The Problem
In Kolathur, Chennai, there were multiple instances of clogging and overflow in septic tanks, and it led to wastewater overflow and foul smell in the residential areas. Conventional cleaning techniques would not effectively remove all of the accumulated waste, which leads to employing manual scavengers for the complete cleaning.
The cleaning was carried out at night hours to avoid disturbance to the public, and it takes at least 2 days for manual scavengers to clean a septic tank. Getting submerged inside the septic tank puts them exposed to a highly toxic environment causing them various health issues, and it also makes it very tough for them to work consistently.
Owing to these conditions, the sanitary workers can clean only 2-3 septic tanks per week, with lower wages and at the cost of their health and dignity. TADHCO wanted to take the initiative to end this exploitation and guide them to a dignified livelihood along with a solution to simplify the cleaning process.
The Homosep Sewer – Robot with a human touch
Solinas had the right solution for TADHCO to make its vision a reality…….
HomoSEP ATOM from Solinas is India’s first septic tank cleaning robot, that provides a complete end-to-end solution for cleaning Manholes, Septic Tanks, and Sewage Treatment Plants.
The HomoSEP ATOM enables sanitation workers to clean septic tanks and manholes without any manual intervention and has a simplified control system that is extremely easy for them to learn and operate. It was built with the vision to eradicate manual scavenging from India and empower sanitation workers to lead a life of respect and well-being as skilled robot operators.
Additionally, the HomoSEP ATOM also provides an all-in-one solution for sanitary workers, where multiple tools are integrated into a single setup mounted on a vehicle. This ensures that cleaning operations for manholes and septic tanks are simplified with minimal manpower, reducing a significant amount of time and costs for the government and private operators.
The Solinas Advantage for TADHCO
Team Solinas helped TADHCO execute this initiative through a one-month pilot program along with the Chennai Metro Water Supply & Sewerage Board (CMWSSB). Under this program, Solinas deployed the HomoSEP ATOM attached to a Vehicle, along with the complete training for the sanitary workers to operate it. The CMWSSB appointed 4 sanitary workers to be trained by the Solinas team for this pilot project.
Solinas provided support from its field operations team members, who inspected the various sites of septic tank blockages and assisted the sanitary workers in cleaning the tanks using the HomoSEP ATOM. Additionally, Solinas also provided financial support to TADHCO by covering 50% of the total cost of the project.
The disposal of waste after cleaning was another challenge in this operation. Here the CMWSSB provided the waste treatment plants and Solinas provided the storage tank and transportation features integrated into the HomoSEP. This advantage made waste management very simple for the workers.
The Result
The pilot program by Solinas proved to be a massive success for both TADHCO & CMWSSB. By employing the HomoSEP ATOM during the 45-day program, the sanitary workers were able to clean 8 septic tanks each within 1 hour and without ever entering inside them!
The workers were able to easily transport the extracted wastes for safe disposal, thanks to the storage tank and vehicle attachments of HomoSEP ATOM. With the new equipment and skills, the sanitary workers are now able to clean 15-20 tanks/manholes per week, as opposed to the earlier rate of just 2-3 per week.
The cutting-edge technology, hands-on training from field experts, and financial support from Solinas enabled TADHCO to successfully execute its initiative and helped CMWSSB to upskill its sanitary workers. The success of this program transformed the lives of 4 sanitary workers towards a new livelihood of wealth and respect, and a step closer to the Government of Tamil Nadu’s efforts to eliminate manual scavenging.
Impact in numbers:
| 45 Days | 60 residences benefitted | 4 sanitary workers upskilled (or) 4 lives saved |
| 8 septic tanks cleaned | Each septic tank cleaned in 60 minutes | 7000 litres of wastewater disposed safely |
