Rural and peri-urban India is mostly dependent on unprotected surface or groundwater for drinking purpose, which are getting contaminated due to improper wastewater management. Emerging pollutants like pharmaceuticals; personnel care products etc. are also finding their way into water sources. Also, there is significant loss of water in distribution systems.
Water intensive industries like textile and tanneries are having severe problems with respect to water availability and treatment of complex wastewaters. Moreover, many areas are not rain starved, but are water starved due to improper storm water management. These complex and formidable challenges in the water sector can be addressed only through concerted and holistic inter-disciplinary research.
The center will undertake research and training programs on various issues related to wastewater management, water treatment, sensor development, storm water management and distribution and collection systems. This project will be looking into a sustainable approach for water resources protection and augmentation through wastewater treatment and reuse and storm water management.
To assure safe drinking water to all, traditional and easy to use water treatment technologies and state of the art technologies employing novel materials and processes will be developed. New approaches for wastewater treatment and management will be developed with the concept of closing the loop completely with respect to water and nutrients. To assess the raw, treated and wastewater quality, sensors and testing kits will be developed.
Waste management and water conservation technologies for water intensive industries like textile and tanneries will be developed. Studies will be conducted to choose best piping materials for water distribution system and sewer networks for reducing the risk of failure and water lose. Also software will be developed for leak detection and optimal operation of water distribution networks. The effect of gray water separation and recycling on existing sewer networks will be assessed and optimum operation conditions will be evolved.
For storm water management, predictive models will be developed to assess quality and quantity of storm water in different catchments. The recharge locations and the quality of such augmented sources will be identified.Sustainable drainage system components will be evolved and designed