Application of the NaWaTech safety and O&M planning approach for resources-oriented wastewater treatment systems in Pune, India

Not only due to a lack of infrastructure such as treatment plants, but also because the majority of existing treatment plants are showing poor or very poor operating conditions and fail to meet their performance targets, India faces increasing water shortage and degradation of fresh water resources. The paper gives an overview on the methodology of a safety, operation and maintenance (O&M) planning approach developed and implemented for supporting sustainable long-term operation of wastewater treatment systems. The implementation of the methodology is shown for pilot installations of technical treatment technologies (SBR and MBR) at Amanora Park Town and natural treatment technologies (anaerobic systems in combination with vertical flow constructed wetlands) at the College of Engineering Pune (COEP) Hostel Campus, Pune, India. At both sites, domestic wastewater is treated to be re-used for toilet flushing and irrigation with the aim to reduce overall water consumption. Critical control and monitoring activities to be integrated and prioritized in day-to-day operation and maintenance of the systems in order to assure system safety are identified.