With water conservation becoming more and more relevant, the younger generation has also got into the act. Two students have come out with an innovative wastewater discharge system in railway coaches and claim its adoption will cut down the use of water by 75 per cent.
M.I. Rizwan Jamal and S. Arunachalam, final-year students of Mechanical and Production Engineering at Sathyabama University, have named their project ‘Re-engineering of discharge system in Indian railway coaches'.
According to them, one of the major problems the country is facing is water shortage. Hence, it is imperative that water is conserved as much as possible. They point out that a substantial quantum of water is used in rail coaches, and “it is definitely possible to save considerable quantity”.
They came up with an innovative idea and did the project work at the Integral Coach Factory, Perambur, from September 20 to October 15 last year.
The project is to introduce a new chamber on top of the bio-toilet system and have reverse osmosis (RO) filters inside the tanks.
Their project assumes significance in the context of railway authorities' decision to have bio-toilets in coaches. [Former Railways Minister Dinesh Trivedi, while presenting the railway budget, had said that bio-toilets developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation were under extended trial.]
“A major share of water used by passengers is from wash basins. We have attached a new pipe, which connects all three wash basins in each compartment through which water is collected in the RO tank.” The water saved in the tank will be recycled through the process of reverse osmosis and sent to the upper tank where it can be used for flushing.
The coupling of the RO tank with the bio-toilet system will be more beneficial and can make the system very effective, compared to the present duct line system. The students are confident that the project will ensure more eco-friendly railway stations.
Keywords: conservation, water conservation
This can not only be used for Trains. It can also be used for armed services where army camps at remote places with minimal or no water sources near by. Simple idea , great innovation. good work.
For using the wash water for flushing, why do you need an RO system? A simple filtration system is adequate. The RO is required only if the water is to be reused for washing.
Great to see such minds providing simple solutions. Hope more such projects are encouraged.
Good project, but running train is not good ideas to start. At present train washbasin
and toilets are not maintained properly and sure they not going improve, as it
depend on state and stations employee. May bus terminus, airport!
I couldn't understand looking at the associated diagram though. Was it
too support understanding, or just for being there?
This outstanding stuff. Hearty Congrats to Rizwan Jamal and Arunachalam for working out these innovative measures. The Railway authorities should study these measures in detail and should not hesitate in implementing them!!!!!
Great Idea! My suggestion to the designers to extrapolate this idea suitable for commercial buildings in metros. Recycled Wash basin water can be used for toilet. Govt should make a law to make it mandatory for Cineplexes and shopping malls, who have the manpower and money to maintain them. Cash rewards and discounts in water bills can be offered by Civic administrators. Good work Young Men!
The idea is very good indeed.But as the focus is on water conservation
we should conserve rain water first. Only this can solve our major
problem.
"The project is to introduce a new chamber on top of the bio-toilet system and have reverse osmosis (RO) filters inside the tanks".
Is it cost effective?
and what will be the time period, in which the reused water will
be discharged from the train after excessive use or contamination....?
Nice project, But it will work on basis of railway Dept only.Because i have not seen such a train that was not leaking water in toilet in train coaches.In AC coaches also they are not maintaining well.If they maintain all this basic things properly then railway can save 50% of water.
This is OK and I do not want to minimize the contributions from "fertile
mind," but, my concern is the cost. How much does it going to cost the government, if implemented? How about sustainability? Many of the
great discoveries falls by the way side because of the two issues I have
raised. Reverse osmosis technology is affordable for small population
based countries (Israel, Australia). But for cash strapped and big
population it will be too much India!
Indeed it's a noble idea especially in the respect it has been put
forward.however the key point is it's feasibility with the Indian
railway which need to undertake a lot of moderation before coupling this
project with the bio-toilets. moreover maintenance part and cost is
another constrain to it's implementation. any way if it is not given
place in the railway system it will find it's applicability in some
other area.
Good Project,if it not suits the trains, I hope it would definitely suit for the tall raise buildings or for water scarce areas ...Rizwan and Arunachalam, please go ahead with your ideas....
stop not until the goal is reached....
It is indeed a thoughtful idea for conservation of water. At the same time, even at least
starting now, Railways should make it mandatory for their yard staff and mechanical staff
and inspectors of coaches for checking leaks (which is almost in every toilet flushes of
coaches uniformly in all classes. Like the fact that every drop of water makes a tonne. Will
Railways give a serious thought to this? Leaks are not only in toilets but also in platform
taps. Time all these are rectified and periodical checks for platform taps and daily checks in
the yard for each and every train.
Great idea. If conservation is the idea, let the Railways fix the leaking filling taps and leaking other utility taps first. A visit to any railway station, one can notice many leaking taps with running water (or with no water). This fix is likely to save 50% of total water pumped and in turn the electricity used to pump the water.
Congratulations to Arunachalam and Jamal of Sathyabhama University, Chennai.
Hope, this innovation put into operation in railways, will reduce water wastage . Most of the time railway toilets go without water due to wastage and it causes inconvenience to passengers occupying the seats/berths near the toilets.
very good idea indeed. The cost part needs to be highlighted. If
economical, the same can be implemented in other areas such as
offices and other such places having mass water wastage, as well.
Fine. Good to have it as engg project at school. In reality, simple fans are non functional - bcz of inferior items and our culture of maintenance staff. This Recycling system appears to have too many items and are hidden; I don't think the railway authority will be able to make it working, even for a week. Now-a-days, the coaches are structurally integrated only by means of 'pop-rivets' and horribly welded (skins) plates - such is the quality of maintenance. Let them first implement Dinesh's bio-toilets, at least now (hope Mamta will not object).
This will work very well, but how long before the maintenance systems are put in place? How can we make sure the Railways will maintain these units? One can imagine the horrors if they are neglected after installation, as I am willing to bet they will be.
This is really going to save 60-70% of water.But we have other basic hygienic issues like people even do not flush after using toilet.
Excellent work. Government should encourage this kind of eco friendly
project to save energy and motivate our younger generation.
Please Email the Editor