NIT Rourkela develops nature-based system to treat laundry wastewater, generate power

Researchers at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela have developed a nature-inspired wastewater treatment system aimed at revitalising India’s traditional dhobi ghats and reducing pollution in urban water bodies.

The innovation, designed by a team led by Prof. Kasturi Dutta, Associate Professor, Department of Biotechnology and Medical Engineering, along with researchers Divyani Kumari (PhD) and Karthika Shanmugam (M.Tech), is called the Constructed Wetland–Microbial Fuel Cell (CW-MFC) System. The system specifically targets the treatment of highly contaminated laundry wastewater, which is often laden with detergents, dyes, and microfibres.

Dhobi Ghats: A Critical Socio-Economic and Environmental Challenge

Dhobi ghats, which serve as important socio-economic hubs in many Indian cities, face severe water scarcity due to drying borewells and shrinking open water sources. At the same time, untreated laundry wastewater pollutes rivers, lakes, and wetlands, harming aquatic ecosystems.

The CW-MFC system offers a low-cost, chemical-free, and energy-independent solution by combining wetland plants, engineered filtration layers, and electricity-producing microbes. It not only purifies wastewater but also generates bioelectricity in the process.

Pilot Success at NIT Rourkela Dhobi Ghat

The research team tested the system at NIT Rourkela’s own dhobi ghat, which generates approximately 1,400 litres of detergent-rich wastewater daily. The system successfully removed surfactants and chemical oxygen demand (COD) to levels within permissible limits (1 ppm) set by the Bureau of Indian Standards.

The setup consists of two cylindrical constructed wetland units integrated with microbial fuel cells, layered with gravel, sand, soil, and graphite chunks to serve as electrodes. The units are planted with the locally available wetland species, Canna spp. Wastewater is collected in an overhead tank, processed through the system, and emerges as odorless, colorless, and reusable water.

Social and Environmental Impact

The system allows washermen to reuse treated wastewater, reducing dependence on freshwater sources while protecting urban water bodies from chemical contamination. Its scalability makes it suitable for densely populated dhobi ghats such as Mumbai’s Mahalaxmi and Bengaluru’s Halasuru, and its low maintenance ensures easy adoption in urban slums, peri-urban areas, and rural laundry facilities.

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Prof. Dutta highlighted that the project was inspired by natural purification processes and engineered for practical impact, 
acknowledging support from the Higher Education Funding Agency under its corporate social responsibility initiative.

Future Plans

The researchers are now exploring collaborations with policymakers, municipal bodies, and social organisations to enable large-scale deployment, potentially transforming the future of dhobi ghats across India.