The INDIA-H2O project successfully developed and demonstrated low-cost, energy-efficient water treatment systems for saline groundwater and wastewater in the state of Gujarat, India, by integrating novel membrane technologies with natural biological processes.
💧 Project Context and Objectives
The project addressed the dual challenge of severe water scarcity and poor groundwater quality (over 60% too saline) in India, where conventional desalination and recycling are often prohibitively expensive and energy-intensive.
The overall objectives were to:
- Develop and demonstrate low-cost water treatment systems for saline groundwater and domestic/industrial wastewaters.
- Use emerging membrane technologies (Batch Reverse Osmosis – BRO and Forward Osmosis – FO) combined with natural biological processes (phyto-treatment) to raise energy efficiency and reduce costs.
- Conserve groundwater and utilize waste brine streams for economic benefit.
🛠️ Key Results and Work Performed (2022-02-01 to 2024-07-31)
1. Technology Deployment and Performance
- Operational Sites: Integrated BRO/FO technology is operational at two sites in Gujarat: Lodhva village (producing around 800 litres of clean water per hour) and the Centre of Excellence in Water Treatment and Management at PDEU (which was officially opened in 2022).
- Energy Efficiency: Achieved high recovery ratios of 70–75% and a low specific energy consumption (SEC) of 0.37 kWh/m³. The Lodhva system can produce safe drinking water using only solar power .
2. Sustainable Brine and Wastewater Management
- Phyto-treatment: Developed and designed plant-based treatment solutions for domestic wastewater, with a larger-scale system constructed for integration with the FO/BRO system at PDEU .
- Brine Utilization (Halophytes): Successfully demonstrated the use of brine reject from the BRO system for irrigating halophytic crops (Salicornia and Sarcocornia). Plantations were established and harvested at the Lodhva site, turning a waste product into a potential commercial crop.
3. Industrial Water Recycling
- Integrated Solutions: Developed and validated integrated solutions utilizing FO, BRO, and nanofiltration for effluents from the dairy, textile, and tannery industries.
- Recycling Levels: These solutions enable high industrial water recycling levels of 60–80% with minimum liquid discharge.
4. Commercialization and Governance
- Spin-out Company: The University of Birmingham licensed the hybrid BRO technology to Salinity Solutions, a spin-out company that has raised over EUR 1.4 million.
- Commercial Exploitation: Indian Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute (CEERI) is commercializing project-developed sensor and monitoring technologies. Aquaporin (FO membrane developer) was listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen.
- Policy: A policy brief on sustainable and equitable groundwater management was produced for India policymakers.
🚀 Progress Beyond State of the Art and Impact
The project made significant strides beyond conventional water treatment by focusing on cost reduction and sustainability:
- Cost and Accessibility: The combined BRO/FO technologies drastically reduced energy consumption, enabling efficient operation on renewable energy. The system costs less than 30 rupees per cubic metre (~EUR 0.35), offering a real lifeline to communities.
- FO Draw Solutions: Provided detailed new knowledge on Forward Osmosis draw solutions, enabling the deployment of FO in industrial applications where it was previously restricted.
- Integrated Knowledge: Developed new understanding of sustainable water management in rural and semi-urban settings by integrating membrane and phyto-technologies powered by renewables.
- Circular Economy: The novel approach of using brine discharge to grow commercial halophytic crops represents a significant breakthrough in knowledge for India, effectively eliminating harmful brine discharges while creating economic opportunities.
