Mumbai’s Water Man Has Helped Over 200 Villages And City’s Societies In Tackling Water Scarcity
As a young curious soul, Mumbai's Ajit Gokhale always wondered why water in different areas tastes different. He learnt the taste difference between sweet and salty (dirty) water at a tender age, and when he grew up using his curiosity and skills he embarked on a journey to make clean water accessible to all. So much so, that he has helped as many as 200 villages in combating water scarcity issues.
Image Courtesy: Ipa Nashik
Getting inspired by wise water management techniques used by our ancestors, Ajit wanted to make a difference. The Dombivali resident took up B.Sc in Botany, M.Sc., Ph.D. in Plant Physiology, and a Special Course on Water and Wastewater Treatment conducted by Cranfield University School of Water Sciences, U.K. and Dip in Environment Management, and more. All this has helped him in offering services in water management to people. In 2003, he founded Natural Solutions.
But it was at his job at Ion Exchange India Limited and his 3.5 years stint in the Research & Development department that made him learn the techniques of water purification and treatment. And since then, there's no turning back for him. Ajit's research on wastewater treatment system using hydrophytes (plants that grow on the water surface) helped a lot. He then developed an artificial wetland reed-bed system. That system uses hygroscopic reed plants to treat greywater, pollutants from sewage, and industrial effluent. Hence, converting the greywater into clean, usable water.
The method, in addition to being eco-friendly, is also very cost-effective. Their website lists the method and its approach. Reed Bed System is also known as bio-filters, constructed Wetland systems and Root zone systems. This is a natural system in engineered form for treating wastewater. It employs three types of microbes, anaerobic, facultative and aerobic bacteria working side by side in the natural environment. They have successfully installed over 100 reed beds, and have handled wastewater ranging from 500 litres a day to 6,00,00,000 litres a day. The treated water’s quality before and after image is absolutely applause-worthy.
In addition to this, they have sustainable services in terms of water treatment services, bathwater recycling, rainwater harvesting for both rural and urban areas, organic farming and solid waste management too. Keeping abreast with the times and the techniques, Ajit and his team have provided services to skyscrapers in Mumbai to village areas to industry giants like Jindal and Symbiosis campuses.
Ajit even travels to villages to ensure that the problems of water scarcity are controlled using sustainable practices and efficient water management system. He has been doing this for so long and is making a huge difference in millions of lives. Kudos and more power to our water man and his team!
News Source: The Better India, Times of India, Natural Solutions
Cover Image Courtesy: Ipa Nashik
