SPRING technological advancements include:
• Identification of polluted sites and physicochemical analysis of water quality, and development of dynamic, updatable, vulnerability maps from the study areas using geospatial techniques to provide the reference points to evaluate the efficacy of water management practice.
• Microbial profiling to identify the required enzyme producers by conventional and metagenomics approaches: strain improvement, production, and purification of the enzymes with increased stability and robustness. Currently, a complete process for production of hydroxyl radical producing enzymes, immobilization of the produced enzymes and packaging the enzymes into a suitable dispersal system to TRL5.
• Development of multi-analyte sensor for determination of pollutants in water. NIR-based sensory platforms for Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) determination is developed at lab scale for integration into the complete sensory system (TRL4). Biosensors for some pollutants are available, others require development. Laboratory prototype MFC sensory system was tested and later deployed to the AUV for online measurement of water quality parameters.
• AUV, or a robotic boat, has on-board control electronics and navigation systems and other auxiliary systems which allow the AUV to be integrated with any water quality sensor platform and treatment system. The developed MFC sensory system has been integrated with the AUV and demonstrated at TRL6/7.
• Robotic system for detecting and removal of blockages in underground sewerage pipes was developed and demonstrated in Pune (TRL5/6).
• Autonomous bio-oxidation system to treat pollutants in wastewater. The self-operated system has been developed and demonstrated at pilot scale at TRL6.
The impacts from the SPRING project are multiple:
• SPRING will sustainably enable the water sector to meet EU and Indian drinking water criteria.
• Water resources already, or in danger of being, abandoned, due to pollution, can be brought back into use with safe, clean, water.
• The fast-acting technology can be applied in many different situations of water pollution. Preliminary investigations show that pollutants are degraded in 3 to 4 hours. No dedicated land usage, skilled manpower, fuel or power is required for implementing the scalable technology and which has low operational costs (50% of conventional water treatment costs). With no toxic residues, it can be integrated into almost any water system for wastewater. This will enable reuse and conservation of water and reduce water borne diseases.
• Direct impact on the lives of more than 0.6-0.8 billion people in India alone improving consumer health, quality of life and livelihoods.
• Reductions in water borne diseases (16M cases recorded in 2017) to less than 0.16M has huge financial benefits. Reduced illness can save 73 million man-hours and generate 1BN Rupees of cost savings.
• Decontamination from micro-pollutants contributes to the implementation of the Drinking Water Directive (98/83/EC) and to the Environmental Technologies Action Plan (ETAP).
• The technology can be deployed in emergency or natural disaster situations to ensure clean and safe use of water resources.
