What is MTU?

Treatment system mounted on a small/medium truck
Designed to treat contents of septic tank at the household/site itself
Separates solids and liquids, liquid gets treated on the spot, thickened sludge carried for secondary treatment
Operational capacity is 6000 liters/hour

PROCESS

Solid and Liquid Separation
Sludge (Solid) Thickening through Centrifuge
Liquid treatment - Membrane Filtration
The thickened solid is taken for secondary treatment
The treated effluent is safe for disposal on sight itself/can be used for secondary purposes such as gardening etc.

More about MTU

While the liquid is separated from the solid, the effluent passes through the treatment process and is disposed. The sludge thickening process helps further in reducing the moisture content in the sludge. The current operational capacity of the MTU is 6000 liters/hr.

The MTU addresses several barriers to achieving safely managed septic waste. In general, septage consists of 95-99% water which the cesspool operators have to carry to the treatment/disposal sites, thus increasing cost of transport. The MTU reduces costs by avoiding transport of the liquid portion. The higher flow rate of MTU helps to empty & treat more number of septic tanks in a day, thus improving revenues also, and hence is more profitable. These benefits can be passed on to the households through a regulated tariff for the MTU. As most of the small towns do not have treatment facilities such as FSTPs/STPs, MTU can be a very apt option for emptying & treating of septage.

Major MTU Advantages

Addresses several barriers to achieving safely managed septic waste

01

Highly Mobile as treatment system is mounted on wheels

02

Low Operational Cost

03

Treated effluents meets the national and international norms. Can be used for secondary purpose such as gardening etc.

04

Helps to keep environment clean by elimination of indiscriminate disposal and dumping of septage

05

Reduces costs by avoiding transport of the liquid portion (which usually comprises of 95-99% of septage)

06

Higher flow rate of MTU helps to empty & treat more number of septic tanks in a day

07

As most of the small towns do not have treatment facilities such as FSTPs/STPs, MTU can be a very apt option for emptying & treating of septage

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MTU Validations & Evaluations

Field Testing & Evaluation Study of MTU by Duke International

Field Testing & Evaluation study of MTU was carried out by Duke University in 2018. The main components of the detailed study included treatment effectiveness & discharge levels, lifespan, cost & efficiency of the MTU.

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Field Testing & Evaluation Study of MTU by BITS Pilani

MTU field testing evaluation study was conducted by BITS Pilani in Goa for 60 septic tanks over a period of 4 months in 2021. The main objectives of the study were (1) Field testing the MTU solid liquid separator of faecal sludge from septic tanks (2) to characterize the effluent post MTU operation for safe disposal and (3) to quantify the sludge separated post MTU operation.

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MTU Evaluation by Principal Scientific Advisor, Government of India

MTU has been vetted and approved by a technical committee chaired by the Principal Scientific Adviser, Government of India. MTU is listed on Jal Jeevan Mission website under PSA approved projects. "See Item B3 in website linked below."

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Accreditations received

It is hereby certified that a patent has been granted to the patentee for an invention entitled MOBILE SEPTAGE TREATMENT SYSTEM (“THE ANNAM”) as disclosed in the application for the term of 20 years from the 6th day of March 2018 in accordance with the provisions of the Patents Act,1970.

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Publications

The below highlights the key research article journal published, field testing & evaluation studies by noted national & international institutions, National Govt. letters of recognition and photos of MTU demonstration to noted Govt. officials.

Publication of MTU Article in Journal of Environmental Management

A research article titled “Technical evaluation and optimization of a mobile septage treatment unit” was published in the Journal of Environmental Management

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Joint Secy SBM Letter to Chief Secretaries

Letter issued by Secretary, MoHUA New Delhi to Chief Secretaries of all states regarding steps that needs to be taken on urgent basis to stop manual desludging of septic tanks. In the Annexure to this letter, MTU has been mentioned in Page No. 7 as one of the eligible products/ processes examined through the technology challenge available through Emergency Response Sanitation Unit (ERSU) with the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs.

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Business Models for FSM in India issued by IWMI

In 2020, MTU was included in the Resource Recovery and Reuse Special series under Business models for Faecal Sludge Management in India, published by International Water Management Initiative (IWMI).

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MTU Awards & Recognitions

NOV
2018
NOV
2020

In Nov 2018, MTU was accorded a National Level Award by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India on “Technology Challenge for identifying and promoting solutions for cleaning and maintenance of septic tanks which eliminated the need for human entry” category.

In 2019, MoHUA also recognized MTU as one of the options to empty and treat septage through an Advisory (Titled as ‘Sewer, Faecal Septage & Drain Cleaning Equipment Manufactured In India’)

In January 2020, WASH Institute received the 5th Edition of India Industry Water Conclave and 7th Edition of FICCI Water Awards under the category "Water Initiative by NGO". The award was presented by the Hon'ble Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat for WASH Institute’s innovative onsite septage treatment technology, MTU.

In 2021, Journal of Environmental Management- Elsevier published a technical paper- “Technical Evaluation and Optimization of a Mobile septage Treatment Unit”.

Learn more from our FAQs

  • What is a Mobile Treatment Unit (MTU)?

    An MTU is a specialized mobile facility designed to collect, treat, and manage septage, which is the waste material from septic tanks and similar systems.

  • Why is septage treatment important?

    Septage treatment is crucial for preventing environmental pollution, protecting public health, and ensuring safe disposal of sewage waste.

  • How does an MTU work?

    MTU typically collect septage using pumps, treat it to remove solids and reduce pathogens, and then discharge or reuse the treated effluent.

  • Where is MTU commonly used?

    MTU is often deployed in rural or peri-urban areas where centralized sewage treatment infrastructure is lacking.

  • What are the benefits of using MTU?

    Benefits include improved sanitation, reduced environmental contamination, and decreased health risks associated with untreated septage.

  • What types of treatment processes are used in MTU?

    Treatment processes can include sedimentation, biological treatment, and disinfection methods to reduce contaminants and pathogens.

  • Is the treated effluent safe for the environment?

    The treated effluent is typically treated to meet environmental standards before discharge to minimize its impact on ecosystems.

  • Who operates and maintains MTU?

    Local authorities, sanitation agencies, or NGOs often operate and maintain MTU to ensure proper functioning and maintenance.

  • Can MTU be used during emergencies or disasters?

    Yes, MTU can be mobilized to provide septage management in disaster-stricken areas, helping to maintain sanitation in challenging situations.

  • Are there regulations governing the use of MTU?

    Regulations can vary by region, but there are often guidelines and standards for the operation and disposal of septage treated by MTU.

  • How can communities access the services of an MTU?

    Communities can typically contact local authorities or sanitation agencies to request the services of an MTU or to inquire about scheduled visits.

  • What is the lifespan of an MTU, and how often does it need maintenance?

    The lifespan and maintenance requirements depend on the equipment and usage but regular maintenance is essential to ensure proper functioning.

  • Can treated septage be used for beneficial purposes, such as irrigation?

    Yes, in some cases, treated septage can be safely used for irrigation or other non-potable purposes, following local regulations.

  • Is septage treatment expensive?

    Costs can vary widely depending on factors such as technology used, scale, and local conditions, but it is generally considered a cost-effective solution for sanitation in areas without centralized sewage systems.

  • Can MTU be customized for specific community needs?

    Yes, MTU can be tailored to meet the specific requirements and capacity needs of different communities or regions.

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