Sustainable sanitation and water management practices; case studies in Pune
Student name: Ms Heeta Lakhani and Ms Snigdha Mehta
Guide: Ms Nimish Jha
Year of completion: 2014
Host Organisation: Ecosan Services Foundation
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Mrs Sreevidya Satish
Abstract: 1.1 billion people globally face water crisis and 2.5 billion people lack access to improved sanitation
facilities. This has lead to adverse effects on health and hygiene of the people, stress on limited
water resources and environmental degradation. To combat this problem, sectoral thinking,
unsustainable conventional approaches and linear approaches to water and waste management have
been used. This has led to unsustainable management of natural resources. All these problems are
inherently linked. To solve this global crisis, a closed loop approach of sustainable sanitation and
water management (SSWM) was thought of. It highlights the fact that we need holistic approaches
and must consider the entire water cycle from source to sea, and back. It puts human influence on the
water and nutrient cycle at the centre (sswm.info, 2014). Based on this approach, two case studies
from rural as well as urban scenarios were chosen.
The case study chosen for the rural scenario was Darewadi, a small village in Pune district. This was
a water scarce area, did not have sewer lines. Most of the population practiced open defecation. To
solve this problem, Urine Diversion Dehydration Toilets (UDDTs) were installed. The urine fertilizer
produced could be reused in the fields, as agriculture was the primary occupation. This study
highlights the change in sanitation practices of the village while looking at the socio-economic
conditions of the people wrt. sanitation, reuse activities of urine fertilizer and faeces compost and
operation and maintenance of the UDDTs.
For the urban scenario, the case study chosen was Amanora Park Town in Pune. This township
claims to be sustainable and one of its kind. Facilities such as rain water harvesting, solid waste
management, waste water treatment, etc. have been installed to provide sustainable services to the
residents. As part of the SSWM approach, the sewage treatment plant (Fluidized Aerobic Bed
Reactor) was studied and water quality parameters were tested. A financial analysis of the benefits of
installing a sewage treatment plant against using water from PMC tankers was done. This study also
focused on the perception of the citizens on water management.
Keywords:
- Sustainable sanitation and water management
- Urine Diversion Dehydration Toilets
- Darewadi
- Amanora Park Town
- Fluidized Aerobic Bed Reactor
