DOSIWAM SYSTEM AN INTEGRATED WASTEMANAGEMENT INITIATIVE AS A TOOL IN SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT by DR. S. V. Mapuskar* I.

Introduction
For the development of any society, health status becomes a very important component in the strategy for progress. However, in a developing country like India, it has been observed that 80% of the prevailing out patient attendance in any dispensary is due to ailments arising out of improper drinking water supply and sanitation. The impact is felt more severely in the rural context. The results from such morbidity patterns are obvious. This condition leads to inherent loss of man days, mental agony and disturbed family life. In the long run, this adversely affects the productivity and accompanying prosperity of the nation. Therefore, it would be very important to undertake activities so as to improve the water supply and sanitation conditions in the country. The usual tendency is to make arrangements and spend money for the treatment of these ailments. It would be more important to prevent the occurrence of these ailments instead of making arrangements for their treatment. It will be better to prevent fire so as to obviate the need for fire fighting. Naturally the technology initiatives for safe drinking water supply and a clean healthy environment will have a very important place in the development efforts for the rural masses. These technologies will have to be necessarily appropriate and of low cost so as to suit the situation in India, especially the rural areas. II. Waste Management Problem Generation and accumulation of domestic waste for fast growing human settlements is becoming a major environment and health problem in India. Management of these wastes is, for the present, very haphazard and inadequate. As a result, such inadequate and inappropriate waste management has been a major threat to available water resources and to the health status of the community.

Secretary - Appa Patwardhan Safai W Paryawaran Tantraniketan, Dehu. Director - Jyotsna Arogya Prabodhan, Dehu. Adviser - Sanitation & Bioenergy, Maharashtra Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, Pune. Dehu village, Tal. Haveli, Dist. Pune (Maharashtra) 412 109 India.

III. Conventional Sewerage System The problem exists in rural as well as in urban areas. In urban areas, methodologies like the conventional sewerage system etc. which are presently in use, are grossly inadequate to manage these generated wastes. As a result, at present untreated domestic wastes are finding access to water resource system or lie untreated on the land surface. This is grossly detrimental to the environment and to the health of the community, hampering the over all development process. The prevailing conventional sewerage systems and solid waste management systems which are in use in urban areas are grossly inadequate for managing the load of domestic wastes from burgeoning and bloating cities. Due to their capital and operating costs, it is becoming very difficult to expand or newly establish these systems so as to keep pace with the growth of the cities. Their operation and maintenance costs also are very prohibitive. Similarly, solid waste management through the conventional methodologies is also becoming difficult. Hi-tech mechanized processes are capital intensive and unsuitable for the available manpower. Further the waste management systems should not be only affluent city dweller oriented. At present, only about 10% population of the country, which is residing in the cities, is covered with these conventional systems. Low income urban, periurban, and rural areas will have to be considered. About 90% of the population is rural and remains uncovered with these systems. Obviously, it will not be feasible to cover this 90% population of the country with capital intensive, maintenance intensive, hi-tech methodologies. If we depend on these systems, it will not be possible to have any appreciable impact on the sanitation and water supply situation in rural areas. IV. Continuing River Water Pollution It is noticed that in urban areas covered with conventional sewerage system, the capacity for final treatment of domestic wastes is grossly inadequate. As a result, untreated sewage is let out in the water bodies like rivers or sea. The domestic wastes from rural areas are also finding access to rivers without any treatment. Natural water purification process is inadequate to take care of such massive wastes. As a result, river beds are day by day being converted to virtually open sewers. The problem is compounded by the construction of dams and bunds in the river course. Large river cleaning projects have been found to be inadequate because these projects are mainly concentrated on establishing conventional sewage systems in townships along the course of the rivers. Obviously, limited funds available with them are unable to take in all the burden. Thus various river cleaning projects are turning into media gimmicks. In spite of the Ganga cleaning project, the Ganga has not changed much. Similarly, other
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river cleaning projects mainly concentrate on expansion or establishment of conventional sewerage systems for limited number of cities and towns on river banks. Further, pollution from rural areas continues unabated. V Appropriate Low Cost Sanitation Technologies Therefore, the waste management situation demands some nonconventional, appropriate, low cost technologies for tackling the problem of insanitary conditions due to poorly managed waste. Further, while considering waste management, it is necessary to design systems which will take care of various types of waste generated by the community. The major groups are 1. human excreta 2. animal excreta 3. sullage water 4. non-excretal solid waste (garbage). Methodology for tackling only a particular kind of waste will be inadequate. Low cost appropriate sanitation technologies are likely to provide an answer in given circumstances. These will provide wider coverage at a low cost. Further, if these are preferably used ON SITE wherever feasible, transportation costs would be reduced and management would become simpler and easier. VI. Parameters For Appropriate Technologies Keeping in mind the resource crunch and expectations for coverage of maximum possible percentage of population in low income urban, periurban and rural population, it would be necessary to adopt as low a cost as possible appropriate technologies. These would have to be convenient and cost effective for operation and maintenance as well. Financially and environmentally, the methodologies involving resource recovery, recycling and reuse would be very helpful. In consideration of the energy situation in the country, these methodologies could be such, that, as far as possible the energy recovery is made possible during waste management. From this point of view, biomethanation processes have considerable potential. In a tropical country like India, biological and biochemical processes would be very suitable because of suitable ambient conditions and low capital & maintenance cost. Further, methodologies for ON SITE management may be more advantageous. If the process is ON SITE, the unmixed organic waste could be biomethanated at the place of generation of such organic wastes. The cost and management problems in transportation of waste material can be avoided with such ON SITE waste management methodologies. The process needs to be decentralized and on site as far as possible. Thus, this could be established even in isolated periurban areas and remote villages.

Composting and vermicompost processes also will produce fertilizers, which could be used on land. Ambient conditions in India are very suitable for such processes. The end products from all such treatment processes can be conveniently used for agricultural or plantation activities. VII. Integrated Waste Management-(DOSIWAM System) All these processes are basically biodegradation processes or composting processes based on either anaerobic or aerobic digestion. In case of vermicomposting, the process is of a slightly different nature where earthworms are the agents instead of bacteria. All these processes can be used in different ways for each individual type of waste. Therefore, while using these processes, sometimes waste can be brought together in a single process or at certain stage, the end product can be brought together. Thus, these processes could be complementary to each other and the management of all kinds of wastes can be integrated in a complementary manner. The end products of these processes are in the form of solid manure or stabilized wastewater. Both these end products can safely be recycled back in nature for agricultural purposes. All these processes could be done ON SITE with maximum possible recycling and reuse. At the same time, the management with such processes becomes hygienically safe, energy productive and financially viable.
Human Excreta Biogas Plant

Waste Water

Intercepting Tank

Stabilisation Tank

Storage Tank

Animal Excreta

Cattle Shed

Biogas Plant

Biodegradable

Solids

Non Biodegradable

Vermicompost Pit / Biogas pt. Plantation Recycling / Land fill

In the initial stages, it was proposed to establish pilot projects for such integrated waste management systems in some residential institutions where plenty of waste is generated. These institutions, though willing for proper management of waste, are at a disadvantage, for want of proper advice regarding appropriate technologies suitable for them. As a result, some make-shift arrangements are done. The inadequately treated waste finds its way out from the institutions premises, polluting the neighbourhood and nearby water resources. It was proposed to put in efforts to change this situation hygienically and go in for integrated waste management systems involving recycling, resource recovery and energy recovery profitably. Such integrated waste management system has a potential to take care of all the domestic waste which is considered as a nuisance. Further, these technologies prevent the spread of pathogens in the environment, thus improving the sanitation situation, ultimately leading to improved health status of the community. With such low cost appropriate technologies, the various kinds of wastes, which, when improperly managed are hazardous, can be converted into wealth. Thus, properly managed integrated waste management systems, can be a great asset in sustainable development for rural masses in the country. Further, the whole process becomes ecologically very sound and environment friendly.

VIII. Field pilot projects for DOSIWAM ( IWM) system Based on such contentions multiple pilot projects were established at various places in the state of Maharashtra and outside. Names of some projects 1. Maher Vadhu Bk., Dist. Pune, Maharashtra 2. Pune Vipassana Kendra, Markal, Dist. Pune, Maharashtra 3. Secondary School, Malegaon Kd., Dist. Pune, Maharashtra 4. Deaf & Dumb School, Mohammadwadi, Dist. Pune, Maharashtra 5. Fr. Agnel ashram, Vadgaon Sheri, Pune, Maharashtra 6. Child Haven International, Kaliyampoondi, TamilNadu The results from these projects have been very encouraging. One such project is being described below. IX. Project For Maher Vadhu Bk. A public charitable Trust Maher expressed willingness to establish an integrated waste management system to manage all the waste generated in their
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premises at Vadhu Bk, Tal.Shirur, Dist. Pune. The institution provides shelter and development facilities for orphaned and deprived children. Further, it provides shelter and helps in overcoming family relationship problems of women. It also undertakes social service work in neighbouring villages. At present, there are about 200 inmates and staff members who are resident in the institution. The institution had been facing waste management problems. The issue was discussed with authorities of Maher. There was a general agreement that, establishing an Integrated Waste Management system for all the waste generated in their institution, will result in environmental improvements in the campus. X. Previous Waste Management Situation a) Management of human nightsoil was a positive problem. Five toilets with flushing system were provided in the buildings. All these toilets were connected to a common septic tank. However, due to initial faulty designing, the septic tank was located four feet above the toilet floor level. When this problem was noticed, a R.C.C. pipe septic tank was placed in the other direction. This tank had a very low capacity. As a result, raw nightsoil was coming out from the septic tank. This was a major public nuisance. The villagers were complaining about these conditions as the smell and dirt pervaded adjacent parts of the premises. b) Sullage water in the complex amounted to about 6000 litres per day. This originated from i. washing platform, ii. Utensil cleaning platform, iii. Kitchen waste water, iv. bathrooms. This sullage was laid to a soak pit of 4ft x 3ft size. This soak pit was obviously inadequate and the sullage overflowed from the soak pit. This overflow went to the neighbours farm and caused water logging in about two Gunthas of his land. Obviously he complained and threatened repeatedly. c) Non excretal solid waste (garbage) from the institution was being dumped in a heap. Part of it was getting scattered around the campus, some getting composted, and whatever remained was taken care of by nature. XI.Objectives-DOSIWAM System for Integrated Waste Management 1) Usually, waste management is thought of when waste material starts becoming a nuisance. During construction and planning stages, detailed thought is not given to the likely quantities of generated waste. Provisions are made only for carrying away human excreta and sullage water. Final treatment facilities are inadequate and haphazard or may be non-existent. This inadequacy is covered under the garb of paucity of funds. In this project, it was proposed to take a comprehensive review of generated waste in the campus in totality. The future probable expansion in
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the campus planning was kept in mind so as to allow the expansion of systems whenever necessary. 3) Hygienically oriented appropriate low cost process, to take care of all types of generated waste, leading to reuse and recycling were suggested. Thus, the campus was to be provided with an integrated total waste management system, so as to generate wealth from waste. 4) It was visualized that total management of mainly following types of waste viz. a) human excreta, b) nonexcretal sullage water c) nonexcretal solid garbage , will be considered. 5) Human nightsoil was to be collected without mixing it with sullage. It was to be anaerobically digested adequately, so that the effluent becomes hygienically safe. Biogas was to be recovered form digestion. It was to be used as fuel. 6) Initially, the overflows and waste water were flowing at random. It was to be ensured that this pollution is prevented. 7) Biogas plant effluent and sullage was to be recycled for gardening or kitchen garden. 8) Garbage was to be utilised to produce manure which can be used for kitchen garden. 9) The proposed technologies were planned to be appropriate in the given situation. These must be as low cost as possible. 10 Process was to be established in such a way that they were complementary to each other. XII.Establishing IntegratedWaste Management Syatem(DOSIWAM) For human nightsoil management, a) toilets were modified suitably b)flow from all the toilets was collected by laying a new pipeline inclusive of chambers. This nightsoil was laid to a nightsoil based biogas plant. The biogas generated in the plant has been led to a kitchen where it is used for cooking. Effluent from biogas plant has been combined with sullage from washing platform, utensil cleaning platform, kitchen and bathrooms. This sullage is carried forward through an intercepting chamber. Finally it is carried to a grease trap. The effluent from the grease trap is mixed with fresh water and is subsequently used for irrigating vegetable garden. Garbage from the institution is collected in vermicompost pits and vermicomposted. The end product in the form of manure is utilized in their vegetable garden as manure. With this kind of effluent management it was found that initial BOD was reduced from 300 to about 65, thus stabilizing wastewater. Use of stabilized sullage water and manure from vermicompost pits in the vegetable garden produces vegetables adequate for inmates in the institution. Thus, all the waste in the campus is fully recycled by way of complementary technologies. Thus, waste is converted to wealth. Now, not a drop of waste water nor a bit of garbage goes out from the campus. It is recycled hygienically and productively. XIII. Result From The Project
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DOSIWAM- MAHER, VADHU BK., PUNE, MAHARASHTRA.

The system has been operational for about eight years. The biogas is now used in the kitchen. With the use of fertilizer from vermicompost pits and the stabilized waste water obtained from the process, the institution is tending a vegetable and fruit garden. The produce from this garden meets the vegetable requirements of the institution. This project has been a successful demonstration of the concept of Integrated Waste Management. It has shown that the so called waste is not a throw away material with a nuisance. By using natural ecofriendly processes, the waste from growing human habitations can be converted to wealth in an environment friendly way by adopting suitable and appropriate technologies. The management can be effectively done in a sustainable way ON SITE in a decentralized manner by the use of low cost appropriate technologies. This could be one of the options for waste management for developing countries which have limited financial resources but abundant endowment of tropical climate.

VATSALYA DHAM, Manjri Kd., Pune, Maharashtra.

VATSALYA DHAM, Manjri Kd., Pune, Maharashtra.

Such systems have now been established at about 25 places (institutions) in the states of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Some of these institutions are in urban areas. Because of this system, connections to conventional sewerage systems in those cities were not availed of. The total waste is being managed and recycled within their campus. By utilizing the end products for horticultural activities within their campuses, such systems can also be very conveniently used in apartment buildings and leading to reduced waste management load on the local self
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government bodies. Such systems can be conveniently used in bungalows, with available open space for gardens. XIV. Potential For DOSIWAM - Integrated Waste Management System For Sustainable Development Of Rural Masses As stated earlier, improper sanitary conditions lead to ill health, resulting in obstacles in development process in the villages. The integrated waste management system, which has been described above, has the potential to lead the rural masses, through sanitation, to health, development, wealth and a life full of zest and vigour. ____________________________

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