11 Sludge Hygienisation—A Novel Technology for Urban Areas …
281
Co-60 sources will be about INR 37.5 Cr. It can either be a single facility, or two
separate facilities with a capacity of hygienising 75 TPD dry sludge each can be
planned. For a standard-size facility to be established (including radiation facility,
warehouse, sludge dumping ground, housing for machinries etc.), about 1500 square
yards of space is needed. Therefore, suitable locations need to be chosen based on
the availability of the land area, as well as, commutability to the facility.
It is to be noted that organic carbon is very essential component in the context of
irrigational soil quality of Karnataka, as the soil health diagnosis under ‘Bhoochetana’
initiative in Karnataka, conducted in the fields of nearly 100,000 farmers showed
widespread soil degradation [85]. Therefore, hygienised fertilizer rich in organic
carbon will be a boon for the Karnataka farmers. Hence, if the commercialization
of manure pellets and biomass fuel pellets made from the hygienised sludge is done
with meticulous planning, the cost can be recovered with a finite period, even with
an affordable lower price being assigned during the initial period. In this context,
it is worth mentioning that the production cost of gas-based urea is about Rs. 900
per 45 kg bag (i.e. Rs. 20/kg), and the farmers pay a final price of Rs. 5.50/kg upon
getting a discount of over 70% The subsidy on urea increased from Rs. 24,337 crore
to Rs. 53,629 crore between FY 2010–11 and FY 2019–20 [86]. Therefore, if the
dependency on urea is reduced, Govt’ can save a huge amount of money which can
be used effectively in other high-priority areas.
Furthermore, the hygienisation of the sewage sludge will also ensure that the
spread of the dangerous and lethal pandemics, such as the COVID-19, is curbed;
which may otherwise reach an unmanageable scale due to the unsafe and imprudent
handling of the raw dried sludge. The landfilling will be much safer and free from
pathogenic load which would also pave way towards a sustainable and hygienic land
reclamation and creation of urban groves, leading to a greener city.
11.6 Conclusion
From the thorough discussion presented in the chapter, it is evident that advanced
treatment of urban wastewater, as well as, the proper hygienisation of the municipal
sewage sludge is of utmost importance considering the current pandemic situation
caused by the persistent SARS-CoV-2 virus. Although the dominant mode of SARSCoV-2 transmission revolves around the travel of the respiratory droplets, the transmission through the oral-feral route adds a further dimension to the potential risk
of community spread of COVID-19. As the fecal sludge serves as the medium for
the growth of the pathogen colonies, therefore, there is a finite chance that the active
fragments of SARS-CoV-2 strain ending up in the urban wastewater through faecal
shredding, as well as, through imprudent discharges into the municipal sewer from
the domestic and the healthcare facilities would be able to multiply in the sludge. Such
a multiplication of contagious virus particulates in the sludge will make it unsafe for
open drying, and subsequent handling for the purpose of landfilling. Therefore, to
ensure a safer and cleaner management of municipal sewage sludge, radiation-based
281
Co-60 sources will be about INR 37.5 Cr. It can either be a single facility, or two
separate facilities with a capacity of hygienising 75 TPD dry sludge each can be
planned. For a standard-size facility to be established (including radiation facility,
warehouse, sludge dumping ground, housing for machinries etc.), about 1500 square
yards of space is needed. Therefore, suitable locations need to be chosen based on
the availability of the land area, as well as, commutability to the facility.
It is to be noted that organic carbon is very essential component in the context of
irrigational soil quality of Karnataka, as the soil health diagnosis under ‘Bhoochetana’
initiative in Karnataka, conducted in the fields of nearly 100,000 farmers showed
widespread soil degradation [85]. Therefore, hygienised fertilizer rich in organic
carbon will be a boon for the Karnataka farmers. Hence, if the commercialization
of manure pellets and biomass fuel pellets made from the hygienised sludge is done
with meticulous planning, the cost can be recovered with a finite period, even with
an affordable lower price being assigned during the initial period. In this context,
it is worth mentioning that the production cost of gas-based urea is about Rs. 900
per 45 kg bag (i.e. Rs. 20/kg), and the farmers pay a final price of Rs. 5.50/kg upon
getting a discount of over 70% The subsidy on urea increased from Rs. 24,337 crore
to Rs. 53,629 crore between FY 2010–11 and FY 2019–20 [86]. Therefore, if the
dependency on urea is reduced, Govt’ can save a huge amount of money which can
be used effectively in other high-priority areas.
Furthermore, the hygienisation of the sewage sludge will also ensure that the
spread of the dangerous and lethal pandemics, such as the COVID-19, is curbed;
which may otherwise reach an unmanageable scale due to the unsafe and imprudent
handling of the raw dried sludge. The landfilling will be much safer and free from
pathogenic load which would also pave way towards a sustainable and hygienic land
reclamation and creation of urban groves, leading to a greener city.
11.6 Conclusion
From the thorough discussion presented in the chapter, it is evident that advanced
treatment of urban wastewater, as well as, the proper hygienisation of the municipal
sewage sludge is of utmost importance considering the current pandemic situation
caused by the persistent SARS-CoV-2 virus. Although the dominant mode of SARSCoV-2 transmission revolves around the travel of the respiratory droplets, the transmission through the oral-feral route adds a further dimension to the potential risk
of community spread of COVID-19. As the fecal sludge serves as the medium for
the growth of the pathogen colonies, therefore, there is a finite chance that the active
fragments of SARS-CoV-2 strain ending up in the urban wastewater through faecal
shredding, as well as, through imprudent discharges into the municipal sewer from
the domestic and the healthcare facilities would be able to multiply in the sludge. Such
a multiplication of contagious virus particulates in the sludge will make it unsafe for
open drying, and subsequent handling for the purpose of landfilling. Therefore, to
ensure a safer and cleaner management of municipal sewage sludge, radiation-based