Introduction
Introduction
1.1 Introduction
The global crisis of unsafe water, sanitation, and health is a pressing issue that requires
urgent improvements to meet development goals, reduce child mortality, and sustainably
improve health. Sanitation encompasses water supply, waste disposal, housing, food
protection, and working environment safety. Improved drinking water access requires
improved sanitation and hygiene practices, collectively known as WASH, which has socio-
economic impacts, especially for women and girls. WASH is a key target within the
Sustainable Development Goal, demonstrating its importance in public health. Wastewater
refers to water impacted by human activities, including domestic, industrial, commercial,
agricultural, surface runoff, stormwater, and sewer inflow or infiltration.
Town planners in the Ramchandrapur area near the Buriganga River. Ramchandra Road 8-
16 generates a wastewater plan. To build a nature-based wastewater treatment plant to
reduce wastewater generation. One-third of the world's population needs cleaner drinking
water due to population growth, financial advancements, and water usage. Improved
facilities increase energy consumption and operating costs. The project aims to design a
low-cost sewer system management for the Ramchandrapur River community, ensuring an
economical, environmentally friendly, and sustainable system to achieve SDG-6.
Sewers vary in size and location, with building sewers conveying wastewater from
buildings to lateral or ranch sewers, and lateral or branch sewers being the first element of
a community sewage collection system, usually in streets, used to collect and convey
sewage from building sewers. Main sewers transport sewage from lateral sewers to trunk
or interceptor sewers. Trunk sewers transport sewage to treatment plants or intercepting
sewers. Intercepting sewers intercept multiple main or trunk sewers, collecting sewage
from specific town drainage areas. Domestic wastewater, industrial wastewater,
infiltration/inflow (I/I), and stormwater are all types of wastewater discharged from
residential, commercial, institutional, roof leaders, foundation drains, and storm sewers.
Groundwater infiltration into sanitary sewer systems occurs due to defective pipes, leaking
joints, poor connections, and cracked manhole walls. Sanitary sewer systems consist of
three types: gravity, pressure, and vacuum, each with specific hydraulic characteristics and
purposes. High groundwater tables lead to sewer leakage and increased wastewater
volume, with rates varying from 3,000 to 50,000 liters/hectare/day, depending on
sewerage, materials, and area.
The rapid decrease in groundwater levels is causing concerns about freshwater crises and
land subsidence, with geoscientists criticizing the lack of scientific governance of water.
Freshwater, formerly abundant, is rapidly being depleted for the people of Dhaka and may
soon disappear below. Dhaka's 23 million people rely on 70% of their water supply from
groundwater, as rivers and water bodies are either polluted or encroached upon. Dhaka
Wasa, the Water & Sewage Authority, pumps 3.3 million cubic meters of groundwater daily,
enough to fill 20 cricket stadiums. However, during supply, the authority wastes five
stadiums' worth of this precious water in system loss daily. Bangladesh Water
Development Board reports a 2m annual drop in Dhaka's groundwater level, a significant
decrease from 1,272 observation wells over 60 years. Historical data reveals a consistent
drop in Dhaka's water level, from 25 meters in 1996 to 75 meters in 2023, consistent with
forecasts by the BWDB and researchers. By 2050, the third most populous city in the
world is predicted to have a 120-meter groundwater demand, supplied by hundreds of
unapproved deep tube wells, 2,000 private pumps, and 1,000 Wasa pumps.
The demand for freshwater is increasing rapidly due to Dhaka's growing population, which
is even more dense than the Rohingya refugee camp in Kutupalong, according to Statista.
[3] Since groundwater is seen as a gift from nature to the people living in the Bengal
basin, its utilization is a national priority in Bangladesh. Over thousands of years, the
Ganges and Brahmaputra brought silt and material from the Himalayas to build the
subterranean freshwater reservoir. However, the government needs to regulate aquifers
scientifically since the careless extraction of groundwater disturbs the ecology. Dr. Anwar
stresses that because of the existing tendency, future disasters may result from extraction
exceeding recharging. Rising sea levels and climate change are causing a freshwater
problem for Dhaka. Aquifers cannot naturally recharge because of the city's concretization
and disappearance of water bodies. According to Dr. Anwar, groundwater administration
based on science can keep Dhaka safe. The government's 2013 Water Act, however, is
inadequate and ignores groundwater, which is the most misused and used resource.
Objectives:
1. Design of low-cost sewer system management for the Ramchandrapur River
community.
2. To ensure an economical, environmentally friendly, and sustainable system.
3. To achieve SDG-6.
1.2 Literature Review:
Sewers vary in size and location, with building sewers conveying wastewater from
buildings to lateral or ranch sewers, and lateral or branch sewers being the first element of
a community sewage collection system, usually in streets, used to collect and convey
sewage from building sewers. Main sewers transport sewage from lateral sewers to trunk
or interceptor sewers. Trunk sewers transport sewage to treatment plants or larger
Wastewater can be categorized into four types: agricultural runoff, rain and stormwater
runoff, industrial wastewater, and domestic wastewater. It can come from various sources
and contain multiple contaminants, including physical, chemical, and biological impurities.
Some water is safe for drinking, while others are harmful due to its past waste.
Fig: Agricultural Runoff Fig: Storm, rain and domestic runoff
Domestic sewage, also known as black water, originates from sanitary facilities like toilets
and sinks. Industrial wastewater includes water spent in manufacturing and food
processing. Sullage, or gray water, is less foul and can be discharged through open surface
drains. Stormwater, surface runoff from rainfall, enters sewers through inlets and can be
disposed of in natural rivers or streams without treatment. Sewers carry sanitary sewage
and industrial waste, while storm sewers carry storm sewage and other waste.
Fig: Sewer Network
Sewerage is the entire collection, treatment, and disposal of sewage through a network of
sewers. It involves conveyance from various generation points, treatment to modify
sewage characteristics, and safe water disposal. The conventional sewerage system
comprises house connections, sewer systems, treatment plants, and receiving
environments for collecting, conveying, processing, and disposal of household or
institutional wastewater. A partially combined or partially separate system uses one set of
sewers for low rainfall, while heavy rainfall separates excess stormwater through open
drains to natural channels.
Fig: Combined sewer system dry weather vs wet weather [4]
There are three different sewage collection systems: The Separate Sewerage system
consists of two separate drainage systems: a sanitary sewer system for wastewater
treatment, and another a storm sewer system for wastewater discharge to receiving water.
The combined sewerage system collects and transports sanitary sewage and stormwater
through a single set of sewers, offering advantages like cost-effectiveness, easy cleaning,
and diluted sewage strength. However, it increases treatment plant load, requires lifting,
may cause overflow, pollute stormwater, and requires dry periods.
Partially combined or partially separated sewer systems offer advantages like small sizes,
combined systems, and simplified stormwater discharge problems, but they also have
disadvantages like low flow velocity and increased pump and treatment unit load.
Septic tanks are necessary for storing and releasing wastewater, and small-bore sewer
systems are economical and effective for collecting it. These systems are inexpensive to
construct, need less flow, and are perfect for small communities.
Waste stabilization ponds (WSPs) are tiny pits that employ biological, thermal, and
adsorption processes to treat wastewater. They are effective in removing pathogens and
organic waste, comparable to activated sludge. WSPs are economical and appropriate for
underdeveloped countries with humid, warm weather. They can be used in conjunction
with aquaculture systems to cultivate a single crop or coexist with multiple species.
Fig: Water pollution of most of the water sources in Bangladesh [5]
The majority of 38 water pollution-related news stories were published in January and
June, with a significant number in May and July. The lowest was recorded in September and
December. [5]
Excessive water pollution, particularly in river water, poses a significant threat to aquatic
species, as highlighted in 2011 "The Daily Star" news articles.
Dhaka, Bangladesh, has several waste treatment plants, including the largest in South Asia,
the Dasherkandi Sewage Treatment Plant, capable of treating 500 million liters of sewage
daily, handling 20-25% of Dhaka's daily wastewater. Dhaka WASA plans to construct five
sewage treatment plants by 2030, including the Pagla Sewage Treatment Plant, which is
undergoing renovations and is expected to treat 40% of Dhaka's sewage once operational.
The Pagla Sewage Treatment Plant (PSTP) in Dhaka treats wastewater from neighborhoods
like Mohammedpur, Rayerbazar (Ramchandrapur), and Zigatola, which are connected to
the sewage system. The plant's infrastructure includes a network of lift stations for
collection and transport. Due to its dense population, this is part of a larger effort to
manage sewage in Dhaka.
The first sewage treatment plant was built in 1923 in Saidabad, followed by the first
conventional facility in 1968 in Pagla. The Pagla Sewage Treatment Plant was renovated in
1977 and modernized in 1992 as part of the JICA-sponsored Urgent Sewerage Construction
& Rehabilitation Project. The plant effectively treats wastewater at average flow rates of
96,000 m3/d and daily peak rates of up to 120,000 m3/d, achieving lower pollutant
concentrations. However, only 20% of Dhaka's population is covered by the city's sewage
system, mainly concentrated in affluent districts. With a population density of 29,069
inhabitants per square kilometer, over 35% of Dhaka's population resides in low-income
areas, with middle-class and upper-class households having superior sanitary facilities.
The Master Plan, from 2015 to 2025, aims to collect wastewater from 3.3 million people in
the Pagla watershed and 1.4 million people in the Dasherkandi catchment, with a 65%
house connection rate. Dhaka's residential areas comprise 88% of its total area, with a
significant northern area not connected to the WASA sewage system.
Wastewater treatment plants safely dispose or reuse treated wastewater through phases of
separation, biological and chemical processes, and polishing, encompassing industrial,
agricultural, and leachate treatment.
The process of wastewater treatment involves passing the sewage through grids or bars to
remove heavy solids, then slowly flowing through a grit chamber to settle sand, pebbles,
and soil, then entering a settling tank to pay solid waste materials such as sludge and scum.
Secondary treatment involves aerobic bacteria processing and eliminating organic and
biological wastes in an aeration tank, gravity-separating the sludge, sending it to a digester
for biogas production, and drying it for compost or fertilization.
The passage outlines the stages of municipal wastewater treatment, including preliminary,
primary, secondary, and tertiary treatment, which involve chlorination to disinfect effluent.
Wastewater treatment is divided into three readily followed phases: primary (solid
removal), secondary (bacterial breakdown), and tertiary (additional filtering).
Waste management involves various steps such as collection, weighing, sorting, mixing,
loading, temperature control, moisture control, mating, screening, and sales. Ganga
cleansing is crucial as industrial and municipal waste is discharged into surrounding bodies
of water, lowering water quality and making it unsuitable for human consumption. River
water is filtered and treated to remove contaminants before distribution to homes. [11-12]
Conventional sewers:
Wastewater comes from various sources and is categorized into different types, each
containing different contaminants. Domestic wastewater, originating from household
sources, contains human excreta, food waste, soaps, and detergents. Agricultural
wastewater, produced from farming activities, includes animal waste, pesticides, and
fertilizers. Municipal wastewater, from urban areas, includes gray and black water.
Industrial wastewater, generated from manufacturing processes, contains high levels of
chemicals and pollutants. Rainwater, contaminated by pollutants, can create breeding
grounds for pests. Oil spills, often due to leaks during drilling or transportation, can
severely damage marine environments. Sewage, containing human waste and other
contaminants, is a significant public health issue, especially in developing countries, leading
to diseases like gastroenteritis, dysentery, and cholera.
Improper disposal of wastewater poses severe health risks, including gastroenteritis,
dysentery, typhoid, cholera, polio, meningitis, and hepatitis. In Bangladesh, inadequate
sewage management has led to a high prevalence of waterborne diseases, emphasizing the
necessity for effective wastewater treatment systems. [13-15]
Sewage is a mixture of organic and inorganic contaminants suspended in water. It contains
organic contaminants like feces, urine, oil, grease, waste, pesticides, and heavy metals.
Inorganic contaminants include phosphates, nitrates, nitrogen and phosphorus, and heavy
metals. Disease-causing microorganisms like typhoid, cholera, and dysentery are also
present. Sewage treatment is necessary to remove these contaminants before safe
discharge into water bodies.
Alternative methods for sewage disposal include septic tanks, composting pits, and
vermicomposting. Septic tanks treat sewage by breaking down trash with anaerobic
bacteria. Composting pits accumulate human excreta, turning it into manure.
Vermicomposting in India uses red berms for simple, sanitary, and water-saving treatment.
Biogas plants and conventional toilets also aid in water conservation and waste control.
[17]
Sanitation and diseases: Inadequate sanitation and polluted drinking water lead to
numerous diseases. Many people lack access to sewage systems, leading to untreated
human excreta that poses health risks and can pollute water and soil. This affects both
surface and groundwater.
Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Md. Atiqul Islam announced plans to install septic
tanks and soak wells in buildings in Gulshan-Banani-Baridhara, stating strict action will be
taken if sewage connections are not available.
Mayor Atiq emphasized the importance of constructing a drainage network before road
construction for a permanent solution. He emphasized that Dhaka is a city of everyone, and
rescuing canals is crucial to prevent flooding and save the city from drowning.
1.3 Review of supplied documents
The documents on hand provide a thorough overview of the sewage network design
project. The project plan is the first document that describes the project's objectives,
timeline, budget, and scope. This plan is critical for good project planning since it gives a
complete overview of the project, ensuring that all components are well-coordinated and in
line with the comprehensive goals.
The studies also contain a feasibility evaluation, which thoroughly evaluates the project's
possible advantages and hazards. This assessment is critical for determining the project's
feasibility and identifying potential obstacles during execution. Understanding these
factors allows you to take the appropriate steps to reduce risk and increase your chances of
success. The documents also include an environmental evaluation that describes the
project's environmental effect. This review considers a wide variety of elements, including
the possible impact on land, water, and air resources. It also evaluates the potential
consequences for wildlife, human health, and cultural resources. By measuring these
environmental consequences, the evaluation assures that the project follows
environmental rules and encourages sustainable practices.
Ultimately, the provided materials give a comprehensive and in-depth overview of the
sewage network design project, emphasizing its goals, prospective benefits and hazards,
environmental implications, and utilizing available resources cost-effectively. This
comprehensive evaluation ensures that all essential areas are properly evaluated and
handled, laying the groundwork for a successful project implementation.
The evaluations that differ concerning this project are mentioned below:
1. Enhanced Aquatic Ecosystem: Implementation of filter stripping will lead to
cleaner water bodies, supporting aquatic life and promoting a healthier ecosystem.
2. Improved Environmental Health: The project aims to reduce pollutants, leading
to cleaner air, water, and soil, enhancing overall environmental health.
3. Protection of Public Health: By lowering harmful pollutants, the project will
reduce the risk of health issues related to waterborne and airborne contaminants.
4. Pollution Mitigation: Effective strategies will be implemented to minimize
pollution and prevent the discharge of harmful substances into the environment.
5. Economic Benefits: The project is expected to enhance the local economy by
promoting sustainability, improving property values, and reducing healthcare costs.
In this project management, creating a detailed budget that accounts for labor, materials,
and other project-related expenses is crucial. In addition to community people who will
gain from the initiative, the project team should include engineers, sewage system and
renewable energy professionals, and a project manager. An environmental impact
assessment and a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis are essential steps in the project
review process. A thorough plan for system training and maintenance that lays out precise
instructions on how to maintain and operate the system must also be included in the
project. Finally, a distribution plan should specify how the system will be marketed, sold,
and used to guarantee that users can obtain the information required for appropriate use
and upkeep.
Project management is the act of organizing, planning, and carrying out projects to
accomplish certain objectives within predetermined scope, budget, and time restrictions.
To guarantee a good outcome, it entails setting goals for the project, putting together a
team, assigning resources, and keeping an eye on its advancement. For firms to complete
projects that satisfy stakeholders, boost productivity, and spur innovation, project
management is essential. A project's overall success and the efficacy of project
management are gauged by key performance indicators (KPIs) including Return on
Investment (ROI), customer happiness, budget adherence, risk analysis, and on-time
delivery.
Essential responsibilities include choosing the right materials, designing and laying down
sewage pipelines, and putting in place a dependable system for moving wastewater to
treatment centers. Choosing building methods and materials carefully ensures the system's
endurance and structural integrity, which is another responsibility of civil engineering.
Environmental evaluations are essential for assessing how the sewage system may affect
nearby ecosystems. They also call for careful monitoring and the creation of mitigation
plans to reduce negative effects.
Prioritizing the health and safety of locals entails protecting local water sources by
implementing appropriate wastewater disposal techniques and alerting the public to
possible risks by erecting safety barriers and warning signs. To guarantee maximum
performance and lifetime, all system components must undergo routine maintenance and
inspections.
The construction of a sewage system is a significant project that needs careful design and
execution. It is a difficult job that needs to be carefully planned and carried out, taking the
community's safety, health, and environmental concerns into account. The longevity of the
city's infrastructure and the welfare of its citizens depend on its effective execution.
A systematic strategy for detecting, evaluating, and managing hazards related to the design,
building, and operation of sewage systems is known as risk management in sewage
network design. This procedure is essential for maintaining the infrastructure's
dependability and safety while reducing any possible harm to the environment and public
health. Financial, environmental, safety, and logistical risks can all be classified as key risks
in this context. Examples of these risks include the release of untreated wastewater, the
disturbance of natural drainage patterns, construction delays, financial overruns, and
safety concerns resulting from contamination or dangerous materials.
Risk identification is the first step in the risk management process; this involves identifying
possible risks and assessing their likelihood and potential effect. Project managers may
concentrate on the most important problems by prioritizing risks according to their
likelihood and severity thanks to this evaluation. Effective risk mitigation techniques, such
as putting engineering controls into place, creating safety procedures, carrying out routine
inspections, and making sure environmental laws are followed, may be devised after
hazards have been evaluated. Addressing issues and promoting cooperation requires
involving stakeholders, such as members of the community and government organizations.
To adapt to changing conditions, risk assessment and monitoring must be ongoing, as must
the efficacy of mitigation techniques. This entails doing routine performance evaluations of
the sewage system and, if required, putting remedial measures into place. A complete risk
management strategy should include training for staff members engaged in the design,
building, and maintenance of sewage systems, as well as detailed documentation of
identified hazards, assessment methodology, and mitigation measures. Project managers
may improve the resilience and sustainability of sewage networks and ultimately protect
public health and environmental quality by including these components in the design and
implementation process.
1.6.3 Required resources and budget:
Resources:
To adjust to changing circumstances, risk assessment and monitoring must be done on a
regular basis, as must the efficacy of mitigation measures. This includes conducting routine
performance evaluations of the sewage system and, if required, putting remedial measures
into place. Along with training for staff members engaged in the design, building, and
maintenance of sewage systems, a comprehensive risk management strategy should
contain detailed documentation of identified hazards, assessment methodology, and
mitigation measures. Project managers may improve the sustainability and resilience of the
infrastructure and ultimately protect environmental quality and public health by including
these elements into the design and execution of sewage networks.
Budget:
The scale of the system, the scope of the project, and the cost of local labor and materials all
have a major impact on the sewage system project budget. The budget usually includes
engineering design, construction, and any required consulting services, among other
important items.
The fees for different project specialists, including surveyors, geotechnical engineers,
environmental engineers, and civil engineers, make up the majority of engineering design
expenditures. The project's complexity and the amount of time needed to finish the design
decide these expenses. The costs associated with constructing treatment facilities,
establishing pipelines, and configuring control systems are often covered by construction
costs. The total budget will include the cost of installing any pumps that the system
requires.
Another crucial financial factor to take into account is consulting services, which might
differ depending on the specifications of the project. Stormwater management, project
management fees, and hydrological analysis are a few examples of these services. The size
of the sewage system, the project's scope, and local labor and material prices all influence
the overall budget for a sewerage system project. As needed, special funding is set aside for
engineering design, construction, and consulting services.
Air quality in Ramchandrapur is adversely affected by pollutants emitted from the cement
factory and brick field farm, which release particulate matter and harmful gasses into the
atmosphere. These emissions can deteriorate local air quality, increasing the risk of
respiratory illnesses and other health issues for nearby residents.
Water pollution in the area is exacerbated by the unchecked flow of domestic and
industrial wastewater, along with sewage from the local community, directly into the river.
This untreated effluent carries a range of contaminants, including chemicals, heavy metals,
and pathogens, which can degrade water quality, harm aquatic life, and threaten the health
of those who rely on the river for water.
The cumulative effect of these pollutants not only disrupts local ecosystems but also
contributes to broader environmental degradation, underscoring the urgent need for
effective wastewater management solutions in Ramchandrapur.
Given that Ramchandrapur lacks even basic wastewater treatment facilities, the area is
particularly vulnerable to the adverse environmental effects of untreated sewage. The
introduction of effective wastewater treatment processes, both primary and secondary,
could significantly mitigate these impacts, but careful consideration must be given to
managing any potential by-products of treatment.
The lack of a sewerage system in Ramchandrapur has had a detrimental effect on the
community. In areas where sewerage systems have been implemented, they have played a
critical role in collecting, treating, and disposing of wastewater, which is essential for
protecting public health and the environment. These systems have been instrumental in
reducing the prevalence of waterborne diseases, improving quality of life, and safeguarding
natural resources.
One of the most significant benefits of a sewerage system is its contribution to reducing
waterborne diseases. Prior to the implementation of such systems, drinking water and
other water sources were often contaminated with fecal matter, leading to frequent
outbreaks of diseases like cholera and typhoid fever. In Ramchandrapur, the absence of a
sewerage system means that wastewater is not properly collected or treated, allowing
harmful pathogens to contaminate water supplies. As a result, the community remains
vulnerable to these diseases, which continue to pose a serious public health threat.
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