Translational Assessment of a Decentralized Sewage Treatment Plant for Sustainable Water Reuse and Circular Bioeconomy Applications
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Rapid urbanization, industrialization and increasing freshwater deficiency require decentralized wastewater treatment solutions that establish both regulatory compliance and real-world applicability. The present study demonstrates the translational performance assessment of a decentralized sewage treatment plant (STP) specially made in 2015 at JK Township, Rayagada, India, with a capacity of 3000 m 3 /day with the operational load of approximately 1700 m 3 /day. The STP treats domestic sewage generated from residential colonies, canteens, and administrative facilities using an integrated treatment system which includes biological processes, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection. Performance evaluation was performed by using analytical data, which includes physio-chemical and biological parameters such as pH, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), and fecal coliform. The results reveal high removal efficiencies of 91.3% for BOD, 93.1% for TSS, and 97.1% for fecal coliform, with treated effluent consistently meeting Consent to Operate (CTO) discharge standards. In addition to the conventional compliance review, this research also suggests the translation routes to the treated wastewater reuse to non-drinkable uses like cooling tower make-up, landscape garden, and plantation activities, which would support a zero liquid discharge strategy. Additionally, Sludge management and internal water recirculation enhance operational sustainability. The result further confirms that decentralized STPs can serve as dependable, scalable, and circular bioeconomy-aligned solutions for sustainable wastewater management in urban and semi-urban regions.
Authors: Ripu Sahu, Radha Padhi, Manoja Das
Institution: GIET University
Language: English
Subfield: Waste Management and Disposal
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7223175745