By K. Mohanasundaram,
BORDA Partner - ExNoRa International
As a part of the World Toilet Day celebrations on 19th November, ExNoRa International and Musiri Selection Grade Town Panchayat (MSGTP) took up the first periodical desludging of the DEWATS in the community toilet in the compost yard. This first DEWATS in a Town Panchayat in Tamil Nadu and constructed through co-financing model at a cost of Rs.5.1 lakhs, was commissioned on December 31st 2006. MSGTP and ExNoRa International expedited the activity through systematic planning, allocation of manpower (8 Sanitary Staff + 1 Supervisor), effective utilization of support resources, safety, housekeeping, documentation, and so on. This formed part of the ‘hands on training’ to Town Panchayat staff.
The unit is functioning smoothly for the last 34 months. As it was due for desludging, Sri. V. C. Sudhakar, President, and Sri Balasubramanian, Executive Officer of MSGTP, were informed of the necessity. Though they were initially reluctant to bear the cost, the advantages (savings from frequent desludging of septic tanks in the past) and exposure gained by MSGTP through this DEWATS unit was explained to them. On mutual consent, cost estimation was worked out. To mark the uniqueness of the activity, it was decided to take it up on the 19th November 2009 - World Toilet Day.
A series of discussions and planning discussions with the officials of the Town Panchayat were held to organise the required equipment, manpower and other logistics.
MSGTP deputed 8 skilled sanitary workers to understand, execute and get trained through this ‘Hands-on Training exercise’. The Programme staff of ExNoRa International elaborated on the activities to be carried out in each module. The Sanitary workers were divided into three groups and given charge of one DEWATS module each.
At 0630 hrs, the groups initiated the task starting from the channels and registers. The sludge in the bio-digester was agitated and 12,000 litres of sludge and sewerage were removed in three trips. This was discharged into the garbage dump yard designated by the Panchayat for the purpose. The sludge levels in the anaerobic baffle reactor chambers were measured and the excess sludge was pumped out. Earlier, the 1st and 2nd chamber had 82cm and 65cm of sludge respectively, and the remaining less than 40cm only. The filter material in the anaerobic filter were cleaned and replaced.
In planted gravel filter, the overgrown plants were trimmed to a height of 1 foot and then uprooted for replanting. The filter material was backwashed and floating impurities removed. The inlet and collection pipe ports were thoroughly cleaned. The operation ended after planting 32 canna indica and 32 reeds in the prescribed manner.
Mr. V. C. Sudhakar, President of the Panchayat, who inspected the desludging work, stated that prior to the construction of the DEWATS, MSTP was spending Rs.6, 000 per month for the desludging of the septic tank in the community toilet.. The DEWATS had helped save Rs.1, 81,900 in three years. Besides, DEWATS treatment was healthy and hygienic, the gas generated was used by two families and 3,000 litres of treated water per day was recycled for providing sufficient moisture for composting of bio-degradable waste in the compost yard.
