Ensuring Safe Faecal Sludge Management in Rural India

Disclaimer and Notice to Reader
The information provided in this book is designed to provide helpful information on the subject discussed.
The comments received during consultation will be considered during the final preparation of the
thematic resource book. The content, structure, form and wording of the consultation draft are subject
to change as a result of the consultation process and as a result of review, editing and correction by
MDWS.
The information contained herein is subject to change and does not commit MDWS for any factual error.
Preface
Swachh Bharat Mission has been able to achieve significant strides over the last 4 years by providing
underserved areas access to toilets and encouraging their sustainable use. More than 300 plus districts in
India are now ODF with a toilet coverage of nearly 79% in rural India. As we chart the course ahead for
SBM and increasing ODF coverage in India, it is an opportune moment to develop a comprehensive
framework for ODF sustainability and ODF plus activities, namely Solid and Liquid Resource Management
in rural areas. Organizing the solid and liquid resource management markets in rural areas will crowd in
investment from the private sector, and lead to long-term stable job growth in rural communities. With
appropriate policy nudges, these can be scaled up into opportunities for growth in rural India. This SLRM
draft document serves as a platform for building a rural SLRM implementation framework to various
stakeholders from districts and states across India. Each technological theme (plastics, menstrual health,
biodegradable waste, animal waste, grey water and fecal sludge) explored here addresses a particular
type of waste, the challenges present and recommends solutions for sustainable value generation.
With such strides in sanitation there is also a need to make census towns and rural areas in India capable
of managing their faecal waste. With the growing population sizes and increase in toilet coverage the issue
of management of faecal sludge will also become challenge overtime. It is imperative that along with on-
site sanitation systems there needs to be a parallel development of faecal sludge treatment options in
order to stop illegal and unsafe methods to dispose of faecal matter. In order to achieve this, innovative
and cost effective technologies are to be adopted, a robust regulatory and legal framework needs to be
in place and implemented and guidelines need to be issued for service providers and workers involved in
this area. Through this document MDWS aims to create a repository for FSM and bring forward various
policy frameworks, technologies and service agreements for census towns and rural areas.
MDWS would like to take cognizance of the support provided by various organizations, departments and
institutions for providing their valuable inputs on FSM practices in the country. The Ministry would
especially like to thank National Faecal Sludge and Septage Management Alliance (NFSSM), Indian
Institute of Technology – Delhi and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The Ministry would also like to
acknowledge KPMG and Dalberg who were principally involved in framing this document.
Contents
Disclaimer and Notice to Reader ................................................................................................... 1
Preface..................................................................................................................................... 2
Section 1: Background and Context................................................................................................ 4
1.1Need for Faecal Sludge Management .................................................................................... 4
1.2 Status of FSSM in Census Towns and Rural Areas: ................................................................... 5
1.3 Trends Over Time: ............................................................................................................. 6
Section 2: Policy, Legal, Regulatory and Possible Administrative Framework .......................................... 7
2.1 Current Legal Framework for FSSM ...................................................................................... 7
2.2 Policy Gaps.......................................................................................................................... 9
2.3 Funding and Financial Channels............................................................................................... 9
Section 3: Technology Options Available in India and Abroad for FSM .................................................10
Section 4: Service Value Chain: Service Level Agreements .................................................................18
4.1 Service Level Agreement Overview:.....................................................................................18
4.2 Overview of different operational models ............................................................................18
Section 5: Way Forward – Building a Roadmap for Census Towns and Rural FSM Implementation India .....22
Section 6: Case Studies for FSM....................................................................................................23
The Devanhalli Story ..............................................................................................................23
Periyanaickenpalayam Fecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP) .........................................................23
Section 7: IEC/SBCC note on Faecal Sludge Management ..................................................................25
FAQs .......................................................................................................................................30
Annexure 1: Draft Model Faecal Sludge Management Regulations ...................................................38
Annexure 2: EOI For Setting up Faecal Sludge and Septage Treatment Plants (FSTPs) in Andhra Pradesh63
Annexure 3: Status of FSTPs in India ............................................................................................. 0
Annexure 4: CPHEEO Standards for Disposal of Sludge .................................................................... 0
Section 1: Background and Context
According to Census 2011, out of the total of 1210.2 million
population in India, the size of the rural population is 833.1
million which constitutes 68.84% of the total population.
Since 2001 there has been an increase of 90.4 million in rural
areas with a growth rate of 12.18% during 2001-2011.1
Another development in the growth pattern is the rapid
increase of Census Towns (CTs). Between 2001 and 2011 CTs
grew from 1,362 to 3,894. This sudden increase in the
number of census towns has also highlighted the need for
sanitation in these areas.
Areas in urban India can be

Census town are classified into three types:
Small Towns (STs), Census
the areas which are
Towns (CTs) and outgrowths Source: Pradhan, K. 2012. ‘Unacknowledged Urbanisation:
not statutorily 2 Census town are the The New Census Towns of India’. CPR Urban Working
(OGs).
notified and areas which are not statutorily Map 1: District-wise Distribution of News CTs in India
administered as a notified and administered as a
town, but town, but nevertheless whose population has attained urban characteristics, has
nevertheless whose minimum population of 5000, atleast 75% of the male working population is engaged
population has in non-agriculture pursuits and a
attained urban density of population of atleast 400
characteristics but persons per sq.km. CTs are currently
are administered as administered as rural areas. The
rural areas. problem related to census towns is
that maximum septic tanks are
accumulated in this area. Since
census towns form the part of rural areas their septic tanks are not
treated by the existing treatment facilities in the urban region. As
there are no sewer lines which connect the toilets within census Table 1:Difference between Raw Sewage and
towns to the existing Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) in the nearby Faecal Sludge
area, faecal sludge generated by the septic tanks are collected and
disposed either in water bodies or open land. Therefore, census towns
are an important area for Faecal Sludge Management interventions,
including new systems as well as expansion, strengthening and upgrading
of existing STPs.
1.1Need for Faecal Sludge Management
Out of the 6 Crore toilets constructed in rural India 12 lakh have septic
tanks in 2017-2018. A similar situation exists with urban areas as well with
on-site pit latrines and septic tanks accounting for a substantial
proportion of toilets with over 47% of urban Indian households
dependent on onsite facilities (Census 2011) and this proportion is Figure 1: Toilets with Septic Tanks in Rural
increasing. A similar situation is present globally where it is reported that India Source: (SBM (G) Website
the sanitation needs of 2.7 billion people worldwide are served by onsite
sanitation technologies, and that number is expected to grow to 5 billion by 2030. In many cities, onsite technologies
1
Census of India 2011.Rural Urban Distribution of Population. http://censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-
results/paper2/data_files/india/Rural_Urban_ 2011.pdf
2
Pradhan, K. 2012. ‘Unacknowledged Urbanisation: The New Census Towns of India’. CPR Urban Working Paper
have much wider coverage than sewerage systems. For example, in Sub-
Saharan Africa, 65%-100% of sanitation access in urban areas is provided
through onsite technologies.3 A robust model for FSM needs to be developed Sewerage systems
in order to prevent health issues such as diarrhea, and also to avoid
contamination of water resources and groundwater.
are either absent at
census towns or
1.2 Status of FSSM in Census Towns and Rural Areas: dysfunctional. The
Proper management of accumulated faecal sludge poses a challenge with no available networks
formal mechanism in place. Faecal sludge comes from onsite sanitation
also have several
technologies, that has not been transported through a sewer. It is raw or
partially digested, a slurry or semisolid, and results from the collection, storage planning
or treatment of combinations of excreta and blackwater, with or without operational and
greywater. maintenance issues.
Table 2: Type of Sanitation Facility in CTs
Rural area can be

Percentage HH with Different
Type of % HH Kinds of Latrines within IHL divided into three
Settlement with IHL geographies; urban
Piped Septic growth areas- adjacent to the urban centers, census towns
Others
Sewer Tank
and villages. It appears that census towns and urban growth
ST 81.70% 35.90% 36.80% 27.30% areas mostly have septic tanks while majority of the
CT 77.90% 12.70% 56.60% 30.60% households in villages will have leach pits. Though Census
Source: Census of India, PCA and Houses & Household reports mentions septic tank but technically they are not
Amenities & Assets Tables more than excreta holding tanks. These tanks would require
cleaning at certain
A truck load of intervals depending on the size and type of
faecal sludge construction. The frequency of cleaning
varies as per the number of users and
dumped into
the
amount of excretion. In India,
environment is There is a big difference in existing status of the extent of surface
equivalent of the FSM operators in rural area compared to water pollution
urban area. In urban centers this although
5,000 people may be upto
the service providers are available, they are
practicing open
defecatio n!
often not recognized or licensed by the
competent authorities. In rural areas FSM 70 per cent
(India Infrastructure Report 2011)
operators are few in number due to low
Strande et al 2014
demand and also due to the difficulty faced
in operations due to scattered nature of
rural settlements.
Market for pit cleaning in rural areas
According to Census 2011, there are 11,639,610 households in 3860 census towns of which 45.6% households have
septic tanks that would require cleaning. Additionally, among the remaining villages in the country total rural
households is around 16,76,62,662 of which 15% of the households have septic tanks. Further, additional 20% toilets
that are in high water table or flood prone areas would require cleaning services. Therefore, the total market for the
cleaning services would be around INR 6.4 crore. If the cleaning frequency is considered at an average of 10 years,
then 64,00,000 households would require cleaning every year and that would amount to 17534 per day. On an
3
Strande, Linda, and Damir Brdjanovic, eds. Faecal sludge management: Systems approach for implementation and operation. IWA publishing,
2014.
average 1.5 trips are made for cleaning one septic tank that means total 26300 trips per day would be required. On
an average one mechanized tanker can make upto 3 trips per day that means around 8,766 tanker operators would
be required across the rural areas of the country for tank cleaning services.
1.3 Trends Over Time 4:
No / Limited access to tanks: Septic tanks are often placed under toilets, or are sealed, or cemented over, making it
difficult to access them for cleaning/ emptying which dis-incentivizes their frequent cleaning.
Inappropriate tank size & design: Septic tanks connected to individual toilets are often oversized due to lack of
awareness among construction contractors and masons about the design norms. These tanks often do not meet the
standards prescribed in the Indian Standard Codes (IS 2470 Part I, 1985) and the CPHEEO Manual. As a result, the
excreta never gets decomposed and hence the tank gets filled early leading households to go for emptying services
quickly, making it costly and polluting the environment.
Lack of infrastructure, and a regulated schedule for cleaning: Local bodies often face financial and personnel
constraints in providing service to households - for example, insufficient suction emptier trucks, trained human
resource, safety equipment, etc. to ensure regular cleaning/ emptying of septic tanks.
Lack of formal private players: The sector is dominated by informal small-scale contractors that lead to difficulty in
monitoring of the process that they follow for emptying and disposal. Domination by informal players also makes it
harder to institutionalize best practices and regulations, which prevents establishment of norms around scheduled
and safe cleaning.
Treatment and Disposal: Typically, census towns and rural areas have no funds for the construction of FSTPs, STPs,
and also there is no clear mandate which clearly defines the responsibility of local authorities with regard to
establishment of FSM service chain, all sewage is dumped without treatment into the rivers, while untreated sludge
and septage is disposed of in a dumping ground any or water body available.
Poor Awareness: Faecal Sludge and septage management has been accorded low priority among people and
implementers and there is poor awareness about its inherent linkages with public health.
Fragmented Institutional Roles and Responsibilities: There are considerable gaps and overlaps in institutional roles
and responsibilities at the national, state, and local government levels.
Lack of an Integrated Approach: Faecal Sludge and septage management investments are currently planned in a
piece-meal manner and do not take into account the full cycle of safe confinement, treatment and safe disposal.
Limited Technology Choices: Technologies for treatment and disposal are not environmental friendly, cost-effective,
and sustainable investments for safe management and disposal have not been thought off on a large scale.
4
Adapted from the National Policy on Faecal Sludge and Septage Management (FSSM). 2017. Ministry of Urban
Development
Section 2: Policy, Legal, Regulatory and Possible Administrative Framework
2.1 Current Legal Framework for FSSM
The National Urban Sanitation Policy (NUSP) of 2008 brought a paradigm

shift in India’s approach from ‘conventional centralized sewerage
No National policy for
network’ approach of urban sanitation to a more holistic approach As of
now, very few states such as Tamil Nadu and Gujarat (2014), Delhi (2015), Faecal Sludge
Odisha (2016) and Maharashtra (2016) have developed their septage Management in Census
management guidelines. Apart from that, Ministry of Urban Development Towns and Rural Areas
(MoUD) has recently released a primer on faecal sludge and septage
management (FSSM) as well as a Rapid Assessment Tool to estimate the
budget needs for FSSM.
Although there exists a National Policy on Faecal Sludge and Septage Management, however this is more geared
towards the urban landscape. At present there is an absence of a National policy for facecal sludge management for
rural areas. The responsibility for provision of sanitation facilities in the country primarily rests with states (as
sanitation being state subject) making local government bodies – municipalities or corporations in urban areas and
gram panchayats in rural areas responsible. The state and central governments act as facilitators.
With Swachh Bharat Mission (G) aiming at providing every HH with

sanitary household toilet facilities, it is expected that the quantum of
excreta containment systems in the rural areas are going to increase
significantly. Given this fact, it would be important to address the safe
containment, management and disposal of waste resources from
toilets. To address these challenges, there is a crucial need for
appropriate and adequate legal and regulatory provisions and also
examine whether the local governance institutions have the powers
and competence to bring about FSM, or in other words, to transform
existing sanitation practice into FSM.
Where are the legal controls and regulation required?
There are principally two aspects of legal control and regulation for
FSM: the first is with respect to households and owners of premises,
whose responsibility is to manage on-site containment. The second
aspect of this is the provision of de-sludging and transport and safe
disposal services. This could be through improved control and Figure 2: National Policy on FSSM
management of private sector operators, who currently provide de-
sludging services, and ensuring better integration with treatment
facilities and proper standards of service provision.
There is also a significant role for the state in the provision of treatment facilities. Where urban treatment facilities
are available within easy reach, state authorities could provide for a smooth interface for de-sludging service
providers to de-cant their load in these facilities. However, rural areas so far do not have treatment facilities, and
there may be need for developing such facilities to serve rural areas, if urban facilities are too far away or not able
to handle septage from neighbouring areas. There is a role for state and district authorities to support the
development of operational models for small-scale rural treatment facilities, which could be run by public or private
sector. Finally, there is also a need for a state-level mechanism to monitor the implementation of a time-bound
projects and to support inter-agency coordination.
Sources of power and functional competence: Laws
Some of the existing laws under which regulations can
A study conducted in Dakar, Senegal
be made for various aspects of FSM can be examined.
showed that HHs connected to OSSs paid
Environment laws five times more for FSM related activities
The environment laws include the Water (Prevention
and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 (the “Water Act”) when compared HHs who had a sewerage
and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (the connection.
“Environment Act”). Taken together, the implication of
the environment laws is that:
(1) discharge of any solid, liquid or other matter
into water bodies and on land is restricted, and requires specific prior approval;and
(2) depending on the type of discharge, and whether the discharge is on land or in water bodies, permissible
standards are prescribed.
However, the environment laws do not clearly specify who their subject is, and whether the same standards are
applicable to individuals and family units, and to institutions and multi-unit developments, and to municipal
corporations and water boards.
Laws for the Prohibition and Elimination of Manual Scavenging

The Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993 (the 1993 Act) was
supplemented by The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (the 2013
Act). Taken together, the two laws prohibit various activities that involve manual handling of human excreta (defined
as “manual scavenging”), and lay down conditions and safety standards for activities defined as “hazardous
cleaning”. The 2013 Act also requires the conversion of insanitary latrines into sanitary latrines within a period
stipulated by the local authority.
Panchayati Raj Laws 5

In terms of the Constitutional allocation of powers and functions, the State Government has legislative and
functional power over “public health and sanitation” (Article 246 and Article 162, read with the Seventh Schedule),
and further, these can be delegated to institutions of local self-government (Article 243G read with the Eleventh
Schedule, or the “73rd Amendment”).
The Fourteenth Finance Commission (FFC) identified “core functions” of PRIs, which include “sanitation, solid waste
management and drainage”. It is observed that most states have devolved some sanitation related activities to PRIs 6,
but that the legislative framework and devolution of real powers and functions was stronger in some states than in
others. Looking by way of illustration at the Karnataka Panchayat Raj Act, 1993, it is seen that village panchayats are
assigned a number of FSM related functions, which include the general function of “providing sanitation and proper
drainage” (Section 58), as well as the functions to prevent pollution of water sources and to take measures for the
preservation of water sources. Village Panchayats also have specific powers to require owners of premises to make
a covered cess pool on their properties (S. 100 and 104), to require owners to clean a cess pool or pit that is on their
own property (S. 87). Taluka Panchayats also have the specific responsibility of “acquiring land for locating manure
pits away from the dwelling houses in the villages”, and to assist Gram Panchayats by providing material support for
the “maintenance of multi-village solid and liquid waste management plants” and “to provide technical support to
Gram Panchayats” in matters relating to sanitation (Section 145 and Schedule II). At the top-most tier, District
Panchayats have the responsibility for “consolidation of district sanitation plans”, and for “providing essential
support Taluka and Gram Panchayats” in relation to sanitation. District Panchayats also have general powers for
“carrying out any work or measure likely to promote the health, safety, education, comfort, convenience” of the
inhabitants of the district (Section 191).
5
Please refer Panchayati Raj Act; Model Panchayat and Gram Swaraj Act for full details on sanitation in Panchayati Raj
6
Rural Local Body Core Functions and Finances: A Study for the Fourteenth Finance Commission, Centre for Policy Research, 2014. Author: TR
Raghunandan.
These provisions show that PRIs may already have the legal mandate to provide for most FSM related activities.
However if there are areas/activities for which there are no legal provisions, they can be formulated by the state
government. Following this, PRIs could for example:
(i) survey insanitary latrines, and monitor the setting up of on-site containment structures,
(ii) carry out mandatory ‘scheduled desludging’, and monitor regular and periodic desludging, and (iii)
(iii) enforce a licensing and monitoring regimen for septage transport services.
(iv) take up the responsibility of setting up faecal sludge treatment systems.
Need for transforming and controlling existing sanitation practice
In considering the scope for transformation and control of existing sanitation practice, there is a need to consider
whether there is adequate legal provision for: (1) on-site containment, and (2) septage transport services. It would
appear from review of laws that there is adequate legal power in the hands of the state government to mandate
and enforce on-site containment, but specific rules and regulations need to be issued in order for these powers to
be effective. Moreover, PRIs have a clear mandate to provide for sanitation, and could be entrusted with the task of
monitoring on-site sanitation, although this too requires specific directions and regulations to be issued. Similarly
rules and regulations for septage transport services using licensed operators and their monitoring need to be framed.
Administrative Provisions for Effective Implementation

It would be important to assess the available provisions and administrative structures to empower and delegate
responsibilities related to FSM under Swachch Bharat Mission Gramin (SBM-G) Guidelines with regard to
management of solid and liquid waste. Awareness generation around the need for FSSM and its impact on public
health at large, and organisation of FSSM service providers would also be crucial. Further, the financial allocation
requirements for uptake of FSM solutions by GPs should be re-looked at.
2.2 Policy Gaps

It would appear from this analysis that there are adequate provisions in existing legislation for FSM in rural areas.
However, it is worth noting that reference has largely been made to unused provisions in the laws. There is therefore
a pressing need for government orders, rules and regulations, and bye-laws to be made to empower the
implementing and enforcing agencies. It is in this regard not enough for state and national government to provide
guideline documents, but to add specific and enforceable substance to these unutilized legal provisions. From a legal
point of view, there is also a need to consider and understand various existing rules, regulations and bye-laws on
sanitation which will provide authority to state and local implementing agencies to take actions.
2.3 Funding and Financial Channels

One of the main element which prevents a robust model of FSM to develop is the associated financial complexity. A
financial model needs to be formulated which ensures financing for both capital and O&M expenditure over time.
The administrative setup in both Census Towns and Rural Areas are ill-equipped to fund FSM operations. A similar
situation also prevails among users of FSM services.
One way to remedy this situation is by carrying out an assessment of the various financial requirement right from
capital investment costs, O&M expenditures and tariff structuring required in order to make the system more
sustainable.
Funds for SLWM project under SBM (G) are provided by central and state governments, which if required, can be
supplemented by dovetailing funds from other programmes and sources like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural
Employment Guarantee Scheme(MGNREGS) where funds can be used for transport of waste. Other funding channels
can be - Member of Parliament Local Area Development scheme (MPLADS), Member of Legislative Assembly Local
Area Development scheme (MLALADS) funds, Finance Commission funds, Corporate Social Responsibility
contribution, Swachh Bharat Kosh (SBK), donor funding, programmes of other ministries and departments, non-
government organisations etc. Further, ensure fund availability maintenance costs for the first five years of
operation may be made part of the project cost.
Section 3: Technology Options Available in India and Abroad for FSM

An overview of treatment technologies, together with their treatment objectives and functionality, are included in
detail in this section. Immediate and intermediate solutions should be acceptable both under health and
environmental safety consideration.
Faecal Sludge and Septage Management (FSSM) Value Chain

FSSM Value Chain includes safe containment, safe emptying and transportation, treatment and disposal/reuse (refer
the diagram below). Each of these Value Chain components have to be addressed properly to prevent health and
environmental impacts due to indiscriminate disposal of hazardous faecal waste.
Figure 3: FSM Value Chain
Containment
Promoting an appropriate and area specific containment technology is vital. For example, while constructing septic
tank, CPHEEO norms7 should be followed. Leach Pit Latrines should not be promoted in shallow or water logging
areas. In case the existing containment structures do not meet the established standards of the government,
retrofitting options can be considered.
Safe Emptying and Transportation
As shown in the diagram above, while emptying any of the on-site sanitation systems, using safety protective gears,
and employing appropriate emptying devices such as vacuum equipment’s fitted trucks are very important to avoid
any human contact directly with faecal sludge. The following emptying/desludging equipment’s can be employed:
• Vacutug
• Vacuum truck
• Tractor mounted vacuum tanker
• Vacuum pump
• Gulper etc
Further, the transport trucks should be able to reach out to every house and the collection mechanism for
inaccessible toilets due to poor road access also needs to be considered during the preparation of the FSSM plan.
7
Manual on Sewerage and Sewage Treatment Systems. Part A: Engineering. Ministry of Urban Development. Page
18-22
Further, the transport trucks should be leakage free. Considering the distance of the treatment plant the
transportation supervision and easiness in transportation also needs to be looked upon. It is essential to ensure that
desludging trucks are disposing the faecal sludge only at the designated treatment facilities.
Treatment Approach
In view of the characteristics of faecal sludge the selection of treatment technologies is critical:
The major focus has to be on:
• Treating the effluent for the disposal in open or for secondary use
• Reducing the moisture content in the sludge and treating it for secondary use
• Pathogen reduction
• Nutrient recovery
• Operation, maintenance and energy requirements of the treatment technologies
Faecal sludge characteristics
Since opting for a network based solution is remote, the most technologically viable option is the FSTP. In order to
do this it is essential to understand the key characteristics of faecal sludge. Comparison of effluent parameters
between raw sewage and faecal sludge is clearly indicates that faecal sludge parameters are 100 times higher than
the raw sewage. The characteristics of faecal sludge is greatly different from wastewater and varies with local
conditions. Therefore, the characteristics of faecal sludge has a huge bearing on treatment to be adapted. Hence, it
is important not only to deal with the faecal sludge safely but also it is important to adopt an appropriate FSTP design
to treat the faecal sludge.
Physical parameters: pH, colour, turbidity and temperature fall under physical parameters. All these physical
parameters of the separated effluents from on-site sanitation should be within the permissible norms before it can
be disposed in open or used for secondary purposes (Refer Text box below). The various effluent treatment
technologies are employed to ensure the same.
Chemical Parameters: Appropriate treatment modules should be employed to address chemical parameters such as
BOD, COD, TSS, Nitrogen, Phosphorous etc.
Biological Parameters: Adapting appropriate treatment modules to reduce the pathogen load in the effluent to a
level suitable for safe disposal openly or for secondary use as per the established disposal standards of the
government.
Nutrient Recovery: Appropriate module should be selected to reduce the moisture content in the sludge. After the
treatment of the sludge, co-composting techniques can be used to enhance the temperature of the sludge and also
add nutrient value to convert it to organic compost.
Factors of selecting the treatment technologies/options:
While designing the FSSM/FSTP, the selection of appropriate technology is imperative. In any given context, the
selection of treatment technology depends on the following factors;
I. Space for setting-up the plant
II. Type and volume of the products to be treated
III. Expected result/products
IV. Financial resources
V. Skills and capacity to operate
VI. Materials required other than treatment products
VII. Energy requirements
VIII. Local geographical considerations, etc
Principles to be followed for use of sewage sludge in soil for crops: CPHEEO Standards for Disposal of Sludge
and Secondary uses
• Sludge from open air- drying beds should not be used on soils where it is likely to come into direct contact with the
vegetables and fruits
• Sludge from drying beds should be ploughed into the soil before raising crops. top dressing of soil with sludge should
be prohibited
• dried sludge may be used for lawns and for growing deep rooted cash crops and fodder grass where direct contact
with edible part is minimized
• Heat dried sludge is the safest from public health point of view. Though deficient in humus, it is convenient in handling
and distribution. it should be used along with farmyard manure
• liquid sludge either raw or digested if used, it must be thoroughly incorporated into the soil and land should be given
rest to avoid all possible direct human contact
3.1 Existing Treatment Technologies
Co-composting of faecal sludge: Composting is a biological process that involves micro-organisms that decompose
organic matter under controlled predominantly aerobic conditions. The resulting end product is stabilised organic
matter that can be used as a soil conditioner. It also contains nutrients, which can have a benefit as a long-term
organic fertilizer. There are two types of composting systems, open and closed, of which open systems are lower in
capital and operating costs but typically require more space. In an open composting system, raw organic matter is
piled up into heaps (called windrows) and left for aerobic decomposition. To increase space efficiency, the heaps of
waste can also be put into walled enclosures which is called box composting. If untreated waste feedstock is placed
in a closed container this is called in-vessel or closed drum composting. Co-composting is the controlled aerobic
degradation of organic waste using more than one feedstock (faecal sludge and organic solid waste) Potential
advantages and constraints of co-composting:
• Co-composting is formed by the thermophilic conditions8 and the resulting pathogen inactivation. The main
advantage of co-composting is a good soil conditioner, which provides potential for income generation
depending on the demand for compost.
• However, operating a co-composting plant and generating a safe product with value requires technical and
managerial skills, which is limited, if not available.
8
Thermophilic conditions is a high temperature condition where thermophilic bacteria act upon and convert waste
Co-treatment in waste stabilization ponds: Waste Stabilization Ponds (WSPs)
are widely used for the treatment of wastewater. The mechanisms for
stabilisation are based on natural processes that occur in aquatic ecosystems.
WSPs are considered to be good options for wastewater treatment in low-
income countries when adequate land is available, particularly in tro pical
climates. WSPs consist of several ponds having different depths and retention
times. Waste stabilisation ponds can be used for the co-treatment of
wastewater with the effluent following solid-liquid separation of Faecal Sludge
in settling-thickening tanks. However, problems were observed when dosing
Faecal Sludge to the anaerobic pond and dosing was discontinued. Typically,
due to the high ammonia concentration and high organic/pathogen loads and
solid content, treating solely Faecal Sludge in WSPs is not recommended, nor is the addition of large quantities at a
time. WSPs can also be used for the co-treatment of Faecal Sludge with landfill leachate. Advantages and constraints
of waste stabilisation ponds:
• WSPs are simple to build and require relatively low O&M requirements
• The technology is appropriate for tropical climates, and achieves relatively high pathogen removal in the
effluent
• Constraints include land availability, high rate of solids accumulation if preliminary solids separation is not
performed, and potential inhibition due to high salt and ammonia concentrations. The removal of sludge
that accumulates in the anaerobic ponds may require heavy mechanical equipment.
Deep row entrenchment: Deep row entrenchment is
a technology that can be considered as both a
treatment and end use option. Deep row
entrenchment was implemented for wastewater
sludge in the US in the 1980s and has been adapted
for Faecal Sludge in Durban, South Africa. Deep row
entrenchment consists of digging deep trenches,
filling them with sludge and covering them with soil.
Trees are then planted on top, which benefit from the
organic matter and nutrients that are slowly released
from the Faecal Sludge. In areas where there is adequate land available, deep row entrenchment can present a
solution that is simple, low cost, has limited O&M issues and produces no visible or olfactory nuisances. Benefits are
also gained from the increased production of trees. However, the availability of land is a major constraint with deep
row entrenchment, as is the distance/depth to clean groundwater bodies.
Deep row entrenchment is considered most feasible in areas where the water supply is not directly obtained from
the groundwater source and where sufficient land is available, which means the sludge would have to be
transportable to rural and peri-urban areas. In many countries legislation is still lacking for this option.
Imhoff Tank: An Imhoff Tank is a compact sized tank that combines the effect of a settler and an anaerobic digestion
system in one. It is a compact system which is well-known for wastewater treatment and has been implemented in
Indonesia for Faecal Sludge treatment. Imhoff tanks are most often used as a primary treatment technology in
wastewater treatment where it serves as a solid-liquid separation system including partial digestion for the settled
sludge. The Imhoff tank is a high-raised tank (up to nine meters for wastewater sludge) where sludge settles at the
bottom and biogas produced by the anaerobic digestion process rises to the top. The settling compartment has
inclined walls (45° or more) and a slot at the bottom, which allows the sludge to slide down to the centre into the
digestion compartment. The gas transports sludge particles to the water surface, creating a scum layer. T-shaped
pipes or baffles are used at the inlet and the outlet to reduce velocity and prevent scum from leaving the system.
The sludge accumulates in the sludge digestion chamber, and is compacted and partially stabilised through anaerobic
digestion. The liquid fraction has a short retention time (2 - 4 hours) while the solids can remain up to several years
in the digestion chamber. Both the supernatant and the settled sludge need further treatment before final disposal
or end use. The sludge can be further treated in a settling - thickening tank or on a sludge drying bed; the liquid can
be treated in for example a constructed
wetland. An Imhoff tank can be used when
conditions are not favorable for biogas
digesters or space for stabilisation ponds is
not available. Potential advantages and
constraints of Imhoff tanks:
• Imhoff tanks compared to
settling-thickening tanks are the
small land requirement, the
possibility of operating only one
tank, and the physical separation
between the settled sludge and Figure 4: Imhoff Tank
the liquid fraction.
• The main constraints compared to settling thickening tanks are the increased operational complexity,
slightly higher costs as the Imhoff tanks require an additional elevation to accommodate the inclined
baffles, and the risk of damage to the sludge draw-off pipe in case of an inadequate draw-off frequency.
• Operation and maintenance of an Imhoff system is not as complex as some technologies, but it requires
skilled operators. Cleaning of flow paths, the sides of the tank as well as the removal of scum is very
important. Stabilised sludge from the bottom of the digestion compartment should be removed according
to the design.
Sludge Incineration: Incinerati on of sludge is a form of
disposal, which involves the burning of sludge at
temperatures between 850-900°C. It does not typically take
advantage of the potential for resource recovery; however,
energy can be captured from the incineration of sludge.
Sludge needs to be dewatered prior to combustion, but
stabilisation treatment is not necessary as it decreases the
volatile content of the sludge. Commonly used incineration
systems are multiple-hearth incineration, fluidised-bed incineration and co-incineration with municipal solid waste.
Advantages and constraints of sludge incineration:
• The advantage is that the sludge volume is substantially reduced and all pathogens are removed.
• Disadvantages are that the potential emission of pollutants; and the need for highly skilled operating and
maintenance staff as well as
• High capital and O&M costs
Mechanical Sludge Treatment: Mechanical dewatering or thickening can be carried out prior to or following other
treatment steps. Dewatering and thickening are important for reducing the volume of sludge that needs to be further
treated or managed. After the sludge thickening process, additional reduction of the water content is often
necessary and this can be done either naturally or by machine processes such as centrifugation or pressing. Four
technologies that are widely used for dewatering:
• Belt filter
• Centrifuge
• Frame filter press, and
• Screw press
Only few examples are available in the literature for the implementation of these technologies to Faecal Sludge, but
theoretically the technology is transferable.
Belt filter press: This allows the water to be squeezed out of the sludge as it is compressed between two belts. The
main disadvantage of a belt filter press compared to other mechanical dewatering techniques is the need for skilled
maintenance and the difficulty in controlling odors. The system consists of a gravity drainage zone where the
flocculated sludge is deposited and conveyed on a porous and mobile belt; a compression zone, where a second belt
is applied on the upper layer of the sludge and compresses it to a pressure that can reach 7 bars; and a zone where
the belts are separated and the dewatered sludge is released.
Centrifuge: This technology dries the Faecal Sludge as it is squeezed outwards on the surface of a cylinder rotating
around its horizontal axis, due to the centrifugal force. The flocculated sludge is injected into the middle of this
cylinder, and the particles are pushed outward against the surface. An Archimedean screw transports the released
liquid to the side where the sludge entered, while another transports the sludge to the other end. The main
disadvantage of the centrifuge is the high energy requirements.
Frame filter press: This system consists of porous vertical frames fixed in two walls that are positioned in front one
of the other to create a chamber. This is a batch process in which the sludge is filled into the chamber at high pressure
(up to 15 bars resulting in the leachate being released through the porous frames and the dewatered sludge being
released through the opening of the lower wall).
Screw press: A screw press consists of a rotational screw placed in a perforated cylinder. The sludge is loaded at one
end, it is pressurised due to a diminishing distance between the screw and the cylinder, and the liquid that is
squeezed out is removed through the pores in the cylinder. The dewatered sludge is discharged at the other end.
Screw presses provide dewatering at relatively low equipment and operational costs, and minimal maintenance skills
are required. However, the dewatering is comparatively lower than other mechanical dewatering technologies.
Vermicomposting Earthworms: are a mem ber of the oligochaetes sub-
class and they appear to be very effective in organic waste reduction. An
example is the “vermi-filter”, which treats diluted domestic wastewater
sludge in a system inoculated with earthworms. Interestingly, the
earthworms seemed to function in synergy with bacterial communities
within the filter. Worms cannot survive in fresh faeces and need some
kind of support in the form of layers of soil and vermi-compost.
Vermicomposting is not a reliable method to ensure adequate pathogen
removal. However, when carried out under proper conditions the
technology of vermicomposting can lead to a complete removal of
coliforms.
Thermal drying and pelletising: Thermal drying allows the removal of all
types of liquids from Faecal Sludge. It has been applied in the management of wastewater sludge for many years,
and the technology has been taken up and improved from its original application in other industries (e.g. paper
industry). Several types of technologies exist, all based on the ability of evaporating water with heat. The end
products are stable and in a granular form allowing easier storage or transport. Direct or indirect thermal dryers are
also referred to as convection or contact dryers, respectively (Lowe et al., 2007). These systems require preliminary
dewatering if used for sludge that is high in water content.
• In direct thermal driers, the hot air or gases are mixed with the dewatered sludge, as they pass through it,
or are transported with it.
• In indirect thermal driers, a heat exchanger is used, which allows the heat convection to the sludge. In this
case, the heat carrying media is often steam or oil, and does not come in direct contact with the sludge,
which reduces the operational need to separate the sludge from the heat carrier.
In both cases, the vapour produced by the evaporated water needs to be collected and transported out of the dryer.
Gas treatment can be an issue depending on environmental requirements and the odors produced. Indirect thermal
dryers produce less contaminated vapour.
Biomethanation: is a process by which organic material is
microbiologically converted under anaerobic conditions to
biogas (Angelidaki et al, 2011). Three main physiological Status of STPs in India:
groups of microorganisms are involved: fermenting bacteria,
organic acid oxidizing bacteria, and methanogenic archaea.  29 States in India have STPs
Microorganisms degrade organic matter via cascades of
 6 states in India report
biochemical conversions to methane and carbon dioxide.
Syntrophic relationships between hydrogen producers absence of STPs
(acetogens) and hydrogen scavengers (homoacetogens,  53% of operational capacity
hydrogenotrophic methanogens, etc.) are critical to the of STPs in India is not
process. Determination of practical and theoretical methane
potential is very important for design for optimal process
utilized
design, configuration, and effective evaluation of economic
feasibility. A wide variety of process applications for
biomethanation of wastewaters, slurries, and solid waste have been developed. Biomethanation has strong
potential for the production of energy from organic residues
and wastes. It will help to reduce the use of fossil fuels and
thus reduce CO2 emission.
FSTPs and FSSM Value Chain: An apt and acceptable Kerala Water Authority to use robots
technological option for rural areas and census town can be for cleaning sewer holes
the following:
The Kerala Water Authority and the Kerala
• Establishing and managing of Faecal Sludge and Startup Mission have signed an MOU for
Septage Treatment (FSTP) facilities transfer of technology and products including
• Establishing and managing complete Faecal Sludge the use of robots for cleaning up sewer holes.
and Septage Management value chain The robot, ‘Bandicoot,’ developed by startup
Establishing FSTPs: A FSTP is nothing but a combination firm Genrobotics, will be used for cleaning
various technical treatment modules that are arranged sewer holes.
serially or parallely to treat both solid and liquid waste in the
septage. The FSTP include various treatment modules such as
decanting tank, vertical and horizontal baffle reactors/filters,
constructed wetlands, polishing pond, sludge drying yard,
biogas plant, co-composting etc. It is not necessary that all
these modules should be a part of each FSTP and the type of
modules for a FSTP may be decided based on various
technical, climate and geographical related factors. The major difference between STP and FSTP is percentage of
sludge content. Percentage of sludge content is higher from the waste collected from the septic tank/pits, whereas
sludge content in sewage is very low often less than 0.01%. The technical modules in the FSTP should be designed
to treat the higher sludge content.
3.2 Immediate/ Intermediate Solutions 9

As mention earlier, till the time the FSTP are established in the census town / rural areas, the following intermediate
solutions can be considered to tackle the faecal sludge disposal.
Trenching 10: This trenching techniques is also called shallow/deep row entrenchment. Use of trenching for disposing
faecal sludge is an age old technology in India as well as various countries. United Sates used trenches during 80’s
and countries like South Africa, Malaysia etc., are still using the trench techniques for the disposal of faecal sludge.
These trenches may be shallow or deep trenches. Mostly, shallow trenches are used for tree plantation. The
9
For more details, Tide Technocrats, Bangalore / ASCI, Hyderabad / CEPT Ahmedabad can be contacted
10
WASH Institute Technical Note on Trenching Techniques
important considerations are 1. the depth of ground water and 2. proximity of surface water sources from the site
selected for trenching. Please note that the trenching techniques should not be used:
• In a shallow ground water and water logging areas
• Near to surface water sources such as ponds/rivers
• Near drinking water sources such as open wells/Bore wells etc
• Where the state laws do not permit
Co-treatment 11: The existing data on the available STPs in the country indicate two aspects – 1) they are
underutilized and 2) in most cases STPs are located away from the city at the rural area. Taking advantages of this,
till the time a dedicated FSTPs are established in rural area, the Gram Panchyats / villages / Census Towns located
around these underutilized STPs can be considered for co-treatment – meaning the faecal sludge from the villages
can be decanted in these STPs for treatment. Please note that the existing FSTPs can be utilized provided that are
able to take the solid load or need to be modified to treat faecal sludge/septage.
Census Town and GPs Linked FSTPs 12: Due to low population, it is difficult to go for dedicated FSTP for a census
town or GPs/Villages, in such cases, a common FSTP can be created to tackle the Faecal sludge both from Census
town and GPs/Villages.
11
12
Section 4: Service Value Chain: Service Level Agreements
The Sanitation Service Chain shows how faecal sludge

moves through the sanitation system. The
predominance of septic tanks and pits means that pit
or tank emptying is required at regular intervals. Enact stringent and mandatory
During emptying, transportation and disposal
operations, there remains a high risk of contamination rules for sanitation workers
of household environments, public areas and
transportation routes, as well as risks to workers’ during FSM activities
health unless these operations are conducted
carefully, properly and hygienically.The following
section gives an overview of the various service level
agreements which need to be in place.
4.1 Service Level Agreement Overview:

This Agreement outlines the scope of work and stakeholder’s (1.Service Provider;2.Buyer; 3.Statutory/Compliance
Authority) obligations to ensure that the proper elements and commitments are in place to provide consistent
delivery of pit cleaning service to the buyer by service provider.
4.2 Overview of different operational models

Service Scope
Pit cleaning services are required to extract, transport and dispose safely
the septage from the latrine pits. The service requires the Service Create model templates for
Provider to extract the accumulated fecal waste in the pit through establishment and
mechanized equipment and collect it in a closed tank transport safely management of operations
without any human exposure and dispose it at the places designated by
the competent authorities. The scope would include the following;
related to FSM.
1) Reach the first site and meet the building owner and collect
containment details.
2) Before pumping, check the tank to look for obvious damage to the structure and to verify proper piping is in
place.
3) Check the water level to understand the tank condition: high levels (above outlet level) indicate a clogged
outlet; low levels (below outlet level) indicate a leaking tank (or tank not in use).
4) Check for back flow into tank during pumping and when pumping is complete. Flow back may indicate a
problem with plumbing in the house or clogged disposal.
5) Open the access covers, inspect the interior and exterior of the tank. If more than one, locate and remove
lids (for at least 2 hours) from all compartments. Each compartment will require pumping after ventilating.
6) Probe the tank with the last length of hose. This will provide an indication on the volume of sludge to pump.
7) Start the pump or vacuum equipment. The operator will make sure there is suction and that the pump is
operating.
8) Volume in the tank should start decreasing rapidly. Use hose to break up sludge and scum to the extent
possible.
9) After pumping is complete, check the tank for remaining sludge. If there are accumulated solids remaining,
initiate the pump-back procedure, which is to send the pumped fecal sludge under pressure back into the
tank and direct this flow toward the sludge mass. This will break up the mass, making it possible to pump
out. When pump-back is complete, pump out the tank again (suction).
10) When pumping is complete, wash the hoses and replace the tank lids.
11) Clean up any spills and disinfect with lime or bleach solution. Chemicals such as lime can also be added into
the suction trucks to neutralize the septage, to render the septage more treatable and to reduce odours.
Soak Pit Cleaning
In most places septic tanks are not cleaned regularly due to which sludge enters soak pits and gets accumulated
resulting in diminishing the capacity of soil. In high water table or in stony, gravely soils where percolation capacity
of soil is limited, the soak pits get filled and hence need to be cleaned. Soak pits up to 3.5m depth can be fully
emptied by the vacuum emptier. Hence it is essential that compliance agency do not permit soak pits deeper than
3m. For emptying typical soak pits the following steps can be followed:
1) Remove the Soil Cover (1-1.5m) and puncture the concrete cap to make a hole to insert the suction pipe.
2) For soak pits till the depth of 3.5m vacuum emptier can be used to completely empty the pit.
3) Pump water into the pit to make the pit contents dilute to enable smoother flow.
However, in the long term, it is recommended that in areas where the percolation capacity has reduced ULBs should
consider alternate systems like settled sewerage system or connect to open drain system as an intermediate solution
(Urban Management Centre 2015).
Safety Measures for Workers
The safety of the workers engaged for de-sludging are vested with the transporter and he shall ensure that :
a) The septic tank shall be ventilated by keeping cover open for sufficient time before starting the operation
as methane gas inhalation can cause asphyxia, loss of consciousness and pneumonitis. There is no specific
antidote to septic tank gas poisoning.
b) All de-sludging workers wear appropriate personal protective equipment, safety gear and accessories
including shoulder length fully coated neoprene gloves, rubber boots, a face mask, and eye protection as
specified in the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Rule, 2013.
c) All the safety equipment’s checked for operational before proceeding to a collection site; first aid kit, gas
detection lamp and fire extinguisher are kept in the vehicle before it goes to the collection site.
d) All de-sludging workers are trained to use the safety gear and follow hygiene practices.
e) Smoking is prohibited while working at septic tank.
f) All de-sludging workers must be immunized for tetanus, hepatitis A and B.
g) De-sludging workers shall never enter in to septic tank as entry of manhole/septic tank is banned.
h) Children are kept away and tank lids are always secured with screws and locks.
i) All de-sludging workers shall wash their hands immediately after contacting with septage/septage handling
tools and equipment, and always before eating and drinking.
j) The workers shall be cautious while performing de-sludging process as excessive weight on lid or manhole
cover may result breakage.
Transportation Measures
To ensure safe transportation of septage, the septage transporter in consultation with ULB shall prepare a
transportation plan which shall include;
(a) Scheduling and routing for trucks.
(b) Customer service protocols.
The pit emptier shall ensure that:
• the registered septage transport vehicle including all equipment’s used for the transport of septage shall
have a leak-proof body and lock to secure the septage;
• the tank and equipment’s used to transport septage shall not be used for the transportation of any other
materials or liquids;
• the vehicles used to transport septage shall be equipped, at all times, with spill control or absorbent
materials and disinfectant materials such as lime or chlorine bleach;
• the company name, contact number, company logo, and body number of the septage transportation
vehicle are displayed on both sides of the vehicle. The information shall be marked using permanent and
legible lettering at least 3 inches high and of reflective material;
• list of emergency contact numbers is pasted at the prominent place in all vehicles involved in septage
transport;
Safe Disposal
The disposal should happen only at the locations designated by the
competent government agency. The pit emptier should
Empower village panchayat to
1) Plan the trip so as to arrive at the disposal site within the
specified disposal site operating hours. undertake monitoring of toilet
2) Report equipment malfunctions or required repairs construction to avoid faulty
immediately to supervisors. construction of containment
3) At the Disposal Facility position the truck so that the fecal
sludge may be directed to the receiving chamber with
structures.
only one length of hose.
4) Open the valve and allow the sludge to flow via gravity
into the receiving chamber.
5) When the tank is empty, disconnect hose and clean tank and hose with water.
6) Use all safety precautions at disposal site and keep site clean.
Buyers Obligations
All septage transporters need to maintain a collection and transport receipt system that needs to
a) To ensure presence of the head of household or their representative during emptying;
b) Not to pressure emptiers to enter the bottom part of tanks to collect solid sludge;
c) To practice the emptying twice a year (every six months) or at least once per year as required by CPEEHO
d) To teach family members about proper toilet use, with the key message that solid waste should not be
disposed of in the toilet;
d) To take responsibility to ensure emergency healthcare in the case of any accident during emptying;
e) To ensure sludge is disposed of in a designated location
Service Providers Obligations:
a) The Service Provider would report to the competent authority once the pit emptying work is completed.
b) Pit emptier would charge the fee from the buyer as per the guideline established by the competent
authority.
c) Pit emptier will provide a receipt of fee to the buyer
d) A log of the services rendered will be maintained and presented to the compliance authority as and when
asked.
e) In an applicable case, an employer shall not engage any workers in work without providing and ensuring
use of personal safety equipment, and in doing so, a record book shall be maintained as designated by the
owner.
f) In spite of supply of personal safety equipment if those are not used by workers concerned, they are to be
held liable thereof.
g) To ensure occupational health and safety for workers in the workplace, each worker shall be made aware
of the risks of the work through training
Obligation of the compliance/statutory agency
a) Designate an agency at the block or gram panchayat level that monitors the services of the pit cleaning
services
b) Fix the base price of the cleaning services in a particular geography and come up with a guidance on the
additional pricing for example, length of the hose pipe used, nature of the approach road etc.
c) To issue ID cards to all emptiers
d) To establish a safety committee in each GP
Special Terms and Conditions
a) The pit emptier will be contracted for a duration of one year and will be renewed on the recommendation
of the competent authority.
b) The agency shall maintain sufficient stock of all items required for cleaning of the pit.
c) The compliance agency shall have the right to inspect the cleaning site at any time and also to issue such
orders and direction to the pit emptier as may be considered necessary. The pit emptier shall ensure that
such orders are compiled forthwith.
d) The Service Provider shall deploy a person to supervise the cleaning services.
Penalty and Termination
# Service level agreement Penalties for non-compliance
1 Non deployment of the mechanized tankers to Warning to the service provider by the authority.
complete the pit emptying operation mentioned
in the contract.
2 Improper cleaning of the pit ( for example Warning or penalty of Rs 200 will be imposed on the
leaving the sludge at the location or spillage for pit emptier once reported and verified by the
the tanker competent authority who is responsible
3 If the pit emptier found doing unsafe disposal or A penalty of Rs. 2000 at least will be imposed on the
disposing at the places not designated by the pit emptier at the first two occasions and his license
authorities will be cancelled if he found 3 times consecutively.
4 If proper safety equipment’s are not used Warning/counselling/ or Rs 500 fine to be levied as
decided by the buyer depending on the gravity of the
act
4 Cumulative Penalty Cumulative Penalty cannot exceed more than 20% of

the total revenue that the service provider earned
during by the time he is penalized.
Section 5: Way Forward – Building a Roadmap for Census Towns and Rural FSM
Implementation India
Acknowledging the importance of FSM for development of
sustainable FSM systems, a significant step requires the
acknowledgement of its importance by stakeholders in all fields of
technology, management and planning. This includes governments Utilize technologies
taking responsibility for providing FSM services, financial
agencies/programmes providing funding for feasible and appropriate according to the climate,
FSM solutions, and large supporting agencies like development land availability, and cost.
partners and NGOs, promoting FSM together with the goal of ending
open defecation. As FSM is acknowledged as a real need and
legitimate solution, it will naturally result in significantly greater
amounts of attention and resources being focused on FSM.
Setting up frameworks and responsibilities

Having one entity of government solely responsible for sanitation, regardless of technology deployed, increases a
sense of responsibility that can be lost in more fragmented management models where different agencies manage
parts of the service chain. This also facilitates efficiency in citywide/cluster of GPs planning. Streamlining eliminates
any responsibility overlap between stakeholders, and also avoid gaps in responsibilities.
Increasing knowledge dissemination and capacity development

Developing methods that increase local expertise is imperative as many shortages within the FSM service chain are
the result of lack of institutional capacity, management deficiencies, insufficient staff and inadequate technical
capacity.There is a need for easy to digest material to enable non-technical people to access information.
Creating sustainable business models and fee structures

Different business models other than the traditional local government riven model for sanitation services need to
be considered to reduce the financial burden at the household level. One model of business development that is
effective in the informal sector is ‘coopetition’, a combination of cooperation and competition, where small scale
businesses spring up to fill a need, and even though they are competing against each other they mutually benefit
through their association (cooperation).
Developing appropriate technologies

There is a great need for the development of appropriate FSM technologies, even though solutions for entire FSM
systems will not rely on technology alone, and must be considered within the local context.
(Detailed document on the next steps would be uploaded separately)
Section 6: Case Studies for FSM
The Devanhalli Story
Around 90% of the households (~5800) are equipped

with toilets having single pit, septic tank, twin pit, and
open drain. Rest 10% of the households are without
toilets and mostly use open defecation, shared toilets,
or public toilets. Hence, a comprehensive FSM system
was conceived by the DMA under the Government of
Karnataka. The plant at Devanahalli has the capacity
to serve approximately 30,000 people with the plant
spread over an area of 650 square metres. It’s a simple
and low cost O&M plant using the technology of
gravity based biological treatment. The plant was
commissioned with a capital cost of Rs 90 lakhs and
has an operating cost of Rs 24 lakhs per year. The lifecycle cost of the plant is Rs 1500 per capita, which is very low
in itself. The treatment module comprises of six stages that include screening, sludge–liquid separation, sludge
stabilization, dewatering, disinfection, and liquid treatment.
Leh Model (Planted drying bed) 13
Leh Model of FSTP includes the technical model of Planted bed (Horizontal Flow), Planted bed (Vertical Flow) and
Polishing pond. In order to give sufficient time for the sludge to dry in the planted bed (Horizontal Flow), over 10
bed are installed and the filtered effluent from the horizontal bed is diverted to two numbers of planted bed (vertical
flow) and from there the treated liquid reaches to polishing pond (refer the diagram for details). After a brief contact
period in the polishing pond, the treated liquid is used for the secondary purposes such as gardening. The dried
sludge in the Planted bed (Horizontal Flow) is removed for composting/co-compositing purposes. Please refer the
diagram below for the arrangements of planted beds and polishing pond.
Figure 5: Leh FSTP Model
Periyanaickenpalayam Fecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP) 14
13
More details, please contact CDD Society, Bangalore
14
IIHS
(Digestion along with Screw Press and Composter): The FSTP that is being set-up in the Town Panchayat of
Periyanaicken-palayam in Coimbatore district has a design capacity of 25 Kilo Litres per Day (KLD). The FSTP intends
to serve about 7500 households of Periyanaickenpalayam (PNP) and about 5000 households of
Narismhanaickenpalayam (NNP) Town Panchayats. The built-up area of the FSTP is around 0.4 acre.
The treatment process in the FSTP include screen and grit removal system, followed by balloon digester. Further
solid-liquid separation is achieved in an anaerobic baffle reactor. The liquid effluent treatment is carried out in an
attached growth aeration tank treatment system called as Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR). The effluent from
MBBR is further processed through two steps of media based filtration and electro-oxidation before it is collected
and stored for reuse. The solids/ sludge accumulated in different treatment units are conveyed and dewatered
mechanically in a screw press. The dried sludge is composted in rotary-type-mechanical composter.
Karunguzhi Fecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP) 15: The FSTP is located in Karunguzhi Town Panchayat,
Kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu. The 23 KLD FSTP is situated in an area of 2 acres. It is designed to serve about
3000 households of Karunguzhi Town Panchayat and 7500 households of Maduranthakam Municipality. The FSTP
was commissioned in May 2017.
The treatment process of FSTP starts with a preliminary screening of septage emptied from the trucks followed by a
solid liquid separation in Sludge Drying Beds (SDB). Leachate from the SDB is treated in a Horizontal Plant Gravel
Filter (HPGF). The filtered effluent is further treated in a maturation pond. The final treated water is collected and
stored for reuse.
Warangal & Wai Model (Pyrolyses) 16: Warangal & Wai Model is thermo processing model, where the
treated sludge (solid) gets converted into bio-char and the treated liquid is used for secondary purposes. With the
emphasis on biosafety and specifically, management of pathogens and helminths eggs, Tide Technocrats, a
Bengaluru based environmental consulting company, has designed a Thermal FSTP using pyrolyser technology. The
Thermal FSTP pyrolyses the sludge post dewatering, at 750 - 800 degree C, and this heat energy is used to thermally
treat the incoming septage.
The components of the Thermal FSTP include septage receiving station, pasteurization unit, dewatering unit, dryer
unit and pyrolyser. For the dewatered water, passive wastewater treatment system with technical help from NEERI,
Nagpur has been employed. The overall footprint of the plant is less than 1000 sft, and the electrical energy demand
of the plant is about 3 units on an average.
15
IIHS
16
For more details, Tide Technocrats, Bangalore / ASCI, Hyderabad / CEPT Ahmedabad can be contacted
Apart from the above mentioned examples, there are many more FSTPs under construction in many parts of the
country and the technical details of these plants will be available soon. Hence, there is no issue in understanding
or selection of an appropriate FSTP design for a census town or rural area (The diagram above from Tide
Technocrats)
Section 7: IEC/SBCC note on Faecal Sludge Management
Introduction
Since 2nd October 2014, under SBM toilet construction is moving at a rapid rate in both rural and
urban India. Toilet construction also requires safe, cost effective and sustainable on site sanitation
(OSS) technologies which enable periodic pit emptying and proper transfer and management of
the removed sludge so that faecal matter does not re-enter the domestic environment and pose
a risk to harm public health.
However, high concentration of septic tanks is a growing concern related to census towns. Since
census towns come under the purview of rural administration, the transportation and collection
arrangements for the accumulated faecal sludge from these septic tanks is not catered for, by
operators, functioning in surrounding cities. Therefore, the faecal waste sometimes doesn’t reach
the existing treatment facilities in the urban region. In absence of proper collection,
transportation, and treatment of this faecal waste, the sludge from septic tanks is often collected
and disposed either in flowing water bodies, or on open land. Sometimes, due to inaccurate
design of the septic tanks themselves, faecal waste overflows into open drains, leading to the
problem of open discharge. Any of the above leaks, tend to have the same effect as cumulative
open defecation. Studies point that undesignated dumping or even leakage by one truck carrying
faecal sludge, is equivalent of 5000 people defecating in the open. Such practices not only lead to
contamination of the environment, but also cause irreparable health damage. They also have
considerable bearing on our ability to sustain the outcomes from making an area ODF. Hence,
there is need for strict monitoring of the FSM value chain. Census towns form an important target
area.
Policy framework
The following existing policies on urban FSM can be refereed as a basis for formulation of state
level policy to cover census towns.
Figure 6: FSM Value Chain
1. National Policy on Faecal Sludge and Septage Management Policy (FSSM), Ministry of
Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of
India. http://www.swachhbharaturban.in:8080/sbm/content/writereaddata/FSSM%20Polic
y%20Report_23%20Feb_Artwork.pdf
2. State level policies on FSM in Rajasthan, AP, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha.
 Rajasthan
https://rajasthan.gov.in/Connect/UsefulDocuments/Draft%20FSSM%20Policy%20Rajast
han.pdf
 Andhra Pradesh
Municipal Administration & Urban Development – Faecal Sludge and Septage
Management as part of implementation of reforms under the AMRUT for the year 2016
– 2017 – Approved – Orders – Issued, Government of Andhra Pradesh
 Maharashtra https://swachh.maharashtra.gov.in/Site/Upload/GR/Septage_Managemen
t_Guidelines_UDD_020216.pdf
 Tamil Nadu
http://muzhusugadharam.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/english-septage-
operative-guidelines-tn.pdf
 Odisha
http://www.swachhodishaurban.nic.in/guidelines/septage.pdf
3. The employment of Manual Scavengers and construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act
1993
http://lawmin.nic.in/ld/P-
ACT/1993/The%20Employment%20of%20Manual%20Scavengers%20And%20Construction%
20of%20Dry%20Latrines%20(Prohibition)%20Act,%201993.pdf
Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation is also in the process of launching an Implementation
Roadmap for FSM in states.
Resource Institutions
1. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, New Delhi
2. BBC Media Action, New Delhi
3. National Faecal Sludge and Septage Management Alliance, New Delhi
4. Indian Institute of Technology- New Delhi
5. CDD Society, Bangalore, Karnataka
6. Performance Assessment System (PAS), Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Available communication resources
1. Bangladesh FSM Story www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvBYotOZuF8

2. Introduction to FSM by CDD Society India www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pQOkXZmugk&t=54
3. Devanhalli Faecal Sludge Management Story (duration 7
mins) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZgT2Vwfvwc
4. Warangal Sanitation Story (duration 10 mins)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xdd4b2yAkgw&t=562s
Actions for key stakeholders for IEC/SBCC
Mission Director:
 Introduce FSM in census towns and rural areas with frontline team
 Encourage all players within state to introduce FSM to all HHs through respective channels
 Sensitise and train team on FSM as a viable option for sustainable ODF, ODF-S goals;
 Train Master Trainers and Community Mobilizers on the concept of proper septic tanks and
twin pit toilets
District Administration:
 Introduce FSM in census towns and rural areas with core team or resource group for
technical experts and master trainers and mentors for FSM activities within the district
 Encourage all players within state to introduce FSM to all HHs through respective channels
 Sensitise and train team on FSM as a viable option for sustainable ODF, ODF-S goals;
 Train Master Trainers and Community Mobilizers on the concept of proper on-site sanitation
technologies such construction of septic tanks and twin pit toilets
 Build a platform for cross- learning and knowledge sharing
 Encourage districts to allocate and spend on IEC for FSM
Gram Panchayats/Local Bodies:

 Develop a database with the full address and family information of all emptier (both manually
and mechanised);
 Issue ID cards to all emptier
 Organize training sessions on safe empting and transportation;
 Provide free Personal Protection Equipment to emptier;
 Develop short-term, mid-term and long-term plans to mechanise FSM in order to minimize
occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental risks;
 Develop mechanisms for establishing service recipients’ responsibility for OHS to emptier.
 Publish a handbook on safety guidelines in local language for emptier;
 Establish a safety committee in each GP
 Develop compensation mechanisms for victims of FSM-related occupational illness or injury
 Institutionalise scope and opportunity for government-NGO collaboration in effective FSM;
 Implement mechanisms monitoring use of Personal Protection Equipment and discharge of
sludge in approved locations;
 Ensure availability of free healthcare service for emptier and their family members at
clinics/hospitals
 Introduce insurance policies for emptier to safeguard against workplace accident, injury or
death.
Masons:
 Refer to the SBM guidelines for the proper construction of toilets
 Build toilets according to terrain and use of proper technologies
 Facilitate participatory approach in designing and constructing toilets. Masons should consult
with the stakeholders to minimise occurrence of faulty designs
Sanitation workers engaged in collection and transportation:

 Analyse OHS risks during a pre-operation visit to the emptying site;
 Wear appropriate clothing, including Personal Protection Equipment;
 Examine suitability of equipment to be used for emptying and transportation;
 Check the leaking points of pipe, if any;
 Ensure sufficient lighting;
 Arrange a first aid kit;
 Arrange water bottles;
 Avoid drinking alcohol;
 Ensure the use of Personal Protection Equipment during emptying and transportation;
 Locate the on-site sanitation system the sludge is to be removed from;
 Determine the accessibility of the system once it is located;
Swachhagrahis:
 Effectively communicate to households on the need to empty pits/septic tanks on time
 Inform households on the benefits of having twin pits
 Educate households on how to use and maintain their onsite sanitation infrastructure
Local NGOs/CBOs:
 NGO initiatives for modernising FSM should be run in partnership with rural bodies
 NGOs/INGOs should identify sustainability options, including OHS options, and consultation
with community and local government bodies at the end of relevant projects.
FAQs
Q1. What is “Sanitation”?
Sanitation is the management and disposal of different types of wastes including human waste, to
minimise harmful effects to human health and the environment.
Q2. What is “Full Cycle of Sanitation”?
The full cycle of sanitation (FCS) includes five stages, namely, 1) safe containment (consisting of toilets
and septic tanks/drainage systems), 2) safe emptying services like de-sludging, 3) safe transport of waste
by trucks, 4) safe treatment in sewage treatment plants / fecal sludge treatment plants, and 5) safe
disposal/reuse. The stages are explained in the diagram below.
Full cycle of sanitation
Q3. What is ‘Containment’ in FCS?

Containment in full cycle of sanitation is the stage where the human waste is collected through toilets
and stored in a containment structure like a septic tank or a twin pit.
Q4. What are ‘Toilets’?
Toilets are physical structures/buildings where human beings defecate. Toilets are of three types: 1)
Individual Household Toilets, and 2) Community Toilets, and 3) Public Toilets.
Q5. What is ‘Individual Household Toilet’?
Individual Household Toilet
Toilets that are with the premises of an individual house and are used by the people living in that house
are called individual household toilets.
Q6. What are ‘Community Toilets’?
Toilets that are situated in a common place where certain number of families living within a community
can use are called community toilets.
Community Toilet
Q7. What are ‘Public Toilets’?

Toilets that are available in public places like bus stand, railway station, or parks are called public toilets.
Public Toilet
Q8. How are toilets classified?

Toilets are classified depending on their sanitary status. 1) Sanitary Toilet, and 2) Insanitary Toilet.
Q9. What is a ‘Sanitary Toilet’?
A sanitary toilet is a toilet which is connected to a septic tank or a twin pit because of which the waste
does not leak into the environment.
Q10. What is an ‘Insanitary Toilet’?
An insanitary toilet is a toilet (such as pit latrines) where the human waste leaks into the environment as
the toilet is not connected to any safe containment structures like septic tank or twin pit.
Figure 7:Pit Latrine
Q11. What is a ‘Septic Tank’?
A septic tank is a rectangular structure placed underground to collect and store human waste coming
from the toilets from which it is periodically emptied. The outlet of a septic tank is connected to a soak
pit.
Septic Tank
Q12. What is a ‘Soak Pit’?

A soak pit is also a containment structure where the partially treated human waste from septic tank is
collected and stored.
Soak Pit
Q12. What is the standard septic tank design/measurement?
Septic Tank is a type of on-site system which is connected to the toilet, into which the fecal matter flows
after being flushed. An ideal septic tank should have a minimum width of 750 mm and liquid depth of 1
m. The length should be 2 to 4 times the width. The dimensions of septic tank vary with the number of
users. (Suitable sizes of septic tank are given in in the Operative Guidelines for Septage Management for
Local Bodies in Tamil Nadu, 2014)
Q13. What is a ‘Twin-Pit’?
A twin-pit is a containment structure that has two cylindrical pits connected to each other through a pipe.
When one pit gets filled with human waste from toilets, then the connection to the filled pit is closed, and
the toilet pipe is connected to the second pit to collect the human waste. The distance between two pits
should be at least 1 meter. By the time the second pit is filled, the partially treated human waste from the
first pit is emptied, and made available for collection of human waste.
Twin Pit
Figure 8: Twin-pit
Q14. What is “On-site Sanitation” (OSS) System?

Places where underground sewage systems are not possible, containment structures like septic tank or
twin-pit are used to collect the human waste. Since these containment structures are located near to
the toilets, these are called on-site sanitation systems.
Q15. What is septage/fecal sludge?
Fecal Sludge (FS) (also called septage) is the material that is collected from pit latrines, septic tanks or
other onsite sanitation facilities (OSSF) and not transported through a sewer. Fecal Sludge is raw or
partially digested, slurry or semisolid in nature.
Q16. What is septage management?
Septage management or Fecal Sludge Management (FSM) includes the storage, collection, transport,
treatment and safe end-use or disposal of fecal sludge. The sustainable implementation of septage
management requires an integrated approach which incorporates technology, management and
planning.
Q17. What is ‘Emptying’ in FCS?
Emptying (or) de-sludging is a process, where the septage is emptied from the septic tank by de-sludging
operators using suction pipes in situations of septic tank overflowing or cleaning purposes.
Emptying/De-sludging
Q18. What is ‘Transport’ in FCS?

Transport is the third stage of FSM, where the de-sludging trucks carry the desluged septage, and
discharge it directly into the sewage or fecal sludge treatment plant., or into decanting facilities of the
sewage treatment plants.
Transport of Septage
Q19. What are desludging vehicles?

Desludging Vehicle is a vehicle with a suction tanker mounted on the Truck/Tractor etc. The tanker is
fitted with a motor which sucks the sludge/septage from the on-site systems. The capacity of the tanker
usually varies from 4000 to 8000 liters.
Q20. What is a Decanting facility?
Decanting facility is a point where septage from on-site sanitation systems like pit latrines and septic
tank is pumped into the underground sewerage systems, to be treated at the centralized treatment
plant. These assigned stations for emptying the septage are called decanting stations.
Decanting Process
Q21. What is ‘Treatment’ in FSM?

The fourth stage in FSM is treatment, where the septage transported and discharged by trucks or
through decanting facilities undergoes treatment, thereby making it safe for reuse. Treatment Facility
Q22. What is ‘FSTP’?

A Fecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP) is a treatment facility where the septage transported through de-
sludging trucks is treated to make it environmentally safe for disposal or reuse.
Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP)- Top View Layout
Q23. What is ‘STP’?
Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) is a treatment facility where the human waste collected and carried
through underground drainage systems is treated to make it environmentally safe for disposal or reuse.
Sewage Treatment Plant (STP)- Top View
Q24. What is ‘Disposal/Reuse’ in FSM?
Disposal/Reuse is the final stage of the FSM. In this stage, the treated human waste is either disposed of
safely into the environment or can be reused as farm manure or biofuel. The treated water which is
separated from septage can be used for gardening, cooling purposes in industries, etc.
Annexure 1: Draft Model Faecal Sludge Management Regulations
Draft Model Faecal Sludge Management Regulations
<District Authority, District Name >

Government of <State Name >
Table of Contents
PART I –TITLE, EXTENT AND COMMENCEMENT ............................................................................40

PART II – GENERAL DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS AND REGISTRATION OF SEPTIC TANKS.42
PART III –REGISTRATION OF SEPTAGE TRANSPORTER AND VEHICLE ...............................................43
PART IV– OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF SEPTIC TANKS ........................................................44
PART V – SUPERVISION OF SEPTIC TANKS....................................................................................47
PART VI – TRANSPORT OF SEPTAGE TO TREATMENT FACILITY........................................................49
PART VII – SEPTAGE TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL .........................................................................51
PART VIII – ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT......................................................................52
PART IX – MISCELLANEOUS........................................................................................................54
Annexures...............................................................................................................................56
FORM – I : REGISTRATION OF SEPTIC TANK ..............................................................................56
FORM – II : REGISTRATION/MODIFICATION OF SEPTAGE TRANSPORTER AND SEPTAGE
TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE ...................................................................................................58
FORM – III : RECEIPT/ EVIDENCE FOR DE-SLUDGING BY OWNER / AUTHORISED PERSON ...............60
FORM – IV : APPLICATION FORM FOR REGISTRATION OF SUPERVISORS ......................................61
FORM – V : MANIFEST FORM FOR ALL TRANSPORT OF DOMESTIC SLUDGE AND SEPTAGE .............62
District Authority <District Name>
SEPTAGE MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS, 2018
Notification
Panchayati Raj Acts: In terms of the Constitutional allocation of powers and functions, the State Government has
legislative and functional power over “public health and sanitation” (Article 246 and Article 162, read with the
Seventh Schedule), and further, that these can be delegated to institutions of local self-government (Article 243G
read with the Eleventh Schedule, or the “73rd Amendment”). having approved and confirmed by Government, the
<District Name> do hereby make the following regulations, namely:-
PART I –TITLE, EXTENT AND COMMENCEMENT
1. Short Title, Extent and Commencement

a) These Regulations shall be called <District name> Septage Management Regulations, 2018.
b) The provisions of these Regulations shall apply to the area under the jurisdiction of the < Name
District Authority>.
c) It shall come into force with effect from the date of publication in the official Gazette of the State.
2. Definitions
In these Regulations, unless there is anything inconsistent with the context or meaning
a) Authorized official means any official of the Corporation or any other person who has been
authorized by the Commissioner by a Notification to implement and enforce the provisions of
these Regulations;
b) “Collector” means District Commissioner of <District name>;
c) “Desludging” refers to the process of removing the accumulated sludge or septage from the
septic tank;
d) “Effluent” means the wastewater that flows out of a septic tank or supernatant liquid discharged
from the septic tank;
e) “Facility” means any site or location where septage is handled;
f) “Handle” means to store, collect, transfer, separate, process, treat or dispose of;
g) “Person” means an individual, agency, trust, society, registered charitable organization, firm,
partnership, or a company incorporated under relevant laws
h) “Septic tank” means an underground tank that treats wastewater by a combination of solids
settling and anaerobic digestion. The effluents may be discharged into soak pits or small-bore
sewers, and the solids have to be pumped out periodically;
i) “Septage” refers to the solid or settled contents of septic tanks;
j) “Septage Management” refers to the comprehensive programme for managing septic tanks and
the procedures for desludging, transporting, treating and disposing of septic tank content;
k) “Septage transporter” means any person who engages in the collection, transportation, disposal
of domestic septage.
l) “Sludge” refers to the settled solid matter in semi-solid condition – it is usually a mixture of solids
and water deposited at the bottom of septic tanks.
3. Purpose and Scope
The purpose and scope of these Regulations are:
a) To provide a regulatory framework for construction, routine maintenance, regular cleaning and
emptying of septic tanks; transportation, treatment and safe disposal of septage;
b) To prescribe the actions to be taken by the owners of the premises connected to septic tanks and
septage transporters to ensure compliance with their obligations;
c) To provide for appropriate inspection and enforcement mechanisms;
d) To ensure cost recovery on a sustainable basis for proper septage management;
e) To facilitate participation of private and non-Government sector in septage management.
PART II – GENERAL DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS AND REGISTRATION OF SEPTIC TANKS
4. Design and Construction of Septic Tanks

The design, construction and installation of septic tanks shall be in accordance with the
provisions of the National Building Code of India, Bureau of Indian Standards - Code of Practice
for Installation of Septic Tanks, (IS 2470-1985) and all relevant laws or directions pertaining at
that time.
5. Registration of Septic Tanks

a) The owner of a premises already connected to a septic tank on the date of effect of these
Regulations shall apply to the Collector in Form I, to have the septic tank details entered in the
register of septic tanks maintained by the Corporation, within such timeframe and for such
registration fee as notified by the District Authority.
b) The owner of a premises connected to a septic tank constructed on or after the date of effect of
these Regulations shall apply to the Collector in Form I, to have the septic tank details entered in
the register of septic tanks maintained by the District Authority, within 90 days of being
connected and pay such registration fee as notified by the District Authority, from time to time.
6. Registration Certificate
On entry of details in the register, the Collector shall issue a certificate of registration to the
owner of the premises connected to a septic tank.
PART III –REGISTRATION OF SEPTAGE TRANSPORTER AND VEHICLE
7. Registration of Septage Transporter

No person shall engage in the collection, transportation and disposal of septage, unless he is
registered as a septage transporter with the District Authority under these Regulations.
8. Registration of Septage Transportation Vehicle
No vehicle shall be engaged by the registered septage transporter in the collection, transportation
and disposal of septage, unless it is registered as a septage transportation vehicle with the District
Authority under these Regulations.
9. Application for Registration
An application for registration as a septage transporter and registration of septage

transportation vehicle shall be made to the District Authority in Form-II. The same shall be
accompanied by a refundable security deposit and registration fee as notified by the District
Authority, from time to time.
10. Approval/rejection of application
a) In considering the application, the Collector, in addition to any other condition as required
under any law in force, shall ensure that
i. the applicant has furnished a valid Trade License;
ii. the applicant has furnished No dues certificate from the District Autority;
iii. the applicant is not black-listed by any department, in the past;
iv. the vehicle has been inspected and tested in accordance with reasonable notice in
writing served by the Collector, and is found to be leak-proof, with minimum
specified capacity, in good condition and fit for the purpose;
b) The Collector may refuse or approve or approve with modifications as deemed fit any
application, received in this regard.
c) The applicant, after being registered as a septage transporter, shall be given a Registration
number. This Registration number is required to be mentioned in every correspondence with
the Corporation in this regard.
d) The registered septage transporter shall be entitled to participate in tender process of the
Corporation for the purposes of septage management after conforming to the conditions as laid
down in each individual Notice Inviting Tender (NIT).
e) The registration shall be valid for a maximum period of three years.
11. Changes in vehicle details
a) The septage transporter shall ensure that the Collector is notified in Form II, not more than 14
days after a change in the vehicle details and such additional fee or charge attributable to the
change has been paid.
b) The septage transporter shall also present the vehicle for inspection or testing in accordance
with reasonable notice in writing served on the transporter by the Collector.
12. Renewal of Registration
a) The application for renewal of a registration shall be made by a septage transporter in Form II,
at least three months before the expiry of registration. The same shall be accompanied by such
renewal fee as notified by the Collector, from time to time.
b) The Collector shall dispose of such renewal application within sixty days from the date of its
receipt. The provisions applicable to the grant of registration shall apply to the renewal of the
registration, mutatis mutandis.
c) Every renewal granted under these Regulations shall be for a period not exceeding three years.
13. Cancellation of Registration
The Collector may cancel registration of a septage transporter, if in the opinion of the Collector,
the septage transporter has violated any provision of these Regulations; or violated terms &
conditions of registration. Provided, that the Collector shall cause an enquiry and issue a show-
cause notice and give an opportunity of being heard to the concerned septage transporter
before cancellation of registration, so as to ensure natural justice. The decision of the Collector
shall be final and binding on all.
14. Suspension of Registration
Pending proceedings initiated under Regulation 9, in the public interest, the Collector shall have
the right to suspend the registration of the septage transporter without giving any notice and
order for temporary suspension of its operations.
15. Maintenance of Register

The Collector shall maintain a database, wherein details of the septage transporters who have
been registered under these Regulations along with details of their registered septage
transportation vehicle shall be entered.
PART IV– OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF SEPTIC TANKS
16. Regular Operation and Maintenance

a) The owner of a premises connected to septic tank shall be responsible for its operation and
maintenance and shall ensure that its parts and components are fit for purpose, operational
where appropriate and kept in good order and repair so as to prevent a risk to human health or
the environment.
b) The owner of a premises connected to septic tank shall at least once a year check for the sludge
level so that the effluent shall not discharge, seep, leak or otherwise escape from the septic
tank, or part thereof into surface waters or onto the surface of the ground.
c) The owner of a premises connected to septic tank shall ensure that roof water or surface water
run-off shall not enter a septic tank.
17. De-sludging
a) The owner of a premises connected to septic tank shall be responsible for informing the District
Authority for emptying the tank, when the sum of the depth of the scum and the sludge is
observed to exceed two-thirds of the total depth of the tank.
b) The de-sludging shall only be carried out by the sanitary workers of the District Authority or by
septage transporters registered and authorized under these Regulations and contents disposed
of in accordance with all relevant laws or directions pertaining at the time.
18. User charges
a) All owners of the premises connected to a septic tank shall pay a user charge for the desludging
of their septic tanks and treatment of the septage, as notified by the District Authority in
Schedule II of these Regulations, from time to time.
b) The District Administrtion shall revise the charges based on revisions in costs involved from time
to time. Such user charges shall include cost of desludging, transportation, treatment and
disposal.
c) The Collector may authorize any person including septage transporter to collect user charges
from the owners of the premises connected to a septic tank.
19. Evidence of De-sludging

An owner of the premises connected to septic tank shall obtain evidence of de-sludging or a
receipt in the Form - III from the registered septage transporter each time their tank is de-
sludged and such evidence or receipt shall be retained for a period of three years. The receipt
shall be presented during inspection by the Corporation or its authorized officials, failing which
applicable penalties may be levied.
20. Safety Measures

a) The desludging should be carried out using appropriate technology, equipment, safety gear and
using operating practices which are in compliance with all relevant laws or directions pertaining
at the time.
b) The septage transporter shall ensure that
i. all desludging workers wear appropriate personal protective equipment, safety gear and
accessories including shoulder length fully coated neoprene gloves, rubber boots, a face
mask, and eye protection as specified in the Prohibition of Employment as Manual
Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Rule, 2013;
ii. all the safety equipment are operational before proceeding to a collection site;
iii. all desludging workers shall wash their hands immediately after contacting septage or
septage handling tools and equipment, and always before eating and drinking;
iv. all desludging workers are trained to use the safety gear and on hygiene practices;
v. all desludging workers must be immunized for tetanus, hepatitis A and B;
vi. first aid kit, gas detection lamp and fire extinguisher are kept in the vehicle before it goes
to the collection site;
vii. smoking is prohibited while working at septic tank;
viii. desludging workers shall never enter septic tank and shall ventilate the covered tanks by
keeping them open for sufficient period before starting the operation;
ix. children are kept away and tank lids are always secured with screws and locks. The
workers shall be cautious while performing desludging process as excessive weight on lid
or manhole cover may result breakage;
x. there are sufficient disinfectant on the vehicle before it goes to the collection site;
PART V – SUPERVISION OF SEPTIC TANKS
21. Supervision Plan

a) The Collector shall engage such persons as he considers appropriate to prepare a plan with
regard to inspection/supervision and monitoring of the septic tanks in the area under the
jurisdiction of the District Authority. The plan shall be prepared on a 2 year rotating cycle having
regard to
i. Relevant risks or potential risks to human health or the environment, and, in particular
risks to water, air or soil, or to plants and animals;
ii. Relevant available information in relation to specific types, sizes and locations of septic
tanks, the number of persons resident in the premises connected to it; and
iii. Appropriate and specific qualitative and quantitative criteria, targets and indicators for
inspections/supervisions.
b) The Collector shall from time to time as he may think appropriate, and at least once a year,
review the plan and make such revisions thereto as he may deem fit.
22. Engagement of Supervisors
a) The Collector shall engage such number of persons as he considers appropriate to carry out
inspections/supervisions of septic tanks. The inspection/supervision shall consist of checks to
ensure that the septic tank is not leaking nor has an unauthorized discharge, that it is properly
operated and maintained and that it has been emptied of excess sludge when required.
b) The Collector shall not engage a person to be a supervisor for the purposes of this Part unless
that person satisfies the eligibility criteria and other conditions, as specified by the Collector
from time to time and has made an application to the Commissioner in the Form IV
accompanied by such fee as applicable from time to time.
23. Register of Supervisors
The Collector shall establish and maintain a register of supervisors in such form (including
electronic form) as he considers appropriate.
24. Power of Supervisors

For the purposes of carrying out inspection/supervision, a supervisor may-
a) enter and inspect any premises connected to a septic tank;
b) inspect, examine or test the course or condition of a septic tank, including any fixture or fitting
associated with the septic tank;
c) take samples of any substance or thing associated with or discharged to or from septic tank;
d) carry out surveys, take levels and measurements, make excavations, take samples and carry out
examinations of the depth and nature of subsoil;
e) take photographs;
f) require information regarding the maintenance, servicing or operation of a septic tank from an
owner or occupier of the premises or any person employed on the premises
25. Notice
a) The owners of a premises connected to septic tanks, shall be notified at least 10 working days in
advance of an inspection/supervision being carried out by the supervisor.
b) The septic tanks shall be mandatorily inspected by the sanitary workers of the District Authority
or the registered septage transporters at regular intervals that are once in 2 years or as per all
relevant laws or directions pertaining at that time.
26. Report of Supervision
The supervisor shall, within 21 days of the inspection/supervison, send the inspection/
supervision report to the District Authority and the owner of the premises to which the septic
tank concerned is connected. If the supervisor is of the opinion that the owner of a premises
connected to a septic tank has contravened any regulations and the septic tank is not being
maintained correctly, the inspection/supervision report shall be accompanied by an advisory
note specifying the measures to be taken to remedy any contravention or matter to which the
advisory note relates.
27. Direction to supervisors

The Collector may, from time to time, issue directions to supervisors with regard to—
a) the manner in which an inspection/supervision is to be carried out,
b) the period or periods to be specified in an advisory note during which remedial works are to be
carried out,
c) the manner, including by electronic means, in which a supervisor is to send the inspection/
supervision report to the District Authority;
d) the details in respect of an inspection/supervision;
e) any other matters the Commissioner considers relevant for the purposes of these Regulations.
28. Special Inspection requirements
For any purposes relating to implementation and enforcement of these Regulations, the
Collector shall have the power of inspection/supervision of any premises connected with the
septic tank at any time.
PART VI – TRANSPORT OF SEPTAGE TO TREATMENT FACILITY
29. Manifest Form

a) All transport of domestic sludge and septage shall require a manifest form as per the format
given in Form- V of these Regulations. The septage transporter shall complete the manifest form
by providing the following required information:
i. Origin of sludge and septage indicating the name of the owner of the premises
connected to the septic tank, complete address, and contact numbers;
ii. Date and time of collection;
iii. Source of sludge and septage (whether it is residential, commercial, or institutional);
iv. Estimated volume (in cubic meters) of sludge and septage collected;
v. Identity of septage transporter including the name of the transporter, company,
address, storage capacity of vehicle, plate number, body number, and name of driver;
vi. Destination (treatment/disposal facility) of collected sludge and septage, (the manifest
form must be signed by the receiving facility, including the name and address of the
facility with date and time);
b) The name and signature of the owner of the premises connected to the septic tank, septage
transporter, treatment facility operator and disposal facility operator or their authorized
representative shall be affixed, without which, the manifest form shall be considered void.
c) The septage transporters and operators of treatment and disposal facilities are required o retain
copies of the manifest forms for a minimum of 3 years.
30. Responsibility of Septage Transporter
a) The septage transporter shall be responsible for safe transport of vehicle to the approved
treatment facility designated by the District Authority from time to time.
b) The septage transporter shall ensure that:
i. the registered collection vehicle including all equipments used for the transport of
septage shall have a leak-proof body and lock to secure the sludge and septage; comply
with applicable standards and must be able to withstand a collision with another vehicle
or any permanent structure;
ii. any tank and equipments used to transport septage shall not be used for the
transportation of any other materials or liquids;
iii. list of emergency numbers are pasted at the prominent place in all vehicles involved in
septage transport;
iv. the vehicle involved in transport is cleaned and washed inside as well as outside after
every shift;
v. drivers take the most convenient and congestion free route to the disposal site
considering traffic flows and plan the trip to arrive at the disposal site within the
specified operating hours;
vi. there is no discharge or emptying of sludge and septage into locations other than
approved treatment facilities and against the septage manifest form.
c) The septage transporter shall retain the documentation relating to all stages of septage
management i.e. desludging, transportation, treatment and disposal for a minimum of 3 years,
and registration related documentation permanently and shall on request by an authorised
official, present such documentation.
31. Accidental Spillage

a) In the event of accidental spillage of sludge/ septage, the septage transporter shall:
i. Immediately take action to contain the sludge/ septage, minimize the environmental
impact, and begin clean-up procedures
ii. Disinfect the area of spillage by sprinkling bleach solution or lime to the area and
washing it with water after 15 minutes
iii. Notify the Commissioner immediately
b) In the event that a septage transporter fails to perform cleanup operations, the Corporation
shall perform the clean-up and charge all related expenses incurred to the septage transporter.
PART VII – SEPTAGE TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL
32. Treatment
The septage shall be processed and treated in the treatment facilities approved and notified by the
District Authority from time to time, in accordance with the relevant laws and generally accepted
methods and standards.
33. Responsibilities of the Operator
The operator of the treatment facility shall be responsible for:

a) operating the septage treatment facility during working hours only;
b) accepting septage only if it is received with corresponding manifest forms;
c) testing the input quality of the collected septage for presence of any metal or traces of industrial
waste and ensuring that no commercial or industrial waste is unloaded in these facilities;
d) maintenance of minimum sanitation requirements at the treatment facilities including hand
wash facilities and toilet/ bathroom, medicated soaps and approved hand-drying machines and
first aid kits
34. Disposal
a) The treated septage shall be disposed at a specified location authorized and notified by the
Corporation from time to time, in compliance with the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and
the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
b) The District Authority shall ensure that the sanitary landfill is located above the highest ground
water level and in close proximity to treatment plant.
PART VIII – ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT
35. Administration and Enforcement
a) The administration and enforcement of these Regulations is hereby vested with the Collector of
the District Authority.
b) The District Authority may notify a District Septage Management Committee (DSMC) with such
composition as it may deem fit, to provide technical advice to the Collector in relation to the
administration and enforcement of these Regulations.
36. Violations and Penalties

a) Any person, is guilty of a violation if he
i. contravenes or fails to comply with any provisions of these Regulations;
ii. refuses or fails to comply with any notice served on him in terms of or for the purposes of
these Regulations;
iii. refuses or fails to comply with the terms and conditions of any contracts issued in terms of
these Regulations;
iv. obstructs, hinders or interferes with an authorised official or other official of the District
Authority acting under power delegated to him , in the exercise of any power or the
performance of any duty under these Regulations;
v. resorts to manual cleaning of the septic tank;
vi. resorts to unauthorized operation of the equipment used in septage management;
vii. resorts to transportation of septage without a valid registration;
viii. resorts to untreated discharge of septage;
ix. refuses or fails to comply with the order of direction lawfully given in terms of or for the
purposes of these Regulations.
b) If in the opinion of the Collector, any owner of premises connected to septic tanks, occupants of
a building or a structure who do not have septic tanks, septage transporters or operators of the
treatment facility has violated any provisions of these regulations, he may issue a notice of non-
conformity and require the violator to take steps as specified in the notice, within a period so
specified.
c) Any person who shall violate any provision of these Regulations shall be penalized as follows:
i. For not complying with the procedural requirements
• shall be punishable with a fine of Rs.1000 or any such sum which may be determined by
Corporation from time to time separately for private residential buildings, commercial
establishments and other establishments like funeral houses, hospitals; and
• if violation continues, a sum of Rs.500 or any such sum which the Corporation may
determine from time to time, may be imposed for every day during the continuance of
such offence.
ii. For specific violation
• Residential structures without septic tanks or incorrect/improper septic tank - shall be
punishable with a fine of Rs.5000 or any such sum which may be determined by District
Authority from time to time, and/or prosecution as per relevant law
• Commercial Buildings without septic tanks or incorrect/improper septic tank - shall be
punishable with a fine of Rs.15000 or any such sum which may be determined by
Corporation from time to time, and/or prosecution as per relevant law
• Manual cleaning of septic tank - shall be punishable with a fine of Rs.5000 or any such
sum which may be determined by Corporation from time to time, and/or prosecution as
per relevant law
• Any unauthorized operation of the equipment/vehicle used for septage management -
shall be punishable with a fine of Rs.5000 or any such sum which may be determined by
District Authority from time to time, and/or seizure of equipment/vehicle and/or
prosecution as per relevant law
• Transportation of septage without a valid registration certificate- shall be punishable with
a fine of Rs.5000 or any such sum which may be determined by District Authority from
time to time, and/or seizure of equipment/vehicle and/or prosecution as per relevant law.
• Improper sludge/septage disposal or untreated discharge of septage by the households -
shall be punishable with a fine of Rs.5000 or any such sum which may be determined by
District Authority from time to time and/or prosecution as per relevant law
• Improper sludge/septage disposal or untreated discharge of septage by the septage
treatment plant - shall be punishable with a fine of Rs.15000 or any such sum which may
be determined by District Authority from time to time, and/or seizure of
equipment/vehicle and/or prosecution as per relevant law
37. Record Keeping
a) The District Authority shall be responsible for record keeping of information relating to all stages
of septage management i.e. desludging, transportation, treatment and disposal. These
information include, but are not limited to, the following:
i. Data on the households and other properties with septic tanks
ii. Commercial Buildings and structures who have desludged their septic tanks
iii. Volume of septage generated, treated and disposed
iv. Septage Transporter‘s information including operator-in-charge for each location,
vehicle details
v. Name and location of Treatment Facilities
vi. Public Grievances
PART IX – MISCELLANEOUS
38. Non-payment of Fees or Any Other Charge

If any fees or any other charge, payable under these Regulations is not paid within the stipulated
time after the demand notice has been duly served, then the same shall be recovered as arrears of
land revenue or by any other method as permissible under the provisions of State Name Act and
Rules made thereunder.
39. Delegation of Power

The Collector may delegate all or any of its powers under these Regulations to any officer of the
District Authority or any such individual deemed fit for the purpose.
40. Direction of Government to be Supplementary to Regulations

The directions given from time to time, by the Government shall be supplementary to but not in
derogation of the provisions of these Regulations.
41. Removal of Doubts

If any doubt arises, relating to interpretation, scope or application of these Regulations, decision of
the District Authority shall be final.
42. Conflict
In the event of there being any conflict between the provisions of these Regulations and the
provisions of the contract, if any entered into by the District Authority under the purview of these
Regulations, the provision of these Regulations shall prevail.
43. Power to Relax Regulations
In exceptional cases where Collector is satisfied that the operation of these Regulations causes hardship
in any particular case or where the Collector is of the opinion that it is necessary or expedient in public
interest to do so, he may relax the provisions of these Regulations with the approval of State
Government.
44. Appeal
a) Any person who is aggrieved by a decision of an Authorized Official under these Regulations,
may appeal against such decision to the Collector, by filing an appeal petition, specifying the
grounds of appeal, within fifteen days of such decision.
b) Any person, who is aggrieved by decision of the Collector, may appeal against such decision to
the District Authority by filing an appeal petition against such a decision.
Provided, no appeal against an order of assessment under these Regulations shall be valid
unless the amount of fee payable as assessed has been deposited.
45. Jurisdiction of Court
The concerned Civil Court of <District Name> shall have the jurisdiction over all matters of
disputes and litigation, if any.
46. Repeal and Saving

Any regulations of the District Authority on Septage Management shall stand repealed on the
date of publication of these Regulations in the official Gazette. Provided that any order made or
action taken under the Regulations so repealed shall be deemed to have been made or taken
under the corresponding provisions of these Regulations for a period of three months.
Collector
Name District Authority
Annexures
FORM – I : REGISTRATION OF SEPTIC TANK

(Note: Registration Fees to be paid through Demand Draft only in favour of <District Authority Name>
and submitted along with this form)
OWNER / APPLICANT DETAILS
First Name
______________________________________________
Correspondence Address
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Mobile Number
_________________________
E-mail ID
_________________________
Address of the Site for Septic Tank:
Details of the Septic Tank:

1. Type of construction (Concrete / Brick Masonry/ Stone
Masonry)
2 Size of Septic Tank
2.1 Length
2.2 Breadth
2.3 Depth (Including Freeboard)
2.4 Freeboard
3 Volume of Septic Tank (Liquid Capacity in Litres)
4 Location of Septic Tank (Front side / Back of Building)
5 Distance of Septic Tank from the road / street
UNDERTAKING
I certify that this information is true, accurate, and complete to the best of my knowledge. I am aware
that there are significant penalties for submitting false information, including the possibility of fine and
imprisonment. I hereby apply to have the Septic Tank at the above address registered with <Name
District Authority> under these Regulations.
Date _____________________ _______________________

Place _____________________ Owner / Applicant Signature
Note: Documents to be enclosed:

1. Receipt of Payment of Registration Fees
2. Site Plan (showing building line, location of septic tank)
3. Detailed Plan and Section of Septic Tank (Scale not less than 1:50)
FORM – II : REGISTRATION/MODIFICATION OF SEPTAGE TRANSPORTER AND SEPTAGE
TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE
Mark appropriate box below:

(Note: Registration Fees to be paid through Demand Draft only in favour of <Name District Authority >
and submitted along with this form)
Initial Registration
Renewal registration
Additional Trucks Only
Name Change and Change of Ownership
Modification other
For Renewal: Transporter‘s Reg. No.______________________

Name of Transporter
Address of the Transporter
Contact Name:
Contact Phone
Contact Email Address
Contact Fax
Quantity to be Transported per Year (Litres / Cum) ___________________

Vehicle Information (Please list all vehicles that will be used to transport sewage sludge. Add additional
rows or attach a separate list, if necessary)
No. of Vehicles:
Make of Type of Model No. Year of Registration Registered
Vehicle Vehicle Manufacture Number of Owner
Vehicle
Transporter Certification:
I have personally examined and I am familiar with the information submitted, and I hereby certify that
this information is true, accurate, and complete to the best of my knowledge. I am aware that there are
significant penalties for submitting false information, including the possibility of fine and imprisonment.
____________________________________
Signature of the Transporter or his authorized representative
Name ______________________________
Date & Place ________________________
FORM – III : RECEIPT/ EVIDENCE FOR DE-SLUDGING BY OWNER / AUTHORISED PERSON
1. Details of Septage Transported:

a. Volume (Litres / Cum) __________________________________________________
b. Source (Septic Tank / Cesspool/ Others) ___________________________________
c. Type (Residential / Commercial / Restaurant / Community Toilet / Others)
______________________________________________________________________
2. Details of Septage Generator / Household:

a. Name of the Property Owner_____________________________________________
b. House No. / Plot No. ___________________________________________________
c. Detailed address ______________________________________________________
d. Phone Number _______________________________________________________
UNDERTAKING
The undersigned being authorized does hereby certify to the accuracy of the volume of
septage, the source and type of septage collected and transported.
Date________________ Signature_____________________
(Authorised person or Property Owner)
FORM – IV : APPLICATION FORM FOR REGISTRATION OF SUPERVISORS
(Note: Registration Fees to be paid through Demand Draft only in favour of <District
Authority> and submitted along with this form)
Name of the Applicant ___________________________________________________

Address of the Applicant __________________________________________________
Mobile number & Email ID ________________________________________________
Educational / Technical Qualification of the Applicant
______________________________________________________________________
Experience in similar works:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
UNDERTAKING
I have personally examined and I am familiar with the information submitted, and I
hereby certify under penalty of law that this information is true, accurate, and complete
to the best of my knowledge. I am aware that there are significant penalties for
submitting false information, including the possibility of fine and imprisonment.
____________________________________
Signature of the Applicant
Name ______________________________
Date & Place ________________________
FORM – V : MANIFEST FORM FOR ALL TRANSPORT OF DOMESTIC SLUDGE AND SEPTAGE
District Authority use only
RECEIVER / DISPOSAL
CERTIFICATION OF RECEIPT: The above waste was received by this facility and will
be processed, disposed of or recycled in accordance with applicable laws.
Litres/ cum Received ____________
Name:
Signature:
Date / Time:
Annexure 2: EOI For Setting up Faecal Sludge and Septage Treatment
Plants (FSTPs) in Andhra Pradesh
Recently Andhra Pradesh floated an EOI setting up of Faecal Sludge Treatment Plants (FSTPs) in 78 ULBs
on DBOT basis. Similar projects should also be launched for census and rural areas:
Annexure 3: Status of FSTPs in India
Estimated
Brief Number of % of Capital Desludging
Area of Operational
Name of Capacity description Month/Year of Households Households Revenue Model Expenditure Operator
S.No. City State Facility Expenditure
FSTP in KLD of Commissioning covered by covered by Operated by of FSTP (in INR (Informal/
(Sq.m) (in INR lakhs
technology FSTP FSTP ULB/ private Crores) regulated)
per year)
operator/ Other
Town Municipal
Large
Council has a truck.
advertisement
The private
billboard: Rs
88% of total operator will run
By CDD for 2 2.4L p.a.
Gravity town HH the FSTP and truck.
years after Sale of Compost:
based have septic Private players in
November 650 commissioning; Rs 25-30,000 Rs 6 Lacs per
1 Devanhalli Devanahalli Karnataka 6 KLD biological 5,632 tank / pits; Rs 67 Lakhs the area are not yet
2015 sq.m. by private p.a. year
treatment 100% of such regulated,
operator after Rest paid by CDD
technology HH are municipality has
Nov-2017 (by Govt. once
covered passed resolutions
private
to license / regulate
contractor is
them, will act on it
appointed)
in 2018
FSTP is operated
by private Desludging trucks
West Not Sludge 2.70 Not operator and Not Rs 13.5 lakhs are being operated
2 Bansberia Bansberia 2009 Not Available Private Operator
Bengal Available Drying Beds hectare Available revenue comes Available per annum by Bansberia
from selling of Municipality
compost.
UASB +
Serves Tipping charges Rs 4.25Cr to
MBBR + Rs 24-30
Brahmapur 1,200 Cochin and paid by Trucks build + 5 Informal private
3 Cochin Kerala 100 KLD Filters and 2015 Private Operator Lacs per
am sq. m. surrounding that discharge years operators
Sludge year
areas sludge there operations
Drying Beds
Estimated
Number of % of Capital Desludging
Brief Area of Operated by Operational
Name of Capacity Month/Year of Households Households Revenue Model Expenditure Operator
S.No. City State description of Facility ULB/ private Expenditure
FSTP in KLD Commissioning covered by covered by of FSTP (in INR (Informal/
technology (Sq.m) operator/ (in INR lakhs
FSTP FSTP Crores) regulated)
Other per year)
Same Private
Private Operator also
Operator runs the
(PPP Model, municipal
About 50% of
entire Hotels and HH desludging
HH have
Capital Exp. pay fees for truck and
1,000 sq.m. septic tanks /
Gravity based was invested having septic provides
(total plot 3,500 HH + soak pits so all
aerobic by private tanks cleaned. scheduled
Jammu & is 3,000 1,500 Hotels these will be Rs 10 lakhs
4 Leh Leh 12 KLD stabilization August 2017 operator). This fee covers Rs 54 lakhs cleaning
Kashmir sq.m. for / served; 100% per year
using Planted Also tank cleaning, services across
future Guesthouses of hotels have
Drying Beds operates transportation the city. There
expansion) septic tanks
municipal and treatment are no private
and will be
desludging costs. operators--if
sevred
truck to any start
clean septic business, they
tanks will be licensed
by Municipality
Screens,
4048 sq m
Horizontal
Trial run built up Households to
Planted Gravel Rs 4.93 Cr Rs 17.6
Tamil completed (will area. Total pay fees for Informal
5 Kanchipuram Karunguzhi 23 KLD Filters, Sludge 10507 33% ULB paid by Lakhs per
Nadu be commisioned area having septic Private players
Drying Beds, Govt. year
shortly) 8093.71 sq tanks cleaned.
Maturation
m
Pond
Private
ULB has signed
Operator
Capital Cost contract with
and contract
funded under private
Septage Solid Liquid overseen by
AMRUT & O&M operator. Also
6 Treatment Puri Orissa 50 Separation & October 2017 20x120 m 23885 54% Orissa Water 1,79,25,106 16,86,470
Cost to be there are other
Plant of Puri DEWATS Supply &
borne by State informal
Sewerage
Govt. private
Board
opeartors
(OWSSB)
Annexure 4: CPHEEO Standards for Disposal of Sludge
Principles to be followed for use of sewage sludge in soil for crops:
• Sludge from open air drying beds should not be used on soils where it is likely to come into
direct contact with the vegetables and fruits
• Sludge from drying beds should be ploughed into the soil before raising crops. Top dressing of
soil with sludge should be prohibited
• Dried sludge may be used for lawns and for growing deep rooted cash crops and fodder grass
where direct contact with edible part is minimized
• Heat dried sludge is the safest from public health point of view. Though deficient in humus, it is
convenient in handling and distribution. It should be used along with farmyard manure
• Liquid sludge either raw or digested if used, it must be thoroughly incorporated into the soil and
land should be given rest to avoid all possible direct human contact
Ceiling concentration of heavy metals in treated sewage sludge for use in agriculture
S.No Chemical Ceiling S.No Chemical Ceiling

Concentration (A) Concentration (A)
1 Arsenic 75 6 Chromimum 500 (total)
2 Cadmium 85 7 Selenium 100
3 Copper 4300 8 Zinc 7500
4 Mercury 57 9 Molybdeum 75
5 Nickel 420 10 Lead 840

Ensuring Safe Faecal Sludge Management in Rural India

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Disclaimer and Notice to Reader

Areas in urban India can be

Table 2: Type of Sanitation Facility in CTs

Rural area can be

2.1 Current Legal Framework for FSSM

The National Urban Sanitation Policy (NUSP) of 2008 brought a paradigm

With Swachh Bharat Mission (G) aiming at providing every HH with

Laws for the Prohibition and Elimination of Manual Scavenging

Panchayati Raj Laws 5

Need for transforming and controlling existing sanitation practice

Administrative Provisions for Effective Implementation

2.2 Policy Gaps

2.3 Funding and Financial Channels

Section 3: Technology Options Available in India and Abroad for FSM

Faecal Sludge and Septage Management (FSSM) Value Chain

Figure 3: FSM Value Chain

3.1 Existing Treatment Technologies

3.2 Immediate/ Intermediate Solutions 9

The Sanitation Service Chain shows how faecal sludge

4.1 Service Level Agreement Overview:

4.2 Overview of different operational models

Soak Pit Cleaning

Service Providers Obligations:

# Service level agreement Penalties for non-compliance

4 Cumulative Penalty Cumulative Penalty cannot exceed more than 20% of

Setting up frameworks and responsibilities

Increasing knowledge dissemination and capacity development

Creating sustainable business models and fee structures

Developing appropriate technologies

(Detailed document on the next steps would be uploaded separately)

The Devanhalli Story

Around 90% of the households (~5800) are equipped

Leh Model (Planted drying bed) 13

Figure 5: Leh FSTP Model

Periyanaickenpalayam Fecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP) 14

Section 7: IEC/SBCC note on Faecal Sludge Management

Figure 6: FSM Value Chain

Available communication resources

1. Bangladesh FSM Story www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvBYotOZuF8

Actions for key stakeholders for IEC/SBCC

Gram Panchayats/Local Bodies:

Sanitation workers engaged in collection and transportation:

Full cycle of sanitation

Q3. What is ‘Containment’ in FCS?

Q7. What are ‘Public Toilets’?

Q8. How are toilets classified?

Figure 7:Pit Latrine

Q12. What is a ‘Soak Pit’?

Q14. What is “On-site Sanitation” (OSS) System?

Q18. What is ‘Transport’ in FCS?

Q19. What are desludging vehicles?

Q21. What is ‘Treatment’ in FSM?

Q22. What is ‘FSTP’?

Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP)- Top View Layout

Sewage Treatment Plant (STP)- Top View

Q24. What is ‘Disposal/Reuse’ in FSM?

Draft Model Faecal Sludge Management Regulations

<District Authority, District Name >

PART I –TITLE, EXTENT AND COMMENCEMENT ............................................................................40

PART I –TITLE, EXTENT AND COMMENCEMENT

1. Short Title, Extent and Commencement

3. Purpose and Scope

The purpose and scope of these Regulations are:

Date _ ___