One Visit To Lake A Day… Keeps Urban Stress At Bay!

A Lake or Pond evokes a wonderful, relaxing feeling, bringing one closer to nature. Thanks to the visionary water harvesting methods of our ancestors, today many of Indian cities are blessed with magnificent lakes. But the bane of urbanization has destroyed several and those surviving are in a pitiable state barring few exceptions. 

Lakes have important functions to play. They are like impact absorbers during flood and a sure water source to go to in case of droughts. Lakes also replenish groundwater level being essential receptors for groundwater recharge and help conserve the biodiversity of the region.

Urban lakes are like oasis in concrete jungles and attract people for recreation and leisure. Many tourist destinations like Udaipur (Rajasthan), Nainital (Uttarakhand) are built around lakes and are packed with vacationers throughout the year while lakes in semi-urban or rural areas serve as major economic activity booster providing opportunity for pisciculture and irrigation. 

But being extremely sensitive in nature, these water bodies are seen crippled by the environmental stress put on them due to unwarranted anthropogenic activities like overpopulation, release of pollutants, deforestation in its basin or catchment areas. It shall need a herculean and systematic effort on parts of Communities, Urban Local Bodies and Environmental Organizations to restore them to old glory and maintain them like a jewel in the city’s crown.

What Destroys Lakes/Ponds? 

Major factors contributing to destruction of lakes or ponds are - 

1. Silting - Most of the lakes are heavily silted due to continuous silting over many years and lack of di-silting measures. Inadequate agriculture practices, deforestation by timber industry, industrial pollutants like Fly ash, phospo- gypsum, iron and steel slags, dredging, construction activity and dumping of debris are also the main contributors to silting in water bodies. 

Furthermore lakes are used as holy site to immerse idols during festivals, perform poojas on the banks and then dispose nirmalya into water. It increases the mineral and silt content of the water which in turn becomes flourishing ground for plant life. It depletes oxygen in water and endangers animal life. 

2. Untreated Wastewater Discharge – Urban lakes have become the dumping grounds with many open wastewater nallahs and sewage lines being allowed to discharge in lakes untreated, polluting the entire water body beyond natural repair.

In a pioneering initiative, CSIR-NEERI has designed, developed and demonstrated In-SITU Drain treatment technology known as RENEU - Restoration of Nallah With Ecological Units. RENEU treats sewage in the running flow without disturbing the structure of the Nallah employing physical and biological operations in the aerobic and facultative environment to degrade sewage. EMERGY works in design and implementation of RENEU across India. 

Prayag Raj Success Story  

3. Encroachments on the banks – With access to free water, lakes are the prime site of encroachment in every city. Amid population living on the banks, the water body comes under tremendous stress with drainage directly running into lake, water being used for washing clothes and animals and ultimately becoming a shrinking cesspool. 

4. Unregulated growth of water hyacinth – Water hyacinth is the single largest factor contributing to water loss through evapotranspiration. It alters water balance of the local region and obstructs the natural water flow thereby increasing sedimentation causing flooding and soil erosion. It also impacts aquatic life due to less availability of oxygen. 

Methods of Lake/Pond Rejuvenation and Beautification:-

Lakes could not only be restored to life but also can be magnificently beautified adopting an organized approach. 

Declaring Eco-Sensitive Zone 

First lake boundaries are to be fixed and the entire area to be declared as an eco-sensitive zone so that it can be kept encroachment and dumping free. If required bunds to be strengthened and proper fencing to be done. Wetland plantation to be planned at the inlet to ensure natural filtering process of inlet water. Tree plantation to be done along the border of the lake to promote natural flora and fauna, bird habitat and shall act as a natural boundary for the lake. A notice board to be erected mentioning the pollution related offences and punishment as well as Do’s and Don’ts in the area. Waste bins to be provided on the lake boundary to collect solid waste.  A walking track or park to be constructed around the lake to promote awareness as well as boost economic activity. Funds can be raised from such activities to keep the lakes healthy and clean. 

In-Situ Measures

To ensure free flow of water, regular monitoring to be carried out of the inlet and outlet of the lake and removal of impediments in the path if any. In-situ measures like de-silting, de-weeding, bioremediation, aeration, bio-manipulation or any other suitable eco-technology to be applied. Measures like afforestation and installing silt traps in catchment area of the lake are to be adopted to prevent silting. ‘Sedimentation basin’ to be created before the entry point of the lake to arrest storm water loads. This shall help prevent silting and preservation of water chemistry of the lake.  

Monitoring And Inspection

The water quality of the lake to be checked on regular basis and any deficiency found in parameters to be rectified with urgent effect.In large urban areas to preserve lake water levels impose a ban onuse of Potable Water for all the other purposes other than drinking. Water for all other essential activities to be made available by employing recycling and reuse processes. A thorough monitoring and inspection at least once in five years to be carried out to maintain the lakes involving planting and weed control.

Strictly Following Regulatory Bodies Guidelines

Domestic refuse and industrial wastewater discharge into the lake to be stopped immediately. Only treated effluent with parameters strictly adhering to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) guidelines shall be allowed to release. The latest legal standards for the STP should be maintained by the local authorities. For highly degraded and beyond repairs lakes conservation efforts shall be aimed at restoring water quality at least to the bathing quality as ordered by National Green Tribunal (NGT). 

EMRGY Enviro has been endlessly researching and developing the most user-friendly, maintenance free and economical solutions to curb pollution in water bodies. Integrated Wetland Technology (IWT) is its flagship product with IIT Bombay IP for treatment of sewage naturally. The final treated water from the system meets discharge standards set by CPCB. While Coirvel Treatment Unit, CTU, is used for the in-situ rejuvenation of natural water body. Another Product NG-SEPCLEAN is an advanced-up gradation of conventional septic tank which ensures safe disposal of sewage at minimal maintenance cost. It has been enlisted in the Innovative Products List of Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation. 

Repair, Renovate and Restore: Step by Step and Drop by Drop

The experts in Lake/ Pond restoration, EMERGY has developed a successful self-sustainable rejuvenation and beautification model. The model entails specific action plan to mitigate the pollution load on lakes involves cleaning, pre-treatment, churning and homogenization of lake water, application of spark floc, disinfectant, followed by fabrication and installation of florafts. These steps collectively act on pollution load in terms of reduction of suspended solid concentration, microbial concentration and thus improve the water quality drastically. 

We all agree that lake makes any landscape breathtakingly beautiful and expressive… So let’s preserve one near to us because our future generations deserve it!