CHENNAI: Septage water of the city, which is now ending up in the waterways of the city, is likely to be used to irrigate the farms of Chengalpattu. A pilot project would soon be launched by Pure Water Foundation possibly by the end of this year wherein treated septic tank waste water would be taken from the city to the farms as bio-fertilizer.
SS Sivakumar, managing trustee of Pure Water Foundation and Jennifer Pandiyan, director of research and publication of the organisation, said bio-fertiliser from the septage water or slurry would be used in the farm.
“Once treated, this septage would be carried to the farms through trucks. Although it is just one MLD, it has the capacity for nurturing 400 acres of land for 11 months,” said Sivakumar.
To a query on harmful pathogens being present in the septage, he said it would be treated through a thermo-mechanical process. On an average 700 MLd of sewage water in Chennai is being wasted and it could be put to use. However, the process of removing heavy metals could not be carried out.
According to him the process is a costly one if one transports it through lorries. Chennai Corporation should work out better solutions he said.
He also suggested that it would be a better idea if the corporation had septage treatment plants outside the city which could treat and bottle the methane gas extracted from the waste.
Anaerobic process, he said, would also be used to treat the septage where the solid waste would be digested in the treatment plant to produce sludge.