NGO installs biodigester septic tank at Kalpathy

The initiative comes in the wake of a recent detection of a high amount of coliform bacteria in the Kalpathy river

The Friends of Bharathapuzha (FoB), a non-government organisation headed by Metroman E. Sreedharan, has replaced the conventional septic tank being used by the comfort station near the main temple at Kalpathy.

The FoB initiative came in the wake of a recent detection of a high amount of coliform bacteria in the Kalpathy river, which is being used for washing and bathing by a large number of people.

Mr. Sreedharan and his team spent ₹12.5 lakh from the corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds provided by Cochin Shipyard for replacement of the existing septic tank at Kalpathy. An FoB study had found that the water leaked from the septic tank was polluting the river.

The FoB used the biodigester system to replace the conventional septic tank near Kundambalam at Kalpathy. “Biodigester is eco-friendly where fecal waste is converted into water and methane gas and this water is further treated and recycled to be used for flushing in the toilets, thus avoiding earlier system in which it used to leach into river,” said V.L. Natarajan, FoB joint coordinator.

The system consists of a sealed chamber where bacteria breaks down organic waste matter in an oxygen-free environment. The processes inside the bio septic tank produce biogas, usable water, and occasionally bio-fertiliser.

The biodigester septic tank is based on a natural process called anaerobic digestion. Bacteria in the tank break down organic waste matter into a series of chemical elements through a chain of chemical reactions until all one gets is methane (commonly known as biogas), carbon dioxide and water.

Samudra Shipping has offered the technology for the new septic tank. FoB officials formally handed over the tank to the municipal authorities here on Friday.