Xylem proposes new technology to treat sewage water for human consumption

Global water solutions company Xylem has proposed a new technology to treat sewage and toilet water to recycle and make it drinkable for industrial and household purposes to revolutionise the annual $3- billion water ‘industry’ in the country.

“To start with, our pilot project, a sewage treatment plant in Vadodara showcasing this technology, is ready to be launched with a 100 kilolitres of waters daily capacity. We would also be talking soon to industries and civic bodies to benefit from its use that focuses on the natural cycle of water,” Sam Yamadagni, President and Managing Director, Xylem Water Solutions India Pvt Ltd, told Business Line here.

“We should overcome our reservations over using treated toilet water for human consumption as the quantity of usable water across the globe is only three per cent of the total water available, he said.

The Government of India is expected to announce a Bureau of Water Standards shortly on the lines with the one on energy standards to standardise the quality of water available.

Besides drinking water for human consumption, Xylem India would be targeting the multi-billion rupee water projects that would come up under heads like treatment, irrigation and power segments.

In calendar year 2008, the company’s earlier avatar, ITT, had a turnover of only Rs 2 crore, which increased to Rs 70 crore in 2011. It is expected to be Rs 180 crore in 2012 and Rs 500 crore in 2017, Mr Yamadagni said.

Xylem India, which has invested Rs 100 crore so far in India, will also focus on energy efficiency projects of civic bodies from January 2013. “We can reduce energy consumption by 25 per cent in power supply. We would also commence desalination and sewage treatment plants at various places in India.”

At present, the company is carrying out 17 water treatment projects across the country.

Citing a report by an experts’ committee, headed by Isher Ahluwalia, he said India needed Rs eight lakh crore to provide safe drinking water to urban areas alone.

Xylem India, the top global water dewatering company, is also planning to bring out vast quantities of water lying under various mines across India, from next year.

At Vadodara, where the company has set up its global R&D centre, Xylem has built the world’s largest vertical pump, with a 1.20 lakh cubic meters of water capacity, which can test pumps up to 10,000 horsepower.

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