Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to greywater treatment. Particularly, but not exclusively, the present disclosure is directed towards a system and method for microbial based greywater treatment.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Freshwater on Earth is significantly more abundant than what humans need. Ninety-seven percent of Earth's total water resources are contained in oceans, with remaining three percent available for direct use. Among such three percent, only one hundredth of said percentage is thought to be available for human use. Water is distributed unevenly over time in different places on the Earth, which influences sufficient availability of water in some geographic locations and deprives other locations. Most consumable water, along with its use for domestic purposes, food production, and other developmental requirements, is still used for biological survival. Acute water shortages, excessive resource exploitation that slowly depletes water supplies, and high levels of freshwater pollution brought on by human activity plague many regions of the world.
[0003] Around 800 million people are thought to be living in water stress at the moment, and by 2025, that figure is predicted to rise to 3 billion. Need for water is obvious given the effects of urbanization, industrialization, and population expansion, but can the water resources now on hand sustainably provide the expanding demand? Where will the additional water come from that is needed to support human activity? Interventions and tactics that will assist in addressing these issues are required in response to this query. This is where it makes sense to take a quick look at graywater reuse.
[0004] Greywater is wastewater from non-toilet household activities like handwashing, bathing, laundry, and dishwashing. Unlike blackwater (which contains sewage), greywater has fewer contaminants and it can be treated for reuse in toilet flushing, irrigation, and other non-potable uses. Greywater typically includes soap residues, oils, food residues, and organic material, thus making filtration and microbial treatment a necessary requirement prior to reuse or safe discharge. Reuse of greywater saves freshwater, lowers wastewater loads, and enhances sustainable water management in industry, the home, and in urban settings.
[0005] Typically, greywater is directly dumped into rivers, the ocean, and other bodies of water, which contaminates groundwater and has an adverse effect on aquatic life. Greywater is frequently deposited straight into sizable pits outside of major cities, where it serves as a breeding ground for many organisms that can cause diseases like cholera, typhoid, hepatitis, ringworm, etc. Therefore, a better, comprehensive, useful microbial oriented low-cost improved wastewater technology that removes heavy metals and other pollutants in effluent. Such treated water could be used for industrial and domestic construction work, landscaping, agricultural irrigation, and more.
[0006] Various prior art documents have disclosed treatment of greywater. However, such prior art documents include various limitations, which include, but not limited to, high manufacturing cost, high maintenance cost, polluting environment, adsorbent materials, bacterial imbalance in the crop field, etc.
[0007] Thus, there is a requirement for a system and method for microbial based greywater treatment. The present disclosure is directed to overcome one or more limitations of detection of oral cancer and pre-cancer conditions as mentioned hereinabove.
SUMMARY
[0008] One or more shortcomings of the prior art are overcome, and additional advantages are provided through the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed disclosure.
[0009] According to an embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a system for microbial based greywater treatment. The system comprises an inlet connected to a drainage system for receiving greywater. Further, the system comprises a grit screening chamber that is configured to separate settleable solids and screen large particles from the greywater upon receiving the greywater from the inlet. Furthermore, the system comprises a microbial treatment chamber comprising a microbial solution for biological treatment of received greywater with smaller and finer particles. The greywater is treated within the microbial treatment chamber for a period ranging from 48 hours to 72 hours. Moreover, the system comprises a treatment unit configured to purify the biological treated greywater, and an ozonation tank configured to disinfect the purified greywater using ozonation, wherein the ozonized water is stored in a filter feed tank. Additionally, the system comprises an outlet for discharging the ozonized water from the filter feed tank for industrial, domestic, agricultural, or environmental applications.
[0010] According to another embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a method for microbial based greywater treatment. The method comprises separating settleable solids and screening large particles from greywater in a grit screening chamber upon receiving the greywater in the grit screening chamber through an inlet connected to a drainage system. Further, the method comprises performing biological treatment by a microbial solution within a microbial treatment chamber of the received greywater with smaller and finer particles for a period ranging from 48 hours to 72 hours. Furthermore, the method comprises purifying the biologically treated greywater within a treatment unit, and disinfecting the purified greywater within an ozonation tank at a controlled ozone concentration. The ozonized water is stored in a filter feed tank. Moreover, the method comprises discharging the ozonized water from the filter feed tank using an outlet for industrial, domestic, agricultural, or environmental applications.
[0011] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
[0012] The novel features and characteristics of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives, and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:
Figure 1 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a system for microbial based greywater treatment, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
Figure 2 illustrates a flow chart of a method for microbial based greywater treatment, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] In the present document, the word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration." Any embodiment or implementation of the present subject matter described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.
[0014] While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and the scope of the disclosure.
[0015] The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a setup, device, or process that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or device or process. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus proceeded by “comprises… a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or apparatus.
[0016] In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and which are shown by way of illustration-specific embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
[0017] Figure 1 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a system for microbial based greywater treatment, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0018] As shown in Figure 1, the system 100 comprises an inlet 102, a grit screening chamber 104, a microbial treatment chamber 106, a treatment unit 108, an ozonation tank 110, a filter feed tank 112, and an outlet 114.
[0019] According to an embodiment, the inlet 102 is connected to a drainage system for receiving greywater. The inlet 102 forming part of the system 100 is a primary intake of non-sewage wastewater from sinks, showers, bathtubs, washing machines, and kitchen operations. The inlet 102 is positioned to allow free and controlled greywater flow into the system 100 without backflow or system clogging risks. The inlet 102 is typically equipped with valves, and pre-filters to manage inflow and prevent introduction of bulky debris that can lead to the system 100 malfunctions during subsequent treatment processes.
[0020] According to an embodiment, the grit screening chamber 104, upon receiving the greywater from the inlet 102, configured to separate settleable solids and screen large particles from the greywater. At an initial stage of greywater treatment, the grit screening chamber 104 removes settleable solids and screens large particles from the greywater to prevent clogging and inefficiencies in downstream processes. Upon receiving greywater from the inlet 102, the grit screening chamber 104 is designed to slow down the flow, allowing heavier particles such as sand, silt, and small gravel to settle at bottom of the grit screening chamber 104 due to gravity. Simultaneously, a series of screens or mesh filters trap larger debris, such as hair, food particles, plastics, and other floating solids, preventing them from entering into subsequent chambers. As shown in Figure 1 of the present disclosure, grits are collected from the grit screening chamber 104 for clearing from the greywater. According to another embodiment, the grit screening chamber 104 may be equipped with mechanical scrapers or automated rakes to periodically remove the accumulated grit and screened waste, ensuring smooth operation.
[0021] According to an embodiment, the microbial treatment chamber 106 comprises the microbial solution for biological treatment of received greywater with smaller and finer particles. As the heavier particles such as sand, silt, and small gravel are filtered by the microbial treatment chamber 106, the microbial treatment chamber 106 receives the greywater with smaller and finer particles to treat further. The greywater is treated within the microbial treatment chamber for a period ranging from 48 hours to 72 hours. Particularly, the microbial treatment chamber may comprise a microbial treatment solution to remove heavy metal, radioactive material, and virulence pathogenic bacteria in the greywater within the period ranging from 48 hours to 72 hours. The microbial treatment chamber 106 may remove the said impurities by way of biodegradation and enzymatic processes. The duration between the range of 48 hours to 72 hours is enough for microbial activity to lower the contaminants significantly, enhance water clarity, and minimize odor. The conditions in the chamber, e.g., oxygen content, temperature, and microbial population, ensure effective treatment before the greywater proceeds to additional processes of purification in subsequent chambers.
[0022] According to an embodiment, the treatment unit 108 is configured to purify the biologically treated greywater. The treatment unit 108 employs to treat the biologically treated greywater. The treatment unit 108 is a high-level treatment chamber responsible for further processing of the greywater following microbial treatment. The treatment unit 108 may be primarily tasked with removal of residual organic material, suspended solids, nutrients (e.g., nitrogen and phosphorus), and any remaining impurities that are not completely degraded during the process of the microbial treatment process. The treatment unit 108 may incorporate any one of physical, chemical, or biological filtration processes, e.g., sand filtration, activated carbon adsorption, ultrafiltration (UF), reverse osmosis (RO), or coagulation and flocculation to increase the quality of water. By ensuring treatement of all remaining impurities, the treatment unit 108 is configured with production of cleaner, environmentally friendly greywater for industrial, domestic, or agricultural use.
[0023] According to an embodiment, the ozonation tank 110 is configured to disinfect purified greywater using ozonation. The ozonation tank 110 performs ozonisation process at a controlled ozone concentration to ensure effective disinfection while minimizing residual ozone levels. The ozonation tank 110 is one of the most significant disinfection tanks specifically designed to eliminate pathogens, organic pollutants, and chemical contaminants in the greywater by using ozonation technique. Ozonation is an advanced oxidation process in which ozone (O₃), a potent oxidizing agent, is introduced to the greywater to inactivate bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms, giving high-level disinfection. The ozonation tank 110 operates ozonization process at a controlled level of ozone gas infusion, which is accurately controlled to give effective microbial inactivation with minimal excess ozone that could lead to undesirable byproducts or environmental harm. The ozonization process typically involves diffusers or injectors that dissolve ozone gas in water, allowing it to react effectively with contaminants. Further, ozone naturally breaks down into oxygen (O₂) without leaving toxic residues, thus making it an environmentally friendly disinfection process. The ozonation tank 110 is a significant part of enhancing water safety, clarity, and ensuring the treated greywater meets regulatory requirements before storage or discharge for industrial, domestic, or agricultural uses. The ozonized water is stored in the filter feed tank 112 for temporary storage or further processing before final use or discharge. The treated water meets regulatory standards for safe discharge into natural water bodies or for reuse in non-potable applications.
[0024] According to another embodiment, the outlet 114 is adapted with the filter feed tank 112 for discharging the ozonized water from the filter feed tank 112 for industrial, domestic, agricultural, or environmental applications. Discharge of the treated water from the filter feed tank 112 via the outlet 114 is a final process in the greywater treatment, which ensures that the disinfected, and treated water is efficiently and safely directed for various uses. The outlet 114 may be designed to regulate the flow of water, with regulated discharge rates to prevent wastage and ensure maximum utilization.
[0025] Figure 2 illustrates a flow chart of a method for microbial based greywater treatment, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As depicted in Figure 2, the method 200 includes a series of steps 202 through 210 for microbial based greywater treatment. The details of the method 200 have been explained below in forthcoming paragraphs. The order in which the method steps are described below is not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number of the described method steps can be combined in any appropriate order to execute the method or an alternative method. The method 200 begins from a start block and starts execution of operations at step 202, as shown in Figure 2.
[0026] At step 202, the method 200 comprises separating settleable solids and screening large particles from greywater in the grit screening chamber 104 upon receiving the greywater in the grit screening chamber 104 through the inlet 102 connected to a drainage system. In this process step, the grit screening chamber 104 is configured to separate settleable solids and screen large particles from the greywater. The flow of the method 200 now proceeds to step 204.
[0027] At step 204, the method 200 comprises performing biological treatment by a microbial solution within the microbial treatment chamber 106 of the received greywater with smaller and finer particles for the period ranging from 48 hours to 72 hours. Particularly, in this method comprises removing a heavy metal, radioactive material, virulence pathogenic bacteria present in the greywater using the microbial treatment solution within the microbial treatment chamber 106. The flow of the method 200 now proceeds to step 206.
[0028] At step 206, the method 200 comprises purifying the biologically treated greywater within the treatment unit 108. The method step may remove residual organic material, suspended solids, nutrients (e.g., nitrogen and phosphorus), and any remaining impurities that are not completely degraded during the process of the microbial treatment process within the treatment unit 108. The flow of the method 200 now proceeds to step 208.
[0029] At step 208, the method 200 comprises disinfecting the purified greywater within an ozonation tank 110 at a controlled ozone concentration. The ozonized water is then stored in the filter feed tank 112. The method step comprises disinfecting purified greywater using ozonation within the ozonation tank 110 at a controlled ozone concentration to ensure effective disinfection while minimizing residual ozone levels. The flow of the method 200 now proceeds to step 210.
[0030] At step 208, the method 200 comprises discharging the ozonized water from the filter feed tank 112 using an outlet 114 for industrial, domestic, agricultural, or environmental applications. The outlet 114 may be designed to regulate the flow of water, with regulated discharge rates to prevent wastage and ensure maximum utilization.
[0031] While the above-discussed steps in Figure 2 are shown and described in a particular sequence, the steps may occur in variations to the sequence in accordance with various embodiments. Further, a detailed description related to the various steps of Figure 2 is already covered in the description related to Figure 1 and is omitted herein for the sake of brevity.
[0032] Finally, the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and it may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter. It is therefore intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by any claims that issue on an application based here on. Accordingly, the disclosure of the embodiments of the invention is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the following claims.
[0033] With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.
[0034] While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiment will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
Advantages of the present disclosure:
[0035] The system and method for microbial based greywater treatment offer several advantages over conventional greywater treatment. The advantages are as follows:
• Economic significance and low maintenance cost: The system of the present disclosure is configured with significantly lower cost than the conventional system. Further, all components of the system are easy to maintain with minimal cost.
• Automated treatment of the greywater: The treatment procedure does not require any manual intervention for treating the greywater. The system treats the greywater without requiring any manual intervention, thereby facilitating saving water without any additional manual or mechanical intervention to assist in sustainable development goals.
• Environmentally friendly and sustainable: The present system uses microbial solutions instead of harsh chemicals, making it eco-friendly and reducing chemical dependency. Such treated greywater may be utilized for irrigation or industrial purposes.
• Scalable and customizable: Such system and method may be hugely workable from normal households to large complex buildings. Flexible design allows modifications based on water quality, flow rates, and end-use requirements.
[0036] In the detailed description of the embodiments of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. , Claims:We claim:
1) A system (100) for microbial based greywater treatment, the system comprising:
an inlet (102) connected to a drainage system for receiving greywater;
a grit screening chamber (104), upon receiving the greywater from the inlet (102), configured to separate settleable solids and screen large particles from the greywater;
a microbial treatment chamber (106) comprising a microbial solution for biological treatment of received greywater with smaller and finer particles, wherein the greywater is treated within the microbial treatment chamber for a period ranging from 48 hours to 72 hours;
a treatment unit (108) configured to purifying the biologically treated greywater;
an ozonation tank (110) configured to disinfect the purified greywater using ozonation, wherein the ozonized water is stored in a filter feed tank (112); and
an outlet (114) for discharging the ozonized water from the filter feed tank (112) for industrial, domestic, agricultural, or environmental applications.
2) The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the microbial treatment chamber (106) comprises a microbial treatment solution to remove heavy metal, radioactive material, virulence pathogenic bacteria in the greywater within the period ranging from 48 hours to 72 hours.
3) The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ozonation tank (110) performs ozonisation process at a controlled ozone concentration to ensure effective disinfection while minimizing residual ozone levels.
4) The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the treated water meets regulatory standards for safe discharge into natural water bodies or for reuse in non-potable applications.
5) A method (200) for microbial based greywater treatment, the method (200) comprising:
separating (202) settleable solids and screening large particles from greywater in a grit screening chamber (104) upon receiving the greywater in the grit screening chamber (104) through an inlet (102) connected to a drainage system;
performing (204) biological treatment by a microbial solution within a microbial treatment chamber (106) of the received greywater with smaller and finer particles for a period ranging from 48 hours to 72 hours;
purifying (206) the biologically treated greywater within a treatment unit (108);
disinfecting (208) the purified greywater within an ozonation tank (110) at a controlled ozone concentration, wherein the ozonized water is stored in a filter feed tank (112); and
discharging (210) the ozonized water from the filter feed tank using an outlet (114) for industrial, domestic, agricultural, or environmental applications.

Dated 29th day of March 2025.