A new wastewater treatment plant opened recently in a village in Punjab’s Patiala district uses a unique method devised to treat, recycle and reuse wastewater.

Seechewal Model

• The plant in the village of Patiala aims to achieve the following objective using the ‘Seechewal Model’ of wastewater management:

1. Recycling and reusing the treated wastewater for irrigation
2. Preventing further contamination of groundwater

• The model is a pipe-and-pump formula used to remove heavy solid particles, oil and other material from water.
• It was introduced by Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal and was first used in Seechewal, Punjab.
• The project aims to implement a combination of processes through four-well systems of wastewater treatment for reuse apart from human consumption.
• The water wells need to be cleaned regularly; otherwise, they produce extremely poor effluents with high suspended solids, which can be detrimental to the constructed wetland and cause clogging of beds.
• To ensure continuous and effective operation, the accumulated material must be emptied periodically.

Benefits  offered

• The project will reduce the usage of freshwater by providing an option of treated water to farmers. It will aim at water sustainability with appropriate technologies of water recycle-reuse-recharge.”
• The project has engaged, empowered and evolved community sustained processes for water management and strengthened community collectives.

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