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ECO-FRIENDLY TECHNOLOGIES
WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGIES
KARNAL TECHNOLOGY
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The Karnal
Technology involves growing tree on ridges 1m wide and 50 cm high
and disposing of the untreated sewage in furrows.
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The amount
of the sewage/ effluents to be disposed off depends upon the age, type
of plants, climatic conditions, soil texture and quality of effluents.
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The total
discharge of effluent is so regulated that it is consumed within 12-18
hours and there is no standing water left in the trenches. Through this
technique, it is possible to dispose off 0.3 to 1.0 ML of effluent per
day per hectare.
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This
technique utilizes the entire biomass as living filter for supplying
nutrients to soil and plant; irrigation renovates the effluent for
atmospheric re-charge and ground storage.
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Further, as forest plants are to be used for fuel wood, timber or pulp,
there is no chance of pathogens, heavy metals and organic compounds to
enter into the human food chain system, a point that is a limiting
factor when vegetables or other crops are grown with sewage
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Though
most of the plants are suitable for utilizing the effluents, yet, those
tree species which are fast growing can transpire high amounts of water
and are able to with stand high moisture content in the root environment
are most suitable for such purposes.
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Eucalyptus is one such species, which has the capacity to transpire
large amounts of water, and remains active through out the year.
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Other
species suitable for this purpose are popular and leucaena. Out of these
three species, eucalyptus seems to be the best choice as popular remains
dormant in winter and thus cannot bio-drain effluent during winter
months.
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However, if area is available and the volume of effluent is small, a
combination of popular and eucalyptus is the best propagation.
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This
technology for sewage water use is relatively cheap and no major capital
is involved. The expenditure of adopting this technology involves cost
of making ridges, cost of plantation and their care.
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This
system generates gross returns from the sale of fuel wood. The sludge
accumulating in the furrows along with the decaying forest litter can be
exploited as an additional source of revenue.
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As the
sewage water itself provides nutrients and irrigation ameliorates the sodic
soil by lowering the pH, relatively unfertile wastelands can be used for
this purpose. This technology is economically viable as it involves only
the cost of water conveyance from source to fields for irrigation and does
not require highly skilled personnel as well. This technology seems to be
most appropriate and economical viable proposition for the rural areas as
this technology is used to raise forestry, which would aid in re-storing
environment and to generate biomass.
Source :
Summarized from the topic "Waste Water as Source of Irrigation" by Ranbir
Chhabra, Author, Soil Salinity & Water Quality
Eco-Friendly Water Technologies
Page Revised on Oct.2009
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