Bio-Toilet – A Step towards Swaccha Bhaarata

I came across a very valuable piece of work that has all the potential to give a big fillip to the Swachha Bhaarata Abhiyaana. It is called a Bio-Toilet or more technically, Biodigester. Biodigester technology has been developed for resolving the problems of un-decomposed human waste. The innovation degrades and converts the human waste into usable water and gasses in an eco-friendly manner. The generated gas can be utilized for energy/cooking and water for irrigation purposes.

It is already in big use by Indian Railways.

 

The process involves the bacteria which feed upon the fecal matter inside the tank, through anaerobic process which finally degrades the matter and releases methane gas that can be used for cooking, along with the treated water. The Biodigester tank can be manufactured and customized as per the requirement. The salient features include the following.

• No bad smell in toilets from the tanks
• Fecal matter in the tank not visible
• No infestation of cockroaches & flies
• No clogging of digester
• Effluent is free from off odour and solid waste
• Reduction in pathogens by 99%
• Reduction in organic matter by 90%
• No maintenance required
• No requirement of adding bacteria/enzyme
• No need of removal of solid waste
• Use of phenyl is permitted upto 84 ppm

DRDO [Defense Research and Development Organization] and FICCI [Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry], the two pioneering bodies in their respective areas of work, have come together for a very ingenious, productive, commercially and socially useful cause. They have created a programme called Accelerated Technology Assessment and Commercialization [ATAC]. programme aims to create a commercial pathway to deliver technologies developed by DRDO for appropriate commercial markets for use in civilian products and services. This programme is first of its kind to be undertaken by DRDO in association with FICCI to actively spin out several of DRDO's technologies for appropriate commercial markets both nationally and internationally. In the very first year of operation of the programme as many as 26 DRDO labs across India are participating and over 200 technologies are being assessed under this programme by FICCI. The technologies that are currently assessed are from sectors as diverse as electronics, robotics, advanced computing and simulation, Avionics, optronics, precision engineering, special materials, engineering systems, instrumentation, acoustic technologies, life sciences, disaster management technologies, information systems, etc.