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ASEI Sanitation Project

‘A Vision For Change’

Presented at the 2008 ASEI Sanitation Symposium

February 9, 2008

Sharanpal (Paul) Sikand

Jayant (Jay) Patel

American Society of Engineers of American Society of Engineers of

Indian Origin (ASEI)Indian Origin (ASEI)

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AbstractLack of sanitation in India and other developing countries has a major health and environmental impact. Human and animal waste is contaminating the land, rivers, lakes and ground water. This causes major outbreaks of water borne diseases including cholera, polio, hepatitis, typhoid, etc. Over 500,000 children die annually due to cholera.

ASEI is launching a project to improve sanitation in the rural areas of India, where 70% of the population resides. The goal of the project is to develop an economical, low maintenance, self powered sanitation system for Indian villages to safely collect and dispose off human and animal waste without damaging the environment. The system will provide bio-gas and electricity as renewable energy. The by-products will be bio-fertilizer and the effluent water will be treated for irrigation.

The presentation describes a process of engaging university students in a design competition to develop the optimum technology for the project. This project will be accomplished in three phases that include design development, prototype pilot tests and production tests of the sanitation system. The final sanitation system design will be made available as an open source technology to all government and non-government organizations (NGO) in India, the United Nations and all developing countries.

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AgendaAgenda

Need for sanitation project

Benefits

Approach

Technology

Financial

Social

Next Steps

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Mission

Improve sanitation in the rural areas of India

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Why Sanitation in rural areas?

70% of Indians live in rural areas (over 700M)

Less than 10% of homes in villages have toilets

Human waste is contaminating the land, rivers, lakes and

ground water

Contaminated water causes water borne diseases: cholera,

polio, hepatitis, typhoid, etc

Over half a million children die annually due to water borne

diseases

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Benefits

Creates sanitary conditions

Reduces water borne diseases

Provides renewable energy, bio-fertilizer and water for irrigation

Environmental friendly

Technology exchange between the US and India

Builds partnerships between US and Indian Engineering schools

Creates employment and business opportunities

Potential benefit to all developing countries

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Sanitation Project is consistent with the ASEI Mission:

Technology Exchange

Improve the quality of life thru technology

Entrepreneurship

Humanitarian & civic projects

Engineering education

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Approach

Develop an integrated roadmap to address technical, social & financial plans

Establish non-profit foundation & solicit sponsors

Form management team

Develop execution plan

Execute

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Technology Plan

Design Competition at US & Indian Engineering schools: June, 08

Pilot tests: December, 08

Production tests: December, 09

ASEI RoadmapASEI Roadmap

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Design Criteria

Use existing or new technology Economical and Low maintenance

Self powered

By products: bio-gas, bio- fertilizer, electric power, water for irrigation

Environmental friendly

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ASEIASEIConceptual Plan of Sanitation SystemConceptual Plan of Sanitation System

Bio-gas

Waste Waste Treatment Treatment

UnitUnit

Bio-degradable Waste: Human, animal,

Farm, kitchen, etc

Treated Water -Irrigation

Bio Fertilizer

Electricity

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ASEIASEIConceptual Design of a Sanitation SystemConceptual Design of a Sanitation System

Water Treatment PitChlorination(8’x 6’x6’)

Women

Men

Septic PitAnaerobic

process(12’x 6’x 6’)App 2700 gal

Solid Treatment

Pit(8’x 6’x 6’)

Animal WasteGreen Waste Pit

Anaerobic(20’x 6’ x6’)

FertilizerPit

(8’x 6’x 6’)

P

S

P

P = Pump S = Strainer C = CompressorNotes: 1. All pits are reinforced concrete with fiberglass. Pits are 5-feet below and extend 1-foot above ground2. Above system will handle waste from a village community of up to about 100 people and 50 cows/buffaloes /goats3. System is estimated to provide Bio-gas to 25 homes for cooking and fuel for a 7.5 KW electric generator

COMMUNITY TOILETS5’ABOVE GROUND W/

WATER TANK ON ROOFWater for Irrigation

Gas for cooking

P

Bio-GasElectric

GeneratorPower Pack

Solar PanelsWater Heater

Electric Power

C

BioFertilizer

S

P

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Phase 1: Design CompetitionPhase 1: Design Competition Define Requirements

Select and sponsor Engineering schools in US and in India for design competition

- Pair up Indian and US schools as teams

Obtain funding for project

Competing teams to design the sanitation system

Down select two designs

Estimated Budget for Phase 1: $ 25,000

Target Completion date: June, 2008

ASEIASEI Proposed Technology RoadmapProposed Technology Roadmap

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Phase 2: Pilot Test

Sponsor selected student teams to develop & build full scale prototype sanitary systems

Select site for the pilot test in India

Teams to conduct tests for three months

Submit Report

Down select one design and optimize for production tests

Estimated Budget for Phase 2: $75,000

Target Completion date: December, 2008

ASEIASEIProposedProposed Technology RoadmapTechnology Roadmap

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Phase 3: Production Test

Build five production systems

Select five villages in India for production tests

Install the five units in the selected villages

Conduct tests for six months with support of the student team and local village authorities

Optimize design

Estimated Budget for Phase 3: $ 150,000

Target Completion date: December, 2009

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Technology Sharing

Share the technology developed as open source with:

World Health Organization (UN)

Governments and NGO’s in all developing countries

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Financial Plan

Establish a non-profit foundation to seek funds from:

Corporations in the US & India

United Nations

Foundations such as Gates, Clinton, Oprah

World Bank

ASEI membership and Indian community

Indian Organizations

Other

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Social Plan

Education on sanitation for children and adults

Partnerships with organizations: Gramalaya, Gram Vikas, Sulabh, Ekal, Pratham, etc

Utilize media

Leverage local village authorities

Create incentives

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Next Steps

Design Competition: in works

Establish Foundation: In works

Develop Partnerships

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Let us all get involved to make a differenceLet us all get involved to make a difference