Introduction

Salient Features of Powai Lake

Location Year of construction Catchment Area : Powai Lake is located about 27 Km away in the North - East of Mumbai City : 1891 : 6.61 sq. km. and Water spread when lake is full ---2.10 sq.km.

Length of Dam
Height of Dam Water quality

: 110 Mts. (stone masonry construction)

: Varying from 3 Mts to 6 Mts, with top of dam is 58.5Mt.THD (Town hall Datum) : Non potable. Used for recreation, gardening, cattle washing and fishing . The only tourist attraction in the Heart of the city of Mumbai.

Lake water got highly polluted due to untreated disposal of sewage and garbage from nearby residential and slum colonies. So as to save the lake it was necessary to revive and rehabilitate it urgently.

Powai Lake under National Lake Conservation Plan.

In the Year 1995 under National Lake Conservation Plan of MOEF of Govt. of India, Powai Lake of MCBM was reviewed and identified as one of the Ten major lakes in the country for revival and improvements.
A high level committee was therefore formed to check the pollution levels of the lake and to take steps to create public awareness to save the lake.

Detailed Feasibility Report (DPR) prepared by consultant M/s. Wockhardt Ltd. was approved by MOEF GOI and sanctioned Rs.6.62 Crore as grant to MCBM for implementation of the scheme on priority.

Importance and Status of Powai Lake

[Before Revival]
Powai Lake which is located in the heart of suburban of Mumbai is surrounded by NITIE , IIT, large housing complexes and unauthorized Hutment colonies. The water of the lake is supplied to M/s L&T company and Aarey colony for non domestic uses. During last few decades, Population surrounding the lake has increased substantially. Heavy siltation occurred which has an estimated quantity of 4.5 lakh Cu.M. approx. Eutrophication of lake was observed with abundance of hyacinth & floating weeds on the surface of lake. Dissolved Oxygen level at the bottom of lake has gone low as 0.71 mg/ltr.

MAJOR CAUSES OF DETERIORATION OF LAKE

Uncontrolled development and unauthorized quarrying activities in the catchments area.

Ingress of untreated sewage from the residential areas.

Dumping of garbage and other waste materials in the lake. Washing of clothes, vehicles, open defecation etc. On the lakeshore.

Pollution Levels of the Lake

[Before Revival]
A physical and analytical survey was carried out to ascertain the pollution levels and Eutrophycation condition in the lake

Water Analysis Parameter Average Values

1) pH 2) Total suspended solid 3) Nitrate Nitrogen 4) Total phosphorus, 5a)D.O. (Top) 5b)D.O. (Bottom) 6a)C.O.D. (Top) 6b)C.O.D. (Bottom) 7.2 43.00 0.23 0.25 4.11 0.71 42.70 119. 00 mg/Ltr. mg/Ltr. mg/Ltr. mg/Ltr. mg/Ltr. mg/Ltr. mg/Ltr.

Sludge Analysis
[Before Revival]
Parameter Average Values

1. Total Organic Matter

2. Organic Nitrate 3. Phosphorus 4. Ash Content

42.80 %
2.94 gms/kg 5.16 gms/kg 57.20 %

Chlorophyll A Contents in Lake Water

[Before Revival]
Sr. No 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Sampling Site Chlorophyll A (mg/ m3) (Average of Three Sample analyzed) 14.68 38.66 86.04 44.24 24.22 138.48 66.88 28.86 to to to to to to to to 18.34 55.12 104.44 86.44 42.88 166.22 84.14 64.66

Boat Club Powai Garden (Hill Side) Near Sonar Baug Bay Kol Dongri Side Road Side Near Ghat Near Centre of the Lake In the Lake Centre IIT Side (Near Temple)

Scientific parameters to Establish Eutrophic Condition of the Lake Water

Tropic state

Phosphorus

Chlorophyll A (mg/m3) Average Maximum

1 - 2.5 2.5 - 8.0 8.0 - 25.0 25 2.5 - 8.0 8.0 - 25.0 28.0 - 75.0 75

Oligotrophic 4 - 10 Mesotrophic 10 - 35 Eutrophic 35 - 100 Hypertrophic 100

Phosphorus & Chlorophyll A levels observed in the water analysis showed that the lake was under the Hypertrophic condition.

EUTROPHIC FISH POND

Floating Scum of decaying Algae Hot surface water drives out oxygen

Blue-green Algae Bloom shuts out sunlight excretes toxins.

Thin layer of water with oxygen suitable for fish life

Fish try to catch food on its way to bottom. Dead algae, fish, insects and food settle at bottom. Decaying septic sludge of decomposing fish, animals, plants, fertilizer, fish food.

Dead water. No living fish or animal life

Septic water no oxygen loaded with toxic gases & solutions from decaying organic matter.

Lake Revival Project Implementation Strategy

The work was divided in two parts.

Part I :- Pretreatment activities. Part II :- Contract for revival using aeration and bio- remediation technique. Contd

Lake Revival Project Implementation Strategy

Pretreatment Activities.
Pretreatment activities consists of:a) b) Stop entries of all untreated sewage into the lake by providing treatment facility or connect it to main sewerage system. Installation of penstock gates on four major nallahs along Adi Shankaracharya Marg to prevent entry of silt and sullage water into the lake.

c)

Preventing the activities like open deification, throwing of garbage, washing of cars and clothes on the bank of the lake.
Contd

th and other unrooted weed from lake water surface :

Lake Revival Project Implementation Strategy

Contract for revival using aeration & bio- remediation technique.

Contract work consists of :-a)Collection of baseline data. b)Removal of floating and unrooted weeds. c)Providing aeration system. d)Application of speciality Bio-products for biodegradation of sludge.
The project work of revival and treatment was proposed to be executed on turnkey basis. The work was awarded to M/s. Ace Housing & Construction Pvt. Ltd. in association with M/s. Clean-flow International USA at the total cost of Rs.4.69 crore (including execution, maintenance and monitoring), who claimed to have international experience in treatment and restoration of large water bodies. Contd

Lake Revival Project Implementation Strategy

The contract period for the project was 12 months for execution and 36 months for maintenance and monitoring. The work commenced on 20-4-2002 and completed within the stipulated period of contract i.e. on 19-4-2003.
Further the maintenance period was started from 20-4-2003 and will get over on 19-4-2006. Aeration System:Consisting of 6 nos of air compressors (5 HP to 40 HP capacity) installed on floating jetties & on the bank of the lake & 195 Nos of Air diffusers.

The Aeration System was operated initially for a period of 18 to 20 Hours per day & further it was reduced to 8 to 12 Hours during night time.
Contd

NATURAL INVERSION OF POND WATER

Lake Revival Project Implementation Strategy

Application of Bio-products:- First dose in liquid form was spread on 18th July 2002 all over the lake @ 1.5 liters / hector.( Total quantity=300 ltr.) Second dose was spread on 12 th Feb 2003 @ 3.33 liter / hector . ( Total quantity=700 ltr.)

On 12 th April dose of Enzyme was added to activate the bio-degradation process.Quantity-2000 Ltr.
The improvement in various parameters monitored is shown in the following table.

Water sampling points for monitoring quality

8 6 7 9 10 1 2 4 5

Values of various parameters before the start of work and after completion of work.
Sr No
1 2 3 4

Parameter

Units

Value for Eco-balance Value (initial)

5 2 10 to 30 10 to 30 2.87 1.30 57.50 103.90

Value (final) 6.85 5.45 20.70 28.90

D.O./ top D.O./ bottom C.O.D/ top C.O.D./ bottom mg/l mg/l mg/l

mg/l

5
6

Phosphate / top
Phosphate / bottom

mg/l
mg/l

0.01 to 0.035
0.01 to 0.035

3.971
5.618

0.0188
0.0178

Contd

Values of various parameters before the start of work and after completion of work (contd)

Sr No 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 13.a.

Parameter

Units

Value for Eco-balance Value (initial) < 0.1 < 0.1 7 to -8.5 7 to -8.5 < 10 < 10 8 tp 25 8 tp 25 2.063 3.100 7.730 6.980 65.00 131.500 60.00 20.720

Value (final) 0.727 0.0692 7.60 7.88 8.30 8.20 23.90 10.00

Nitrate / top Nitrate /bottom pH / top pH / bottom S. Solids / top S. Solids / bottom Chlorophyll A/ top Chlorophyll A/Bottom

mg/l mg/l No No mg/l mg/l mg/cu.m. mg/cu.m.

Dissolved Oxygen at Bottom.

Dissolved Oxygen at Top

Phosphates at Top and Bottom

Chlorophyll-A at Top & Bottom

10 0

Chlorophyll A (mg/Lit)

90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10
02 ayM

2 2 l- 0 - 02 p- 0 - 03 03 Ju 003 ov Se N Jan ayr2 M M o nt hs Ma

lJu

03

p Se

- 03

3 v- 0 No

- 04 an J

04 ar M

Chlorophyll A of Top

Chlorophyll A of Bottom

FINANCIAL STATUS OF THE PROJECT

1) Total Cost of the Project 2) Amount Received from MOEF of Govt. of India

: :

Rs.4,69,82,000.00 Rs.4,69,82,000.00

3) Total Expenditure Incurred

Rs.4,32,00,000.00

CONCLUSION
i. Powai lake having catchment area of 6.61 Sq. Kms & lake surface area of 2.10 Sq. Kms is improved within a period of 12 months. This is the 1st successful project executed in India using Aeration and Bio-remediation Technique. The status of lake was transformed from Hypertrophic condition to Mesotrophic condition. Use of the aeration and bioremediation technique was effective for improving the quality of lake water to the accepted standard for water bodies being used for fishing and recreational purposes. Though the installation cost of equipment, power and monitoring the water quality is high, the cost of maintenance is relatively low.

ii. iii.

iv.