Jakkur Lake: A Potential Model For Urban Water Sustainability

Jakkur Lake: a potential model for urban
water sustainability
With all the disappointing stories of Bangalore’s disappearing lakes, Jakkur Lake is a shining
example of how urban water can be managed sustainably.
Jakkur Lake sits nestled behind the bustling Hebbal Highway that leads to Devanahalli
International Airport. A pristine, quiet spot of nature in the midst of Bangalore, this lake stands
testimony to the potential that exists to manage urban water sustainably, and in an integrated
manner.
Jakkur Lake was fenced and developed by the Bangalore Development Authority
(BDA) a few years ago. The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board
(BWSSB) then set up a Wastewater Treatment Plant upstream of Jakkur Lake,
with the capacity to treat 10 million litres per day (MLD) of wastewater. The
operation and maintenance of the plant is managed by a private company, on
contract with the BWSSB.
BWSSB Sewage Treatment Plant at Jakkur, Bangalore
In spite of a capacity of 10 MLD, the plant treats only about 6 MLD on average,
when it is functioning. Sewage from neighbouring Yelahanka is brought here,
while sewage from Jakkur itself is not treated here. A lot of the buildings in
Jakkur are high rises, with their own Sewage Treatment Plants. It is doubtful
whether they are even aware of the BWSSB Sewage Treatment Plant upstream
of the lake. If citizens and the utility communicated with each other, Jakkur could
become a closed loop of integrated urban water management in the very heart
of Bangalore city.
Currently, the way the system works is that raw sewage is pumped in to the plant, and the solid
waste is separated from the liquid waste.
Solid and liquid waste being separated
The liquid waste is then treated at the anaerobic wastewater treatment plant.
Standing on top of the plant, its sheer size is a sight to behold.

To the right of the plant is a constructed man-made wetland, into which the
treated wastewater is diverted. This wetland further purifies the treated
wastewater through natural processes, before letting the water flow into the
main Jakkur Lake.
Wetland
The lake itself has become a hotspot for biodiversity, attracting birds and hosting
a variety of plants. During peak fishing season, fishermen haul in up to 500 kgs.
of fish daily – an astounding achievement for a lake in the middle of a bustling
metropolis like Bangalore. The fact that people are making a living off an urban
lake is truly an achievement, and a step towards reestablishing our connection
to water.
Fishing at Jakkur Lake
There is still some way to go for Jakkur Lake to become a sustainable model for
urban water management. There are several private borewells on the boundary
of the lake, all extracting groundwater in an unregulated fashion. One borewell
is known to extract groundwater and sell it as tanker water to parts of the city
that do not get municipal water supply. Buildings around the lake are getting
their water supply from borewells on the boundaries of the lake, which depletes
the groundwater.
If these buildings tie their water supply and wastewater to the lake, they would not need to
extract groundwater from borewells. The surrounding buildings should send their wastewater to
this treatment plant, where it can be let into the lake. Instead of bringing wastewater (that too,
periodically and erratically) from neighbouring Yelahanka, the waste from Jakkur itself can be
brought to this plant, treated and then let into the lake. This cycle would ensure that the lake is
full even in the dry summer months.
On the consumption end, they can augment their water supply from the lake as the water is
perfectly fit for domestic use. Thus it becomes an end-to-end solution for the area – what sector
people call Integrated Urban Water Management.
Design of wastewater treatment plant and comparison of efficiency between Mylasandra
and
V-Valley treatment plants in Bangalore urban District have been analysed for designing
of better
efficient treatmemt plant. Both the treatment plants have been compared and analysed.
The
results indicates that V-Valley treatment plant is of greater efficiency than that of the
mylasandra
treatment plant. Thereby we are of the opinion that the attatched growth process which
has been
employed in the V-Valley treatment plant is more efficient as of the suspended growth
process
in Mylasandra after comparing its various parameters such as pH, Bio-chemical Oxygen
Demand(BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand(COD), Total Suspended Solids(TSS) and
Dissolved
Oxygen(DO). We have designed a more effective and efficient treatment plant with units
capable
of treating more capacity of wastewater at an even more efficient rate.
Wastewater is water that has already been used, either for domestic purposes in our toilets,
baths, kitchens, and gardens, or for industrial processes, such as in production or
manufacturing. All wastewater should be properly treated and disposed, however when
treated for reuse, it can reduce our overwhelming demand for fresh water. Wastewater
treated to high standards can even be used to replenish surface water and groundwater
and recharge aquifers. Domestic wastewater – untreated or partially treated – is used in
irrigation. If health and environment risks are managed well even this can be an intelligent
way to reuse wastewater and nutrients in the wastewater. Without treatment, wastewater
is lost to us, and it contaminates other water sources, damaging both public health and the
natural ecosystem. This is why, water once taken from a source should be treated before it
is returned
Although established in many countries, wastewater reuse is still in a nascent stage in

India. Treated wastewater is most commonly used for non-potable purposes. For
example, Singapore treats its wastewater to standards so high that the quality of
treated water is as good as that of fresh water from catchment lakes; treated water is
then supplied to industries. However in places where water is scarce, such as in
Windhoek, Namibia, it is the main source of potable water. In India, our capacity to
treat sewage is low as we have a low coverage of underground sewerage to transport
wastewater and low number of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs). Only 2% towns in
the country have both these facilities. Overall, there is capacity to treat only about
37% of the 62 billion litres of sewage generated daily by urban India.
While sewage treatment “infrastructure” is implemented at the level of towns and

cities, it is also common to find STPs at community levels – i.e., at apartment, layout,
business campus or institutional campus scales. Wastewater treatment and reuse
systems can be designed and implemented even at the individual household level if
planned well.
Treating wastewater in India

There are three major stages in wastewater treatment – primary, secondary and
tertiary. Raw sewage is first subjected to preliminary treatment where it is strained to
remove large objects. Primary treatment is the process wherein sludge settles by
sedimentation, and all floating material like oil is skimmed off from the surface. This
produces a somewhat homogenous liquid, which then undergoes secondary treatment.
In this stage, aerobic or anaerobic bacteria feed on organic matter, thus removing most
of it. After this, if necessary, the water can be disinfected through chlorination which
will kill off microorganisms. Secondary treated water can be used for non-potable
purposes like toilet-flushing and gardening.
Tertiary treatment involves more advanced processes like reverse osmosis (RO) and
demineralisation. Dissolved solids and nutrients get further removed during these
processes. Depending on the grade of tertiary treatment, recycled water can be used
for drinking, as coolant in industries, or in precision industries like electronics.
The most common sewage treatment method used in India is Activated Sludge
Process (ASP), which had been invented in England over a century ago. ASP mainly
reduces BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand), fecal coliform level, turbidity
etc. Extended Aeration, Sequential Batch Reactor (SBR) and Upflow Anaerobic
Sludge Blanket Reactor (UASB) are some other conventional treatment technologies.
These are mostly variations of ASP itself.
Wastewater treatment technologies are typically selected depending on the quality of

raw sewage, and the purpose for which it will be reused. For example, Extended
Aeration is better suited for treating low sewage loads, and is often used in apartment
complexes and residential areas. SBR, on the other hand, can better remove nutrients
like nitrogen from sewage, which will allow treated water to be directly let out into
lakes.
Conventional methods of wastewater treatment are energy-intensive. Their operation

and maintenance is usually complex and requires full-time technical personnel. The
availability of spare parts and chemicals is also sometimes a problem. Most
conventional STPs do not function as intended owing to improper design, poor
maintenance, frequent power cuts and lack of technical manpower. Therefore
ensuring these aspects do not go wrong becomes very important.
New treatment processes that follow natural processes are starting to become more
popular. These technologies do not require as much maintenance requiring less skill to
operate and manage as in conventional STPs.
Soil Biotechnology (SBT), Phytorid, and Decentralised Water Treatment Systems
(DEWATS) are examples of unconventional STPs. These technologies mimic natural
treatment processes. For example, SBT uses soil, and Phytorid technology uses some
specific plants, to treat wastewater.
Regulation and Standards

Polluting industries and big apartments are mandated to treat the wastewater they
generate. If they don’t, the Pollution Control Board (PCB) of their state can take
action against them. State PCBs enforce the treated water standards that
are notified by CPCB. The current standard includes seven parameters – pH, BOD
(Biological Oxygen Demand), COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand), TSS (Total
Suspended Solids), ammonia nitrogen, total nitrogen and fecal coliform. The standard
should be followed whether the effluent is released into land or into a water resource.
In Indian cities, secondary treatment plants are most common, and treated water from
these facilities are let out into lakes and rivers. Bangalore has the highest number of
apartments that treat sewage, most of which use at least some of the treated water for
toilet-flushing and gardening. There are only a handful of tertiary treatment plants in
the country that supply water to industries. One such plant is in Yelahanka, Bangalore,
with capacity of 10 MLD (Million Litres per Day), operated by the Bangalore Water
Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB).
Currently, Bangalore generates 1400 MLD wastewater, as per BWSSB’s conservative
estimates. The city has total treatment capacity of 721 MLD, but only 520 MLD gets
treated on average. Here is a map of the existing and proposed STPs by
BWSSB/BBMP in Bangalore.

Jakkur Lake: A Potential Model For Urban Water Sustainability

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Jakkur Lake: A Potential Model For Urban Water Sustainability

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Jakkur Lake: A Potential Model For Urban Water Sustainability

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Jakkur Lake: a potential model for urban

BWSSB Sewage Treatment Plant at Jakkur, Bangalore

Solid and liquid waste being separated

Although established in many countries, wastewater reuse is still in a nascent stage in

While sewage treatment “infrastructure” is implemented at the level of towns and

Treating wastewater in India

Wastewater treatment technologies are typically selected depending on the quality of

Conventional methods of wastewater treatment are energy-intensive. Their operation

Regulation and Standards

You might also like

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.