THEORY EXAMINATION (SEM–VI) 2016-17 RURAL WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION

RURAL WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION (ECE024)

Section-wise Solved Answers & Notes

SECTION – A (10 × 2 = 20 Marks)

Very short & precise answers

(a) Objective of rural water supply scheme

To provide safe, adequate, and potable water to rural population at affordable cost for drinking, cooking, and basic domestic needs.

(b) Merits of rural water supply system

• Improves public health                                           • Reduces water-borne diseases
• Saves time and labour                                            • Improves living standards

(c) Effects of improper disposal of solid waste

• Spread of diseases                                                  • Air, water, and soil pollution
• Breeding of insects and rodents                             • Bad odour and unhygienic conditions

(d) Disposal of wastewater in an efficient manner

• Septic tanks                                                             • Soak pits
• Oxidation ponds                                                      • Wastewater treatment plants
• Land disposal after treatment

(e) Factors considered while disposing solid waste    • Quantity and composition of waste
• Population density                                                    • Climatic conditions
• Availability of land                                                     • Cost of disposal

(f) Special wastes & agricultural wastes          Special wastes: Biomedical waste, hazardous waste, e-waste
Agricultural wastes: Crop residues, animal dung, husk, straw

(g) Temporary & disposable containers

• Plastic bins                                                                    • Metal bins
• Paper bags                                                                    • Polythene bags

(h) Factors affecting storage of solid waste

• Type of waste                                                                • Climatic conditions
• Storage duration                                                           • Container design
• Frequency of collection

(i) Solid waste management

Solid waste management is the systematic collection, transportation, processing, and disposal of solid waste in a hygienic manner.

(j) Public awareness programmes for SWM

• Swachh Bharat Abhiyan                                                  • Community awareness camps
• School sanitation programmes

 SECTION – B (Any 5 × 10 = 50 Marks)

(a) Low-cost water treatment methods

Low-cost treatment methods suitable for rural areas include:
• Plain sedimentation                                                     • Filtration through sand filters
• Boiling                                                                          • Chlorination
• Use of ceramic filters

These methods are economical, easy to operate, and require minimum maintenance.

(b) Monitoring rural water quality parameters

Water quality is monitored by testing:
• Physical parameters – colour, turbidity, temperature
• Chemical parameters – pH, hardness, chlorides, fluoride
• Biological parameters – coliform bacteria

Regular testing ensures safe drinking water supply.

(c) Wastewater treatment techniques

• Primary treatment – screening, sedimentation
• Secondary treatment – biological treatment (activated sludge, trickling filter)
• Tertiary treatment – filtration, disinfection

These methods reduce pollutants before disposal.

(d) Septic tank design (outline answer)

Given:                                                               Users = 150
Peak discharge = 205 lpm                               Desludging period = 1 year

Steps:                                                               Calculate daily wastewater flow

Determine tank volume                                   Provide detention period (24 hrs)

Design dispersion trench for effluent disposal

(Neat sketch to be drawn in exam)

(e) Processing operations in medium & high-rise apartments

• Segregation at source                                    • Storage in bins
• Collection and transportation                        • Composting of organic waste
• Disposal of residual waste

(f) Special treatment techniques for industrial hygiene

• Neutralization                                                • Chemical precipitation
• Adsorption                                                     • Incineration
• Disinfection

These methods ensure safe disposal of industrial wastes.

(g) Processing of solid waste at commercial & industrial facilities

• Segregation                                                    • Compaction
• Recycling                                                         • Composting
• Secure landfilling

(h) Destruction & Removal Efficiency vs Combustion Efficiency

SECTION – C (Any 2 × 15 = 30 Marks)

Q3

(i) Low-cost water treatment process

Steps:                                                             • Collection of raw water
• Sedimentation                                             • Filtration
• Disinfection (chlorination)                           (Neat labelled sketch must be drawn in exam)

(ii) Wastewater treatment processes              • Preliminary treatment
• Primary treatment                                        • Secondary treatment
• Tertiary treatment

Each stage removes specific contaminants.

Q4

Public awareness programmes for waste disposal

• Swachh Bharat Mission                               • Door-to-door awareness campaigns
• Community participation programmes      • School sanitation education

Recommended improvements:
• Better segregation practices                      • More public participation
• Regular monitoring                                    • Incentives for cleanliness

Q5

(i) Effects of improper solid waste disposal

• Health hazards – cholera, typhoid             • Environmental pollution
• Groundwater contamination                     • Air pollution from burning waste

(ii) Incineration

Incineration is the controlled burning of solid waste at high temperature to reduce volume and destroy pathogens.

Advantages:
• Reduces waste volume                              • Destroys harmful organisms

Disadvantages:
• High cost                                                   • Air pollution if not controlled