Chennai November 11, 2016: Water availability is declining rapidly, due to rising population, industrial use and urbanization. Even available water faces threat from pollution due to various sources of wastewater. This is where the significance of ‘Water4Crops’ project, implemented, becomes relevant.

Dr J DSophia, Principal Scientist MSSRF, and her team Dr Jastin Samuel and Ms J Hemamalini, presented results of three years research in treating wastewater from sugarcane factories through a constructed wetland system which is low cost, environment friendly process at a seminar here today. The project “Integrating bio-treated wastewater reuse with enhanced water use efficiency to support the green economy in EU and India” is looking for innovation in wastewater treatment and reuse in agriculture with enhanced water use efficiency.

The project is one of the Indo-European collaborative projects executed as twin projects ‘Water4Crops-EU’ and ‘Water4Crops-India’ in a consortium approach comprising of around 36 partners.  The Indian consortium consist of around 14 partners including industry, academic institution, NGOs and research institutions. Under ‘Water4Crops’ project, MSSRF designs natural treatment system to recycle and reuse sugar industry wastewater in agriculture with the support of DBT, Government of India.

The project involves an innovative and cost effective way of treating industrial effluents from the sugar industry, for reuse in an integrated aqua- agro farming system.

The intervention by MSSRF in Lakshmipuram in partnership with KCP sugar industry, has yielded positive results in terms of providing improved quality of water for reuse in agriculture.   The seminar was attended by scientists, researchers and members from the public and the media.