Frequently AskedQuestions
Constructed Soil Filter (CSF) alias Soil Biotechnology (SBT) system is the indigenously developed technology by Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (US and Indian patent) and is covered by US patent. It is based on bioconversion process where fundamental actions of nature namely, respiration, mineral weathering, and photosynthesis are brought about in a controlled media containing selected micro and macro-organisms.
SBT is an oxygen supplying biological engine and so the process can treat all types of water – domestic, municipal & industrial. It has application mainly in the area of Municipal wastewater treatment and industrial wastewater treatment such as Dairy wastewater, Distillery wastewater, petroleum refinery waste, compost & landfill leachates, fishpond discharges, paper and pulp mills, and textile mills.
Yes, oxygen demanding waste can be treated using SBT system. We have demonstrated these systems for certain industrial effluent treament. However, a treatability study is generally carried out for specific industrial effluent.
Generally the payback period ranges between 1.5-3.0 years; hence makes the project feasible.
Typical space requirement would be 1.5-2.5 m2/m3 for Sewage recycling and 0.7-1.0 m2/m3 for grey water recycling.
It can take septic tank effluent along with grey water and treat them in the same system.
SBT output water satisfies WHO requirements for wastewater reuse such as gardening, construction, street sweeping, cooling water, groundwater recharge (after chemical disinfection) etc.
The whole purification is achieved in single pass without any chemical mess. It gives output water quality comparable to international standards in 0.5-2.0 hr of operation. What it required is only mechanical pump to lift water from source. It generates no bio sludge as compared to the conventional technologies. The biogeochemistry of the system generates its own oxygen for water purification in contrast to mechanical aeration in conventional system. Running cost of SBT plants are far lower and some times are non existent. Absence of foul odours and green ambience adds to its acceptability by the end users. It does not require very skilled personnel to operate them.
No. Media used in the filter has special biogeochemistry and has a minimum life span of 25 year for the desired hydraulic and organic loading.
SBT media, additive, culture & green aesthatic are the main ingradient of SBT system of wastewater purification. In addition it has distribution grid, mechanical pumps, & control panel.
O &M of pumps & pipes: All pumps should be running daily to ascertain maintenance requirements. All monitors & alarms should be checked daily. All pipe ports should be maintained daily to ensure that water flows out of all the ports. All valves & fittings should be checked and where faulty should be restored. Bioreactor: The top surface should be scrapped weekly/monthly as necessary and the solids should be disposed. The top surface additives should be replenished periodically once say every 12 weeks. This activity can be avaoided by adapting raw water tank to sedimentation tank. Plantation: The plantation on the bioreactor and surroundings should be regularly watered pruned, and provided with manure as required.
