An Eco-friendly Wastewater Treatment Solution

Jalopchar™ is an innovative and environmentally sustainable technology designed for wastewater treatment. Unlike conventional sewage treatment plants (STPs) that rely on aerators and chemicals, Jalopchar™ leverages the natural pollutant removal abilities of specific hyper-accumulative wetland plants and native microorganisms. This approach not only minimizes the need for external inputs but also enhances the overall efficiency of pollutant removal.

About the technology

Jalopchar™ operates on the principle of Plant-Microbe-Media Interactions. The system utilizes emergent macrophytes like Typha latifolia, Arundo donax, Phragmites karka, and others, which work in synergy with microbes and porous media to form biofilms. These biofilms aid in the immobilization and mobilization of pollutants, facilitating their uptake by the plants. Pollutants are effectively removed through a combination of plant uptake, microbial activity, and media filtration. This process is enhanced by the plants' ability to transport oxygen to the root zone and release organic compounds that support microbial life. The entire system functions as an artificial bio-filtration unit, where adsorption, microbial degradation, and sequestration occur efficiently within the stratified media and root zones.

Advantages:
Eco-friendly: The system eliminates the need for chemicals and external microorganisms, making it a green alternative to conventional STPs.
Energy-efficient: The process is low-energy and does not generate sludge, reducing operational and maintenance burdens.
Clogging-resistant: The design addresses clogging issues common in subsurface flow wetlands by ensuring uniform distribution of wastewater and incorporating features to manage solid waste.

Applications:

Urban and Rural Sewage Treatment: Jalopchar™ is adaptable to both urban and rural settings, providing an eco-friendly solution for treating domestic and community wastewater. The technology is designed to handle various pollutant loads, ensuring high removal rates for BOD, pathogens, nitrates, phosphates, and heavy metals.
Rainwater Harvesting Integration: The technology can be integrated with rainwater harvesting systems to treat both rainwater and wastewater, optimizing the use of water resources and reducing the demand for freshwater supplies.
Household-Level Wastewater Treatment: Jalopchar™ can be scaled down to treat wastewater at the household level, particularly in rural areas. This application provides a low-maintenance, cost-effective solution for individual households, reducing dependence on centralized treatment systems.

Project Implementation:

IARI Experimental Farm, New Delhi: A 2.2 million liters per day community-scale sewage treatment plant, a 50,000 liters per day rainwater harvesting and wastewater treatment combo system, and a 1,500 liters per day household-level system. These projects showcase Jalopchar™'s scalability and effectiveness in diverse applications, from large-scale community use to individual households.
Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Village, Farah, Mathura: A 75,000 liters per day rural sewage treatment facility designed to address the needs of rural communities. This project demonstrates the adaptability of Jalopchar™ to different environmental conditions and its potential to provide sustainable wastewater treatment in remote areas.
All India Women’s Conference, New Delhi: A 50,000 liters per day urban sewage treatment facility. This project highlights Jalopchar™'s ability to provide an eco-friendly wastewater treatment solution in dense urban environments with high pollutant loads.
Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, Kansiram Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, and Palwal, Haryana: Two 100,000 liters per day sewage treatment facilities serving residential schools. These projects underscore the technology's capability to handle variable wastewater loads while maintaining high removal efficiencies.
ICAR-CAZRI, Jodhpur, Rajasthan: A 100,000 liters per day sewage treatment plant at a research institute, demonstrating Jalopchar™'s suitability for institutional applications and its role in supporting sustainable research environments.

The technology has demonstrated high efficiency in removing pollutants

Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD): 78-88% reduction.
Turbidity and Pathogens: 90-99% reduction.
Nitrates and Phosphates: 30-57% reduction.
Heavy Metals: 57-100% reduction.
Jalopchar™ stands out as a sustainable and efficient solution for wastewater treatment, offering significant environmental and operational advantages over traditional methods.