DEWATS Technology

(Decentralised Wastewater System)

04 Kanak Holani
07 Pesi Ramnani
38 Dhanraj Bhosure
73 Tanishka Rajpal
What is waste water ?

Definition

● Wastewater in a DEWATS system is typically domestic wastewater, which includes

greywater and blackwater.

Greywater is wastewater from sinks, showers, washing machines, and other non-toilet
fixtures.

Blackwater is wastewater from toilets and contains human excreta and other organic
matter
What is DEWATS ?

Definition

● DEWATS stands for Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems.

It is a sustainable and cost-effective approach to treating wastewater at the source,

such as individual households, small communities, and commercial establishments.

● DEWATS systems are typically comprised of a series of tanks and filters that break
down wastewater into reusable water and sludge.

● The reusable water can be used for non-potable purposes such as irrigation, flushing
toilets, and cooling systems.

● The sludge can be composted or used as fertilizer.

What is DEWATS ?

Comparison: DEWATS vs Centralized Wastewater Systems

DECENTRALISED SYSTEM CENTRALISED SYSTEM

● High resource ● Moderate

efficiency due resource
to water efficiency
recycling and
● High
reuse
environmental
● Low impact with
environmental potential for
impact with large-scale
localized pollution
treatment
What is DEWATS ?

History and development

The concept of treating wastewater locally is as old as human settlements. However, the modern
approach to DEWATS has its roots in the challenges faced by developing countries in the mid-20th
century.

● Rapid Urbanization: Many developing countries experienced rapid urbanization, leading to a

strain on existing infrastructure, including wastewater management.

● Environmental Concerns: The pollution of water bodies due to untreated wastewater became
a significant issue, prompting the search for sustainable solutions.

● Cost-Effectiveness: Centralized wastewater treatment systems were often expensive to build

and operate, making them inaccessible to many communities.
What is DEWATS ?

When to use DEWATs?

● Feasibility: Areas without centralized wastewater treatment.

● Water Scarcity: Regions facing water shortages.
● Environmental Impact: Prioritizing water pollution prevention.
● Community Empowerment: Encouraging self-sufficiency in wastewater
management.
● Small-Scale Applications: Suitable for industries and commercial establishments.
What is DEWATS ?

Principles of operation
1. On-site Treatment 4. Energy Efficiency
2. Decentralized Approach 5. Flexibility
3. Natural Processes 6. Community Participation
Components of DEWATS system

Flowchart

Typical DEWATS combine the following technical

treatment steps in a modular manner:
● Pre-Treatment
● Primary Treatment – in sedimentation ponds,
settlers, septic tanks or bio digester
● Secondary Treatment – in anaerobic baffled
reactors, anaerobic filters or anaerobic and
facultative pond systems
● Secondary Aerobic/Facultative Treatment – in
horizontal gravel filters
● Post-Treatment – in aerobic polishing ponds
Components of DEWATS system

Flowchart
The selection of appropriate technical configuration
depends on the:

● volume of wastewater
● quality of wastewater
● local temperature
● underground conditions land availability
● costs
● legal effluent requirements
● cultural acceptance and social conditions
● final handling of the effluent (discharge or reuse)
Components of DEWATS system

Flowchart
Components of DEWATS system

Pre-Treatment

Pre-treatment is done in a Settler.

A device which separates the liquid from the solid, retention time is only 2 hours.
Pollution reduction is around 30%.
Components of DEWATS system

Primary treatment unit

The primary treatment unit is the first stage of wastewater treatment. It removes large solids and organic matter
from the wastewater.
Primary treatment consists of Settler which works as a sedimentation tank, retaining particles by settling
mechanism over time.

First treatment takes place in a Baffled Tank. A device with several identical chambers through which the
effluent moves from top to bottom. Retention lime is 24 hours. Pollution reduction is around 80%.
Components of DEWATS system

Secondary treatment unit

The secondary treatment unit further breaks down the organic matter in the wastewater
using aerobic or anaerobic bacteria. Second treatment takes place in a anaerobic filter.
A device filled with a filter material (cinder) through Which the effluent moves from top to
bottom. Retention time is around 8 hours. Total pollution reduction is around 90% At this
stage CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board) standards are met but the effluent still has an
odor.
Components of DEWATS system

Tertiary treatment unit

The tertiary treatment unit removes any remaining pollutants from the wastewater, such as
nutrients and heavy metals
Third treatment takes place in a planted gravel filter.
A structure filled with gravel material and planted with water resistant plants, who provide oxygen
to the passing effluent. Retention time is 1½ day. Pollution reduction is around 90%.
Components of DEWATS system

Sludge treatment unit

The sludge treatment unit processes the sludge generated by the DEWATS system.
Benefits of DEWATS

Environmental benefits

1. Reduced Pollution: Effectively treats wastewater locally, reducing the discharge of untreated
or inadequately treated effluents into natural water bodies. Helps protect aquatic
ecosystems and reduces water pollution.
2. Resource Conservation: Use natural processes such as filtration and biological treatment,
which can conserve resources compared to traditional chemical treatments.
3. Reduced Carbon Footprint: Require less energy and produce fewer greenhouse gases than
centralized treatment plants. They often use gravity-based processes and low-energy
technologies.
4. Improved Soil and Water Quality: Properly treated effluent can be safely reused for irrigation
or other purposes, which helps improve soil quality and water resources.
5. Local Ecosystem Protection: Help protect local ecosystems from the stress and degradation
caused by centralized wastewater treatment plants and long transport of waste.
Benefits of DEWATS

Economic benefits
1. Cost-Effective: Require lower capital and operational expenditures compared to large-scale
centralized systems. Avoid the costs associated with long-distance wastewater transport and large
infrastructure.

2. Local Job Creation: The construction, operation, and maintenance of DEWATS create local jobs and
stimulate local economies.

3. Resource Recovery: DEWATS can facilitate resource recovery, such as composting organic waste
or producing biogas, which can provide additional economic benefits or offset operational costs.

4. Scalability and Flexibility: DEWATS can be scaled up or down depending on the community's
needs, making them a flexible and adaptable solution for varying population sizes and growth rates.

5. Treatment Efficiency and Community Involvement: DEWATS prioritize treatment efficiency

while promoting community involvement in the management of wastewater , ensuring sustainable
practices.
Benefits of DEWATS

Social benefits
1. Health Improvements: DEWATS reduce the risk of waterborne diseases by treating wastewater
effectively before it re-enters the environment, leading to improved public health.

2. Community Empowerment: These systems can be managed and maintained by local communities,
which promotes local engagement and responsibility.

3. Educational Opportunities: Implementing DEWATS can provide educational opportunities for

communities about wastewater management, environmental stewardship, and sustainable practices.

4. Enhanced Livelihoods: By improving water quality and reducing health risks, DEWATS contribute
to better living conditions and can support local economic activities such as agriculture.

5. Resilience to Disasters: DEWATS can be more resilient to natural disasters compared to

centralized systems, as they are less reliant on extensive infrastructure that can be damaged during
events like floods or earthquakes.

6. Modular Design and Cost - Effectiveness: DEWATS systems are characterised by their modular
design allowing, for scalability and cost - effective implementation in building projects.
Challenges and Considerations

Technical challenges

1. Design Complexity: Designing a DEWATS requires a thorough understanding of local conditions,

including soil type, water table, and wastewater characteristics. Incorrect design can lead to
inefficiencies or system failure.

2. Maintenance Requirements: DEWATS often require regular maintenance to function properly.

The complexity of the system and the need for routine inspections can pose challenges if local
technical expertise is lacking.

3. Capacity Limitations: DEWATS are generally designed for specific capacities. In rapidly growing
areas, the system might become insufficient if not properly scaled or upgraded over time.

4. Technology Selection: Choosing the right technology (e.g., constructed wetlands, anaerobic
digesters) based on local conditions can be challenging. Each technology has different performance
characteristics and operational needs.

5. Environmental Conditions: Extreme weather conditions, such as heavy rains or prolonged

droughts, can affect the performance of DEWATS. Systems need to be designed to handle such
variability.
Challenges and Considerations

Operational challenges
1. Local Expertise and Training: Effective operation of DEWATS requires local personnel with
adequate training and skills. In areas where such expertise is lacking, the system may not be
maintained properly, leading to failures.

2. Public Awareness and Engagement: Community involvement and understanding of DEWATS are
crucial for successful operation. Lack of awareness or improper use of the system by local residents
can lead to operational problems.

3. Regular Maintenance: DEWATS require consistent maintenance, such as cleaning filters, checking
for blockages, and managing sludge. Ensuring regular maintenance in remote or underserved areas
can be challenging.

4. Wastewater Variability: Inconsistent or unpredictable wastewater characteristics (e.g., high loads

of chemicals or solids) can affect the performance of DEWATS. Systems need to be robust enough to
handle such variability.

5. System Integration: Integrating DEWATS with existing infrastructure, especially in urban areas,
can be complex and may require significant adjustments to local practices and infrastructure.
Challenges and Considerations
Financial challenges

1. Initial Capital Costs: While DEWATS can be more cost-effective in the long run, the initial capital
expenditure for setting up the system can be significant. Securing funding for these upfront costs can
be challenging.

2. Operation and Maintenance Costs: Even though DEWATS generally have lower operation and
maintenance costs compared to centralized systems, ongoing expenses for regular maintenance,
repairs, and management still need to be accounted for.

3. Economic Viability: In areas with low population density or where the system is underused, the
economic viability of DEWATS can be uncertain. The benefits must outweigh the costs for the system
to be sustainable.

4. Financial Sustainability: Ensuring long-term financial sustainability involves planning for future
upgrades, unexpected repairs, and potential system expansion. Funding models must be well thought
out to cover these needs.

5. Funding and Investment: Securing investment from public or private sources can be difficult,
especially in regions where there is limited awareness or confidence in decentralized systems.
Case Studies

Aravind Eye Hospital, India

The system has six major modules:

1. Grease trap. It captures oil and grease floating on the water, while the wastewater underneath is discharged further
into the settler.

2. Settler. A sedimentation tank allows organic and inorganic solids to settle so that they can be stabilized through
anaerobic digestion, while suspended and dissolved materials are passed on to the next stage after a retention time of
about 2 hours.

3. Anaerobic baffled reactor. Water flows through a series of chambers slowly, allowing the solids to settle down into
a layer of activated sludge for further decomposition of contained pollutants. As these chambers are airtight, an
oxygen-less environment is created at the bottom of the tank and anaerobic bacteria starts digesting the fecal matter,
producing a significant quantity of biogas but leaving very little organic matter behind. Thus, the chambers do not
have to be cleaned often—perhaps every 4–5 years. The biological oxygen demand (BOD) reduction rate at this stage
is 75%–85%, while the pathogen reduction is 40%–75%. The baffled reactor is designed to be resistant to shock loads
and variability in flow volumes, within reason. And as it is built as an underground chamber, the land above can be used
for parking, walking areas, and keeping machinery, among others.
4. Anaerobic filter. A fixed-bed reactor maximizes the area for anaerobic organisms for digesting wastewater
pollutants further. The design is based on a continuous upstream flow, and BOD reduction of this unit is 70%.

5. Horizontal planted gravel filter. Multiple mechanisms are used at this stage, such as biological conversion,
physical filtration, and chemical adsorption, with mainly aerobic and anoxic processes. Specific plants are grown, and
water from the anaerobic filter is allowed to flow in a controlled manner through the roots of the plants, allowing
them to absorb nutrients and chemicals from the water.

6. Polishing pond. In the last stage, an open pond enriches the water with oxygen and eliminates pathogen germs
through UV disinfection by the sun’s rays. Floating aquatic plants chosen initially to control algal growth and
improve the aesthetics of the pond were later found to be unnecessary—in fact, they over grew quickly and reduced
oxygen in the water, causing algae to bloom. The system worked perfectly without these plants. The water is
retained in the pond and then pumped out for irrigation and flushing
 Chi, eww sojaaoooooooooooo

Benefits and Impact DEWATS

brings the following benefits to the Aravind Eye Hospital :

1. Low life cycle cost. An STP that uses other technologies like the moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) would
cost about ₹5 million to install and about ₹186,000 per month to operate, or ₹55.8 million over 25 years. Thus,
life cycle cost over 25 years would be about ₹61 million. In comparison, life cycle cost for DEWATS amounts to
$16.6 million over 25 years—a savings of 73%.

2. Water savings: About 100,000 m3 of wastewater is treated and reused each year, which is the equivalent of
freshwater required by 2,274 people per day (at 135 liters per person per day).

3. Low-cost water: Water tankers can cost ₹60–₹150 per m3 while municipal water costs ₹5–₹15 per m3 for
commercial customers. Water from borewells can cost as little as ₹4 per m3 . At ₹6.31 per m3 , treated water
through DEWATS is at par with or costs lesser than other options.

4. Electricity saved: DEWATS saves 20–160 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity each year compared with
other technologies like MBBR, sequencing batch reactor (SBR), or membrane bioreactor (MBR), which is the
equivalent of 18–142 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) each year.
Future directions

Research and development

● There is a need for further research and development to improve the performance and
efficiency of DEWATS systems.

● Governments and policymakers need to promote the use of DEWATS systems through
supportive policies and regulations.

● Public awareness and education are essential for the successful implementation of DEWATS
systems.

● Integration of Artificial Intelligence - AI integration allows for process optimization through

predictive analytics, enhancing efficiency.
Future directions

Government Initiatives

● National Urban Sanitation Policy (NUSP): This policy emphasizes decentralized wastewater
management, including DEWATS, as a key component of urban sanitation.
● Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM): While primarily focused on sanitation, SBM indirectly
supports DEWATS by promoting the concept of clean and healthy living environments.
● Smart Cities Mission: Some smart cities have incorporated DEWATS as a component of their
sustainable urban development plans.
● State-level initiatives: Many states have their own programs and policies to promote
decentralized wastewater management.
Future directions

Policy and regulation

● Entire system is located within private premises.

● Owners are responsible for the costs, design, construction, operation, and maintenance.

● Specialized companies may handle operation and maintenance.

● Local authorities issue permits and may support operation and management, such as waste collection and
issuing certificates/licenses for equipment and qualified companies.

● Quality control of treated effluent for reuse, discharge, or disposal is managed by local or national
government authorities.

● Oversight can be challenging if many systems need to be inspected and controlled.

THANK YOU !!!!