VETIVER SYSTEM FOR WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT full report

[SHILPI SARASWAT]

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VETIVER SYSTEM FOR WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT


INTRODUCTION
Fresh water scarcity is predicted to become the greatest single threat to international stability, human health, global food supply .
According to the World Resources Institute, within 25 years, more than half of the world population will be suffering severe fresh water shortages.

Application of the Vetiver System for wastewater treatment is a new and innovative technology, which has the potential to meet the global water crisis.
It is a natural, green, simple, practicable and cost effective solution and most importantly, its by-product offers a range of uses from handicrafts, animal feeds, etc.


VETIVER SYSTEM
The Vetiver System is based on the application of Vetiver grass, which has extraordinary and unique characteristics, including a deep rooting system with a strong soil-binding capacity and stiff stems.


HOW VETIVER SYSTEM REDUCE GLOBAL WATER CRISIS
Reducing or eliminating the unwanted volume of wastewater or contaminated water
Improving the quality of wastewater and polluted water


REDUCING OR ELIMINATING THE VOLUME OF WASTEWATER
The common method of controlling the volume of wastewater is done by seepage control.
The leachate from landfills can be successively reduced by using vetiver system.


SEEPAGE CONTROL
Research conducted in Australia, China and Thailand has clearly demonstrated that VS, when appropriately applied, is very effective in seepage control from Landfills.

The first application of VS for seepage control was conducted in Brisbane, Australia in 1995.
Vetiver grass was shown to be very effective not only in control erosion on the slope of a landfill site but also in eliminating seepage from a 25-year-old landfill.
The seepage was heavily contaminated with heavy metals, particularly Chromium and Cadmium and other toxic chemicals.

IMPROVING WASTEWATER QUALITY
Water pollution is the greatest threat to the world environment, this problem is widespread in industrialised nations but it is particularly serious in developing countries, which often do not have enough resources to deal with the problem.
Chemical and vegetative methods are generally the two remedial means most commonly used for water quality improvement.
But the former is energy-hungry and very costly so most developing countries cannot afford and most importantly, the by-products, such as salt and concentrated toxic materials are often bigger problems themselves.
On the other hand, vegetative treatment such as VS is a natural, simple, practicable and cost effective solution and most importantly, its by-products can offer a range of other uses.
It has been proved that the vetivers effectiveness of in water quality improvement by stabilising highly acidic drains banks and trapping nutrients, sediment, agrochemicals and cane trash.
Intensive monitoring and sampling of the section of drain planted with vetiver has demonstrated the economic and environmentally effectiveness of vetiver grass in improving water quality in term of acidity sediment content etc.


ADVANTAGES OF VETIVER SYSTEM APPLICATION
Simplicity
Lowcost
Minimal Maintanence


CONCLUSION
The information presented above clearly demonstrates that the Vetiver System is a very efficient and low cost method for treating effluent and leachate from both domestic and industrial sources.
When properly designed and applied, the VS will certainly play a key role in minimising the impact of the imminent global clean water shortage.