Naveed Ahmed

The Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA) will utilize state-of-the-art biotechnology to treat the wastewater disposed of by industries, municipalities, and agricultural activities at different locations along the banks of the Ravi River. Hazardous waste threatens water supply and health of a sizable number of people in Lahore, reports WealthPK.

According to the RUDA's report on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the Ravi River, water flow is extremely low (1500-2000 cusecs) throughout the year, except for monsoons. Owing to the low water flow and anthropogenic activities, the water is contaminated. Therefore, treating contamination in the river is imperative to maintain sustainable water resources and protect the ecosystem.

A RUDA official told WealthPK that wastewater from different nullahs discharged into the river will be treated at multiple locations to reduce contamination in the river. After treatment, the plants will discharge clean water into an artificial lake spanning an area of 46km acquired by the RUDA. Barrages will also be constructed on the lake to control the discharge of clear water into the river.

The project will have several benefits for the ecosystems; it will reduce the health costs associated with using contaminated water, charge the underground water reservoirs, provide clean water for drinking and agricultural purposes, and enhance biodiversity in the area because of clean water availability.

According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), clean water reduces diarrhoea, malaria, and skin diseases. As a result, mortality, illness, and productivity losses will be reduced. The wastewater treatment of Ravi water is expected to provide health benefits worth $3.93 billion to $7.86 billion over the next 30 years.

The RUDA official said the organization had sought bids from the international companies for establishing wastewater treatment plants. BioCleaner, an American company, was selected and an MOU was signed for wastewater treatment.

Explaining the working of the treatment plants, the official said lift stations (massive containers) will be established at different locations, collecting nullah water to slow down the water flow. The wastewater will be cleansed by removing large pieces of solid contamination.

Moreover, the treatment plants will use microbes to clean the contaminated water. These microbes geometrically multiply every 20 minutes and eat industrial, agricultural, and sewage waste like nitrates, phosphates, and metals. The treatment plants will also use sludges to remove odour from water and clean 1100 cusecs of wastewater daily.

This process is highly cost-effective, as it requires less energy and chemicals for processing and provides a sustainable solution for water treatment. Additionally, the system will maintain acceptable levels of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) at 10ppm and ammonia less than 2ppm in treating wastewater as per the international clean water standards.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk