N-Treat technology: Explained: How IIT-Bombay will help treat Mumbai’s sewage with new tech

Source: The post is based on the article “Explained: How IIT-Bombay will help treat Mumbai’s sewage with new tech” published in Indian Express on 25th July 2022.

What is the News?

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation(BMC) has planned in-situ treatment of sewage from the drains to prevent sludge and sewage from water drains flowing into the sea.

This in-situ treatment will be done with the help of the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay’s (IIT-B) N-Treat Technology. 

What is N-Treat technology?

N-Treat is a seven-stage process for waste treatment that uses screens, gates, silt traps, curtains of coconut fibres for filtration, and disinfection using sodium hypochlorite.

What are the seven stages in the process?

First stage: It involves screening to prevent the entry of floating objects such as plastic cups, paper dishes, polythene bags, sanitary napkins, or wood. 

Second stage: It has proposed the construction of a silt trap which creates an inclination and ‘parking spot’ on the bed for sedimentation.

Next three stages: These are the installation of ‘bio zones’ in the form of coconut fibre curtains that will act as filters and promote the growth of biofilm to help in the decomposition of organic matter. 

Sixth stage: It proposes a floating wetland with aquatic vegetation planted on floating mats. In the floating wetlands, plants acquire nutrition directly from the water column for their growth and development, thus reducing the organic as well as inorganic pollutants.

Final stage: It will include disinfection using sodium hypochlorite to kill the bacteria in the water.

What are the advantages of this technology?

Firstly, it is a natural and environmentally friendly way for sewage treatment. 

Secondly, its setup takes place within the nullah channels, that is through the in-situ or on-site method of treatment and does not require additional space.