QUESTION
Need cost & space effective, locally adaptable sewage management methods in East Madipakkam, Chennai, Tamilnadu

Though we have drinking water problems, our sewage water problems are more acute at East Madipakkam, Chennai. The soil is clayey and the area is often flooded with storm/waste water.  For about a week each year, we are literally cut off from the rest of the world.  We do not have a public drainage system and each household is to take care of its individual sewerage management.  In these circumstances, we are faced with the frequent and expensive emptying of septic tanks.  We need help for constructing cost effective, space effective soak pits/trench pits and ideas on biodegradability of  effluents for implementation in tune with our environment. There are more than 5000 dwelling units facing this problem in our area.

Kindly advice on what can be done to alleviate the problems we face.

K S Balaji
ksbalaji11@rediff.com

by
3 December 2008