution. The problem has to be solved rather than compromised. You may go through the Bill Gates Foundation, who have done a lot on this subject. Just searching for: "bill gates foundation program on toilets:"

    The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Water, Sanitation & Hygiene program is said to “focus on developing innovative approaches and technologies that can lead to radical and sustainable improvements in sanitation in the developing world.” Their challenge guidelines stated that the end product couldn’t use any water, power or sewage systems and ideally had to operate on a targeted cost of just five cents per use. 

    All regards,

    Mashallah

  8. Dear Prakash,

    People living in villages along the Ganga will soon have access to individual household toilets or community sanitary complexes as part of the new government's efforts to clean up the holy river. The toilets will have to be built by states through which the river flows under a drive spearheaded by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation to stop the phenomenon of people defecating on the riverside. Open defecation is serious problem in India.The sewage line dump into Ganga must be treated.

    Uma Bharti Launchs Rural Sanitation Initiatives for Ganga Rejuvenation in Jharkhand.

    Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Sushri Uma Bharti launched nine projects for rural sanitation initiatives under Namami Gange Programme for conservation of river Ganga in Sahibganj, Jharkhand today. Speaking on the occasion the Minister said the entire 83 Km. The Minister said the main aim of the projects is to improve the health and quality of life of around 45,000 households located in these 78 villages of the Ganga River basin in Jharkhand through improved sanitation practices, while also improving the quality of waste water and storm water runoff flowing from the villages into the river Ganga. Sushri Bharti said 78 units will be established in project villages for collection, storage and composting of degradable solid waste and for setting up small enterprises for non-biodegradable material. River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation with the support from UNDP, community organizations and NGOs. Project initiatives will contribute to improved, sustainable solid and liquid waste management in the identified villages and will reduce contamination in the Ganga from rural sources including agriculture. UNDP will provide technical and implementation support.

    Highlights of the projects

    1. The projects will cover the entire 83 kilometer stretch of Ganga in Jharkhand. They will focus on three significant interventions and they are:
    a) Promotion of safe, individual hygiene practices to ensure open defecation free status of all 78 villages along the river Ganga.
    b) Promotion of cost-effective, appropriate local low-cost, easy to manage technologies to ensure improved access, sustained use and maintenance of infrastructure created for effective management of solid and liquid waste.
    c) Strengthening of local institutions including panchayats, village level sanitation committees and self-help groups to effectively manage, enhance and maintain facilities established for improved sanitation in the villages and an integrated and a holistic livelihood approach.

    2.       78 units will be established in project villages for collection, storage and composting of degradable solid waste and for setting up small enterprises for non-biodegradable material.

    3.        5460 households will be supported for adoption of composting facilities using vermin composting for productive use of animal and agro-waste.

    4.        1860 households will be supported for adoption of biogas plants to facilitate safe disposal of animal waste.

    5.        Eight village level crematoriums and 32 bathing Ghats will be constructed along with 40 community toilets.

    6.        More than 10000 soak pits will be constructed through community participation to safely contain and dispose surplus and waste water emerging from households and community managed hand pumps.

    7.       Community-led construction of 152000 meters of open channel drains in project villages to ensure speedy and safe disposal of domestic waste and storm water runoff.

    8.       Construction and refurbishment of 92 community ponds to enable bio-treatment and safe disposal of domestic waste and storm water runoff will also be taken up. Projects will be carried by

     The entire project will be carried out under the overall guidance of the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation with the support from UNDP, community organizations and NGOs. Project initiatives will contribute to improved, sustainable solid and liquid waste management in the identified villages and will reduce contamination in the Ganga from rural sources including agriculture. UNDP will provide technical and implementation support.

    NAMAMI GANGE PROJECT

    The Namame Gange Project will soon launch of about 1500 crore at 100 different location, These includes 100 different location in U.P, bihar, Jharkhand,W.B.& U.K.

    Regards,

    Prem Baboo

  9. Hi Prakash.
    I do not think there is any way to make open defecation safe in the Indian context as there are simply too many people around even in the rural context. Consider the fact that even if a few percentage of people defecate in the open the shear numbers will result in social and environmental problems.

    It is, therefore, better to aim for ODF status.

    As to technology, I do not believe there are any maintenance free options available. The commonly deployed twin soak pit option is possibly the cheapest but leaves much to be desired as the liquid effluent enters the soil where it mixes with greywater and can contaminate local wells and water bodies. In addition, during the rains these twin pits often flood and overflow resulting in unhygienic conditions and unusable toilets.

    Our company has tried a different approach deploying our low water supply sewerage network at a Rural Village called Jambudiyapura near Vadodara, Gujarat. I have attached the document for you to have a look at...

  10. I tried to do my part via the following two articles:

    The then poignant river Thames and the Ganges river of today
    https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/poignant-river-thames-ganges-today-mashallah-ali-ahyaie?trk=mp-reader-card

    Are really these villagers women ignored?
    https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/really-villagers-women-ignored-mashallah-ali-ahyaie?trk=mp-reader-card

  11. Open defecation is not a good thing for water bodies - it is not good for public health. Sensitizing people towards good practices can help to control and reduce pollution of water bodies. In our case of the Senegalese's lake called "Lac de Guiers", we have to initiate a rural sanitation program :

    - construction of latrines

    - control of the use of pesticides 

    - creation of an office with a special mission for the lac de Guiers

    I am sharing these two reports of lac de Guiers case (but they are in French).

  12. The needed distance will largely depend on the vegetation ability to infiltrate and take up water and nutrients.  I developed improved, low-cost establishment methods for tree-legumes I think can help.  They also help to rapid terrace formation.  Some of the methods can be used for direct seeding grass too.  The 100-300 m mention are probably for the huge amounts of nitrate etc. from US feedlots.  It is only a brief preliminary reply on complex issues.  I can suggest alternatives too.

  13. There's not a lot of specialized work on this issue. Most setbacks are based on local hydrology and rainfall patterns to ensure fecal material is not transported to the river during rainfall. Standard animal feedlot setbacks in the US are 100-300 m. These seem relevant. Many sewage treatment plants are much closer to the edge of the water, but require internal recycling of drainage water so that there are no untreated direct releases.

  14. Dear Sir,

    To the best of my knowledge and conviction, the following are recommendable practices/ solutions to insulate River Systems from Contamination of all sorts:

    1. No defecation in the open should be permitted / tolerated.

    2. No habitat should be permitted in at least 500 m crow distance from the banks of tributaries and the river/s.

    3. Only ORGANIC FARMING should be permitted in flood plains including fields 5 km stretch from banks or edges of flood plains. If this is ensured, then, defaecation in the field may not be damaging. Composting pits with worm culture is a must to convert dry leaves into manure so that chemical fertilisers are not required.

    4. Small Communes and Habitat must have at least Community Toilets connected to Sewerage System and low-cost Bioreactors can be provided which ensure reduction of organic matter by 80% and leave only about 20% for further treatment, however, if sufficient resident time is allowed for anaerobic digestion, one can get irrigation water. Some Biogas can also be generated for local use and faecal matter can also be supplemented by Gobar slurry.

    5. No unlined channels or drains should be permitted and STP/ETPs should be located at least 5 km away from the banks..

    6. Where ever, River system has a big town, interception of Drains/ Nullahs is a must and a Garland Sewer must be invested into to take sewerage/storm waters generated if any to downstream for low-cost bioremediation. It is first few strong showers of rain that bring a huge quantity of contaminants into the river system and pollute the sea as well. So, low-cost filtration of storm waters is possible using Nonwoven PP Cloth at the beginning of Interception of solid contaminants where Nallahs/Drains are intercepted and connected to Garland Sewers.

    1 Comment

    1. Missing in these observation is the critical importance of getting affected communities engaged, and taking ownership of the solutions.  The idea of co-creation, rather than top down DPRs is the way to go, and now with the spread of social media and smart phones a lot is possible by framing solutions around the wisdom of the crowd.

      Vijay Jagannathan