IIT-M's low-cost water recycler eyes households

The current system used for water treatment is bulky and more suitable for industrial applications. The mini water treatment plant, named Decanter, will process domestic effluents, like water drained from kitchen, bathroom, solid and liquid waste from toilets using a modern water treatment process. The treated water is sent back into the flush tank for reuse in all household cleaning purposes (including clothes, vessels and more). 

The process involves collection of water from various domestic sources, after which it undergoes centrifugation. Following this, the water is purified through a process called electro coagulation. 

Gaurav Lodha, Student Executive Head, Centre for Innovation (CFI), IIT-M, who is in his final year of Civil Engineering, said, “It will be a boon for regions where water supply is insufficient and people are compelled to buy water. This kit (tentatively priced at Rs 15K for the market) is equipped with all modern sewage treatment processes and is encased in a box the size of an A/C.” 

A common man needs 150 ltrs of water per day, of which 40 litres is used for flushing. Claiming that in Chennai, private players charge up to Rs 2,400 for 20,000 litres of water, Gaurav said a family of four ends up paying Rs 7,000 every year, just to meet the cost of water used for flushing toilets (at 40 ltrs per person per day). He adds, “Instead of buying this water, one could opt for Decanter, which could help save money, besides being a sustainable solution to the water crisis.”