Urban liquid waste management: bane to boon-a study of Palakkad town in Kerala

Abstract

A clean and healthy environment is part and parcel of the wealth and the quality of life that desire for ourselves now and for children in the future. The mismanagement of wastewater in urban areas possesses a major challenge. Together, the waste water discharge and waste disposal had brought about degenerative effects on human well-being and environment which made uneasiness on urban day to day life. Thus, there is an immense need of an effective liquid waste management for a sustainable healthy environment. Since Palakkad municipal area which is chosen for the study lacks a well-defined sewerage network within the city which possesses immense health and environmental risks owing to chaotic urban life. Thus, there is a need for an integrated liquid waste management plan for the region for a booming and healthy urban life. This research explores the effective management of liquid wastes generated within the study domain as part of urban life and how it could be carried out in an effective manner minimizing environmental and health risks. Also, suggesting reuse alternatives from the processed wastes to restore the 3Rs to bring back sustainability. An effective liquid waste management is an essential service core of an urban area and a most important sector for a planned development which cannot be secluded and have to be given equal priority as that of other sectors. Thus, adopting some effective practices would minimize the issues spawned due to the haphazard management of liquid wastes, enabling a clean and healthy city.