Patna: In a push for sustainable sanitation, a researcher from Central University of South Bihar (CUSB) has taken an Indian innovation in waste treatment to an international scientific platform, presenting a nature-based technology that could help address one of the most neglected challenges in wastewater management — the safe treatment and disposal of faecal sludge.CUSB’s environmental science department teacher Prashant presented his research at the 19th IWA International Conference on ‘Wetland systems for water pollution control’ in Chania, on Greece’s island of Crete. The conference brought together around 350 scientists, researchers, practitioners and policymakers from 55 countries to explore sustainable approaches to water pollution control and wastewater management.The research, funded by Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), examines an integrated treatment system that harnesses natural processes to manage faecal sludge while opening up possibilities for resource recovery.It focuses on developing and demonstrating hybrid constructed wetland technology combined with planted sludge drying beds. The decentralised approach seeks to reduce reliance on conventional, energy-intensive treatment systems while promoting safer sanitation, preventing pollution and enabling the beneficial reuse of treated outputs.The research’s significance extends beyond the laboratory. While sanitation initiatives have expanded access to toilets, the scientific treatment and safe management of the waste generated remain critical to protecting public health and water resources. Prashant said untreated or inadequately treated faecal sludge can threaten local water bodies and undermine the gains made through sanitation programmes.Nature-based treatment systems could offer a practical alternative, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas where centralised sewage infrastructure is limited. By treating waste through an integrated system and exploring the recovery of useful resources, the technology advances a circular sanitation model in which waste is treated not merely as a disposal burden but as a potential resource.The study aligns with the objectives of Swachh Bharat Mission, particularly its emphasis on sustainable sanitation and scientific faecal sludge management. It also contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, notably SDG 6 on clean water and sanitation and SDG 12 on responsible consumption and production.
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