Visit to RIICO Sewage Treatment Plant, Jaipur

Name of the Department: Environmental Science

Date: 22.03.2024

Venue: RIICO STP, Taruchhaya Nagar, Jaipur

No. of Participants: 15

The objective of the Event: To provide undergraduate and postgraduate students from the Department of Environmental Science at IIS (Deemed to be University) Jaipur with practical insights into wastewater treatment processes and operations. The visit aimed to enhance their understanding of SBR technology and its application in addressing environmental challenges.

Description:

On the occasion of World Water Day, the Department of Environmental Science organized a one-day educational visit to the RIICO Sewage Treatment Plant, Jaipur for undergraduate and postgraduate students. On March 22, 2024, a group comprising 15 undergraduate and postgraduate students, accompanied by Dr. Ashish Tambi, Sr. Assistant Professor, visited the RIICO STP. The RIICO Sewage Treatment Plant is a 100 MLD capacity plant based on Sequential Batch Reactor Technology popularly known as SBR Technology discharging its effluent into Dravyawati River, Jaipur. M/S TATA Projects Ltd., SUCG Consortium, manages this sewage treatment plant and the complete operation of the SBR basin/reactor is controlled automatically through the PLC system. All key functions are automatically controlled along with data logging. Complete historical records of plant operation are available on the SCADA system.

Upon arrival, Mr. Tariq Anwar, the plant manager, welcomed the students and commenced the session with a comprehensive overview of the plant's functioning and processes. He elucidated the sequential batch reactor technology employed at the facility, highlighting its efficiency in treating wastewater through sequential phases of fill, aerate, settle, and decant. Following the introductory session, the students were guided on a tour of the plant, where they observed the various stages of the treatment process firsthand. They gained insights into the working operation of the grit chamber, screening unit, primary and secondary treatment basin, sludge thickener unit and disinfection unit operations. This practical exposure provided valuable insights into the operational aspects of wastewater treatment facilities and the significance of adhering to environmental regulations.

At the end, the students visited the laboratory where the wastewater samples are tested on a routine basis to check the efficiency of the plant in terms of maintaining the effluent standards for inland wastewater discharge set by MOEFCC. Mr. Sudhir Singh, Chemist, RIICO STP laboratory, elucidated the importance of monitoring parameters such as biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), pH, turbidity, nitrate nitrogen, coliform count, sludge volume index, residual chlorine, and total suspended solids (TSS), etc. to assess the effectiveness of the treatment process and ensure compliance with regulatory standards. The visit ended after having an interactive question/answer session with the STP manager who responds to all the queries of the students.

The outcome of the event: The visit to the SBR-based STP proved to be highly educational and enriching for the students of IIS (Deemed to be University) Jaipur. They gained practical insights into wastewater treatment processes, particularly the application of sequential batch reactor technology. The interaction with industry experts and plant personnel provided valuable real-world perspectives, complementing their theoretical knowledge acquired in the classroom. The exposure to laboratory analysis procedures further enhanced their understanding of water quality parameters and the importance of monitoring in ensuring environmental sustainability.

Overall, the visit facilitated a deeper understanding of wastewater treatment methodologies and instilled a sense of responsibility towards environmental conservation among the students, empowering them to contribute meaningfully to addressing environmental challenges in their future endeavours.