Chengalpattu village reaps benefits from IIT-M's clean water programme

CHENNAI: An IIT Madras initiative to improve drinking water safety and waste management in a Tamil Nadu village has reported measurable gains, with 78.3 per cent of surveyed residents segregating household waste and all surveyed school students and primary health centre visitors using treated water.

Implemented in Vallipuram village panchayat in Chengalpattu under the institute's AquaMAP Centre's Clean and Healthy Village Development Programme, the project was handed over to the panchayat on Wednesday. It received funding from the Lien Foundation, Singapore, through Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore.

Vallipuram has around 2,000 residents across four hamlets and six wards. The intervention directly benefited over 350 people through facilities at two government schools and a primary health centre (PHC), which also serves residents of 14 neighbouring villages.

Three decentralised drinking water treatment facilities were established at the Government Primary School, Government High School and PHC. The schools use ultrafiltration and ultraviolet treatment, while the PHC has reverse osmosis and UV systems.

Internet of Things-enabled sensors installed on five water tanks and the treatment systems monitor water flow, pH, turbidity and total dissolved solids, allowing remote monitoring through an application. Laboratory testing and sensor calibration support the system.

The initiative also introduced a battery-powered waste collection vehicle and a facility to recover recyclable waste and compost organic material. Awareness campaigns promoted household segregation, reduced plastic use and discouraged waste burning.

The impact assessment found that 83.33 per cent of surveyed residents reported not burning non-biodegradable plastic. In a school-led initiative, students collected 300 kg of non-biodegradable waste in two days.

All surveyed students and PHC visitors reported using the treated water.
"The difference before and after their intervention is remarkable," said Vallipuram panchayat president Sobiya Amul Parthasarathy, crediting the project with improving drinking water access and waste management.
AquaMAP coordinators Professors Ligy Philip and BS Murty said the initiative could be replicated elsewhere. Following the handover, the panchayat will be responsible for maintaining the facilities, monitoring water quality and sustaining community participation.