11 Sludge Hygienisation—A Novel Technology for Urban Areas …
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a grim situation due to sheer lack of ground water, Koramangala-Challaghatta Valley
(KC Valley) project was envisaged in the state of Karnataka [75]. The K-C Valley
project is being equipped for drawing 440 MLD of sewage water from three STPs
in Bengaluru [76]. Following a secondary treatment, the treated wastewater will be
pumped to the Lakshmisagara Lake in Narasapura, near Kolar. From the Lakshmisagara reservoir, the treated water will flow through an underground drainage network
and will be supplied to the parched districts like Kolar and Chikkaballapur. This
secondary treated water has been planned for recharging the ground water aquifers.
Also, the drainage network through which the treated water would flow connects
about 134 lakes in Kolar and Chikkaballapur. Hence, the water quality and overall
health of those lakes are expected to improve over time upon being continuously fed
by treated water [77]. As evident from the several recent newspaper reports [78, 79],
review articles [80], as well as, the recent order of National Green Tribunal (NGT)
[81], several major water bodies around Bengaluru, viz. Bellandur lake, Agara lake
and Varthur lake inter-alia, are subjected to severe pollution owing to the inefficient management of solid waste, as well as, discharge of untreated sewage waste
and industrial effluents. Phosphate-rich toxic froth, arising mainly from the industrial effluents and agricultural run-off, has been widely reported in the media, for its
potential hazardous impact on the civic health. As per the NGT report [81], Karnataka
Pollution Control Board (KPCB) found chemical (in the form of nitrates and phosphates) in the water of several lakes, the source of such chemicals predominantly
being the domestic sewage. The current STPs are not equipped with the technology
to treat and remove nitrates and phosphates.
At present, there are 24 STPs in and around the Bengaluru city with a total treating
capacity 760-Million litres per day (MLD), but the city generates nearly double that
amount of sewage. Hence, the treating capacity of these plants needs to be rampedup soon enough. The BWSSB (Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board) has
chalked out an ambitious Rs 2,500-crore plan and hopes to receive a long-term loan
from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which is supposed to aid in
revamping all old STPs, rehabilitating old sewage lines and reducing unaccounted
for water (UFW) [82]. A recent survey conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) corroborates the aforesaid facts, showing that only 60% of
Bengaluru’s sewage is being treated in the existing STPs [83]. The study conducted
by JICA predicts shows that in 2024, the total sewage generation will touch a very
high level of 1502 MLD. Hence, the treatment of wastewater needs to be given utmost
importance in the context of the city of Bengaluru.
The author visited the KC Valley STP Compound, which is currently equipped
to treat a peak sewage load of 308 MLD. Another 150 MLD STP is currently under
construction within the same STP compound. The schematic shown in Fig. 11.3
illustrates the current treatment plant configuration and flow arrangements in KC
Valley compound.
From the discussion with experts it emerged that KC valley STP Compound
currently receives and treats about 255 MLD of sewage water (the plant utilization
factor is 0.828) and after secondary treatment, the treated sewage water is sent to
the Challaghatta pumping house. During the monsoon, the total sewage inflow rate
277
a grim situation due to sheer lack of ground water, Koramangala-Challaghatta Valley
(KC Valley) project was envisaged in the state of Karnataka [75]. The K-C Valley
project is being equipped for drawing 440 MLD of sewage water from three STPs
in Bengaluru [76]. Following a secondary treatment, the treated wastewater will be
pumped to the Lakshmisagara Lake in Narasapura, near Kolar. From the Lakshmisagara reservoir, the treated water will flow through an underground drainage network
and will be supplied to the parched districts like Kolar and Chikkaballapur. This
secondary treated water has been planned for recharging the ground water aquifers.
Also, the drainage network through which the treated water would flow connects
about 134 lakes in Kolar and Chikkaballapur. Hence, the water quality and overall
health of those lakes are expected to improve over time upon being continuously fed
by treated water [77]. As evident from the several recent newspaper reports [78, 79],
review articles [80], as well as, the recent order of National Green Tribunal (NGT)
[81], several major water bodies around Bengaluru, viz. Bellandur lake, Agara lake
and Varthur lake inter-alia, are subjected to severe pollution owing to the inefficient management of solid waste, as well as, discharge of untreated sewage waste
and industrial effluents. Phosphate-rich toxic froth, arising mainly from the industrial effluents and agricultural run-off, has been widely reported in the media, for its
potential hazardous impact on the civic health. As per the NGT report [81], Karnataka
Pollution Control Board (KPCB) found chemical (in the form of nitrates and phosphates) in the water of several lakes, the source of such chemicals predominantly
being the domestic sewage. The current STPs are not equipped with the technology
to treat and remove nitrates and phosphates.
At present, there are 24 STPs in and around the Bengaluru city with a total treating
capacity 760-Million litres per day (MLD), but the city generates nearly double that
amount of sewage. Hence, the treating capacity of these plants needs to be rampedup soon enough. The BWSSB (Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board) has
chalked out an ambitious Rs 2,500-crore plan and hopes to receive a long-term loan
from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which is supposed to aid in
revamping all old STPs, rehabilitating old sewage lines and reducing unaccounted
for water (UFW) [82]. A recent survey conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) corroborates the aforesaid facts, showing that only 60% of
Bengaluru’s sewage is being treated in the existing STPs [83]. The study conducted
by JICA predicts shows that in 2024, the total sewage generation will touch a very
high level of 1502 MLD. Hence, the treatment of wastewater needs to be given utmost
importance in the context of the city of Bengaluru.
The author visited the KC Valley STP Compound, which is currently equipped
to treat a peak sewage load of 308 MLD. Another 150 MLD STP is currently under
construction within the same STP compound. The schematic shown in Fig. 11.3
illustrates the current treatment plant configuration and flow arrangements in KC
Valley compound.
From the discussion with experts it emerged that KC valley STP Compound
currently receives and treats about 255 MLD of sewage water (the plant utilization
factor is 0.828) and after secondary treatment, the treated sewage water is sent to
the Challaghatta pumping house. During the monsoon, the total sewage inflow rate