Xylem India provides innovative solutions for drinking water, water reuse and irrigation
At India’s Presidential Estate, Xylem’s UV disinfection solution enables 80% of the water to be reused for green areas and wetlands.
Discover how technology is helping solve complex water problems and empowering India to meet the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. To help India meet these goals, Xylem is working with partners across the country to improve access to drinking water, reduce untreated wastewater and increase water reuse. When drought led to empty wells in Karnataka, Xylem’s pumps brought water from the Tungabhadra River. When untreated sewage polluted the Tapti River, Xylem provided a treatment solution for a new wastewater plant.
A pumping solution for drinking water and irrigation during a drought
Millions of people in the Shivamogga district, located in Karnataka state in southwest India, relied on water from borewells for drinking and irrigation. In the town of Shikaripur, the borewells transported water to 245 tanks. Consecutive droughts and severe water stress, however, led to a shortage of water in the borewells, impacting the entire community and local ecosystem.
Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Limited (KNNL) developed a plan to fill the tanks with water from the Tungabhadra River, which flows through the state of Karnataka. KNNL appointed Amrutha Constructions as the main contractor for the tank-filling project, with Xylem India providing six Flygt A-C Series large vertical column pumps to transport water from the river to the tanks. The highly efficient pumps have a capacity of more than 3,000 cubic meters per hour, each delivering water to a high head of 224 meters.
The tank-filling project helped solve irrigation and drinking water problems for millions around the region.
Averting river pollution and improving water reuse in Central India
The Tapti River in Burhanpur, a city in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, was being polluted by untreated domestic sewage flowing from 30,000 houses. The Municipal Corporation of Burhanpur, which manages the city, decided to solve the problem by building a new sewage treatment plant.
The city appointed Ankita Construction as the main contractor for the construction and maintenance of the sewage treatment plant, which would be capable of treating 21 million liters per day. Xylem India worked with Ankita Construction to provide sequencing batch reactors (SBR) for the plant, as well as UV disinfection treatment.
The treatment plant uses Xylem’s Sanitaire ICEAS system, a continuous flow biological treatment system that brings together process, aeration, decanting and control in a single treatment tank, reducing the plant’s footprint.
The system minimizes energy use by up to 50% thanks to its highly efficient aeration grids and blower technology. The innovative algorithms used in the system help to control and optimize the process for greater efficiency.
For disinfection, the plant uses Xylem’s safe and chemical-free Wedeco iDuron UV disinfection system. This modular, open-channel UV disinfection system effectively inactivates 99.99% of pathogens without harmful by-products. The system uses energy-efficient Ecoray lamps and OptiDose controls for optimized UV disinfection.
The sewage treatment plant is running successfully and meeting discharge quality standards. The treated water is discharged into the Tapti River, which can now be reused to water the green belt of the city.
Disinfecting wastewater for reuse at India’s Presidential Estate
The President’s Estate in New Delhi, called Rashtrapati Bhavan, has over 190 acres (769,000 square meters) of green area, including the famous Mughal Gardens. There was often an acute shortage of water for the plants and gardens, especially during the summer season. This led to the loss of green areas, which also affected the wildlife that relied on them.
To solve this problem and preserve historic buildings, the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage was appointed to prepare a conservation management plan. The organization’s recommendation also included the construction of sewage treatment plant at the President’s Estate.
The technical consultant for the plant was IIT Delhi, while the contractor L&T was responsible for the construction, operations and maintenance of the plant, which has a capacity of about 2 million liters per day. The construction of the sewage plant was completed in record time, in just 15 months, opening in 2015.
Xylem’s Wedeco TAK 55 UV disinfection system was selected to treat the wastewater for the high standards of reuse, using ultraviolet light to inactivate pathogen bacteria, viruses and parasites. The safe, chemical-free system uses energy-efficient lamps that adjust to changing flows and water quality. The sewage plant’s treated wastewater is now used to meet 80% of the water requirements for the President’s Estate.
As a result of innovative planning, partnership and technology, the capacity of the existing Dalikhana Lake, which serves as the collection point for treated water, has been increased three times from its earlier capacity. It now holds 5 million liters. This lake also serves as a habitat for birds in the area. The conservation project also included a wetland area to further support the flora and fauna in the region.
Read more about Xylem’s solutions in India
- Nitin Bhate, Managing Director, Xylem India, discusses the partnerships that are shaping and transforming India’s water infrastructure.
- Xylem has partnered with UNICEF to solve water and sanitation challenges in India’s most vulnerable communities.
- By deploying Xylem’s Sanitaire ICEAS, the city of Jamnagar is now able to treat sewage to prepare it for reuse in surrounding industries.
Working together for a sustainable water future
Download Xylem’s 2021 Sustainability Report to learn how we’re helping communities and businesses solve water and climate-related problems.
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