Sewage treatment plants

PlantsOne on each campus, Bidholi and Kandoli

Combined capacity650 KLD

Treated waterReused on campus

Overview

UPES runs dedicated sewage treatment plants on both its campuses, with a combined capacity of 650 kilolitres a day. Each plant treats the wastewater produced on its campus in several stages so that the treated water meets Central Pollution Control Board discharge norms and Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board standards, and can be reused on campus.

Impact

Every litre of campus wastewater is treated on site and put back to use.

650 KLDcombined treatment capacity

2plants, one on each campus

UVdisinfection before reuse

Treated water replaces fresh water for landscaping, flushing and horticulture.
Real-time monitoring keeps the plants within discharge norms.

Treatment stages

Inlet screening: mechanised bar screens remove large solids such as plastics, cloth and stones.
Primary treatment: sedimentation tanks settle heavier particles, oil and grease are removed, and flow equalisation keeps the flow uniform.
Secondary (biological) treatment: an activated sludge process with aeration tanks breaks down organic matter, and secondary clarifiers separate the sludge.
Tertiary treatment: sand and activated carbon filters polish the effluent, and UV disinfection and chlorination remove pathogens.
Sludge: dewatered sludge is composted or disposed of in line with Pollution Control Board guidelines.

Monitoring and control

SCADA systems monitor flow, dissolved oxygen, pH, total suspended solids, COD and BOD in real time.
Alarms flag any deviation quickly so that the plants stay within discharge standards.

Protecting the environment

Efficient treatment means no untreated wastewater is discharged, protecting nearby water bodies and soil.
Treated water is reused for landscaping, toilet flushing and horticulture, reducing the need to draw fresh water.

A place to learn

Students of environmental engineering, civil engineering and energy programmes use the plants as working examples, and their real-time data feeds student projects and environmental impact assessments.

Photographs

Sign at the UPES sewage treatment plant showing a capacity of 300 KLD — A sewage treatment plant on campus.

Treatment tanks at a UPES sewage treatment plant — Treatment tanks at the sewage treatment plant.

Equipment inside a UPES sewage treatment plant — Inside the sewage treatment plant at Kandoli.

Source: records of the UPES Administration and Technical Services departments.