Nirgosh Gaude
Ponda
With increasing awareness and strict directives from the Ponda municipality, residents have begun accepting the 15 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) as the town’s future waste management solution.
The number of connections to the plant has been steadily rising, with 846 households, commercial establishments, and hospitals now linked to the system, officials said.
As of late February, 109 houses, 576 flats, 157 commercial establishments, and four hospitals were connected to the STP. “Many more households have applied for connections, and their approvals are pending,” said officials.
The plant is currently treating approximately 3 MLD of sewage daily, producing an equivalent amount of treated, chlorinated water, which is released into the Kapileshwari nullah, benefiting riverside farmers.
According to STP engineers, it takes around 180 minutes to generate chlorinated water from the received waste. The plant treats about 1 MLD of waste per cycle, processing it through multiple filtration and purification stages.
Officials said the STP conducts daily laboratory tests on incoming wastewater and treated outflow. Additionally, an automated water testing unit provides live data to Goa State Pollution Control Board.
Commissioned in February 2023, the STP is designed to serve Ponda’s growing population for the next 30 years, with a capacity to cater to 90,000 people. The sewer network spans approximately 53 kilometres connecting Khadpabandh, Warhande, Shantinagar, Upper Bazaar, Durgabhat, Santa Cruz, and Kurtarkar Nagari, as well as parts of Curti and Kavlem panchayats.
Addressing concerns about overflowing chambers, Sewerage Department engineers said that blockages occur when non-biodegradable waste is flushed into the system. Such blockages develop gradually and are not an immediate result of a single instance of improper disposal.
A specialised maintenance agency has been appointed to manage blockages, responding promptly with sewage tank-equipped vehicles to clear obstructions. The gravity-based STP is also equipped with advanced technology and multiple backup systems ensuring uninterrupted functionality even during power failures.
