Wastewater Irrigation in Gujarat - People in Centre Consulting

9
Examples of Treatment
Facilities with Direct Economic
Returns
As this study explores further, it was found that sewage could be treated to minimum
quality required for its subsequent use and reuse in many non-potable industries and
agriculture. An exploration in extremely arid conditions was done for evidences to
confirm whether the local government agencies (panchayats or municipalities) have
used wastewater as resource. In Kutch, the need to preserve fresh water sources
(surface and ground both) is well understood by the communities as well as the
authorities. The local authorities are selling wastewater, thus realizing a sizable
revenue stream. Since the local authorities have to treat sewage anyway, few
villages in Kutch have demonstrated potential replicable models for all urban local
bodies that are supposed to treat wastewater.
The villages of Mota Dhavada, Anandpar (Yaksha) and Sanyra in Nakhatrana Taluka
of Kutch District have sewage treatment facilities and underground sewage collection
network constructed and being operated since the last three years. The operation
and management cost of the treatment plant is generated from sale of treated
wastewater for irrigation. It is learnt that many other villages are also following such
practices.
Mota Dhavda Village
The STP and underground sewage collection network was laid in the year 2009. The
STP’s capacity is 0.15 MLD (1500 cubic meter) and operates at full capacity. The
village has a population of 1328 (Census 2001) and the number of households is 257
(Census 2001). The treatment plant was built at a cost of Rs. 15 lakh. The
underground sewage collection system was developed at a cost of about Rs. 35
lakhs.
The treated wastewater is auctioned once in a year to be used for irrigation
throughout the year. Around 15 farmers whose farms are in vicinity of the STP take
part in auction. The auction settlement is as per the need of the farmers at that point
in time. Last year due to delayed rains, the local body (panchayat) received Rs.
11,000 out of this auction for the year. In case of timely rainfall, it fetches Rs. 5000 a
year. The pipelines for taking the wastewater have been laid over a distance of 0.5
kilometers and a 10 hp pump is used to lift the water from STP to the fields. An
average has been considered for comparing the charges of canal irrigation and
wastewater irrigation. (Refer Table 28).
The cropping pattern using this water comprises growing BT cotton or groundnut and
castor along with vegetables in four hectares of land.
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