Launch first community water treatment plant

Kathmandu, September 10:

Suga Waste Water Treatment Plant at Madhyapur Thimi has proved to be a good model for the treatment of wastewater generated from the community within the community and keeping the rivers clean.

The treatment plant, constructed recently with the initiation of locals of Suga tole with the technical assistance from the Environment and Public Health Organisation (ENPHO) and financial assistance of the WaterAid of the UNHABITAT, is treating the wastewater generated from 100 buildings, including houses, a school and carpet factories.

The plant — the first community water treatment plant in the country — treats almost 50 cubic metres of water every day. The plant removes almost 95 per cent of harmful pollutants like BOD (biological oxygen demand), COD (chemical oxygen demand) and TSS (total suspended particles) from wastewater before it is emptied into the Siddhi Kali river and ultimately into the Hanumante river.

The presence of the BOD was over 900 mg per litre of water before the treatment, a report says, adding that the BOD presence has decreased to 30 mg following the treatment of wastewater.

According to the ENPHO, the treated water equates the national standard of wastewater, meaning it can be drained into natural source of water. The treatment plant not just removes physical, chemical and biological contamination, but also bad odour that fouls the whole surrounding environment.

Prajjwal Shrestha, programme manager, Water and Sanitation Unit at the ENPHO, said that the treatment plant has offered a good example to other communities to preserve rivers and environment.

“If people across the country become aware of the need to conserve the environment like the locals of Suga tole, we will be able to control river pollution to a great extent,” Shrestha said.