With a billion-plus population, water management is a far greater challenge in India compared to other countries in the world. According to a NITI Aayog report, 75% of households do not have access to clean drinking water, and 84% of households in rural areas lack safe piped water for use. Thus, water conservation measures are essential to ensure water is available in the future. One of the ways to achieve this objective is to use waterless urinals.

According to ENVIS Centre on Hygiene, Sanitation, Sewage Treatment Systems and Technology, a conventional urinal in India requires an average of 3-5 litres of water per flush. It means a large portion of water supplied to households, commercial establishments and industries is flushed down the toilet. Waterless urinals can help to save approximately 56,800 litres to 1,70,000 litres of water per urinal every year.

With a rapidly growing population and corresponding food demand, expansion and intensification of aquaculture is happening in Bangladesh at a fast rate. The aquaculture sector in Bangladesh is contributing to the nation’s economy, assisting in poverty alleviation and supplying necessary nutrition.

However, a vast quantity of waste generation in aquaculture, extensive use of antibiotic and chemicals have become a major cause of concern for the environment as well as public health. Thus, sustainable aquaculture solutions are urgently required to increase the output without compromising the quality and the environment. Moreover, the latest innovations should reduce the aquaculture dependence on water and land and provide socio-economic support to the farming community. Biofloc technology in Bangladesh has emerged as a promising solution that can help in achieving sustainability and other objectives.

With rising population, urbanization and industrialization combined with closing river basins, India is left with highly water stressed regions with the inability to efficiently manage its water resources. Consequently, the average per capita freshwater availability is expected to reduce to 1241 m3 by 2025. It is also estimated that around 29.3 billion cubic meters of water will be required for domestic and industrial purposes by the year 2025. Therefore, efficient and economic biological treatment of industrial wastewater and its reuse have emerged as a potential solution to meet water demands in the future.

Aquaculture is one of the fastest-growing sectors worldwide, and it is no different in Bangladesh. In recent years, aquaculture has expanded and contributed to the socio-economic development of the country. The increasing food and nutrition demand has led to an intensification of aquaculture systems with the help of advanced technology.

It has been reported that chemicals are extensively used by fish farmers in Bangladesh to achieve the current aquaculture productivity in the available land, and to maximize profits. However, the indiscriminate chemical use is a cause of concern as it is known to minimize quality, cause diseases, and in some cases fish kills. Moreover, the concentration of chemicals beyond the permissible limit can cause health hazards to the public and impact the environment.

Waste is one of the biggest challenges faced by the world today, and the future of solid waste management depends on every single individual. Although government authorities, leaders of the nations, municipalities and local communities are working hard to manage the extensive amount of waste generated every day, a radical change in mindset at an individual level is the need of the hour.

On a broader note, improper waste disposal and management, which includes public littering, lack of waste segregation, uncontrolled collection and disposal and poor waste treatment practices, have greatly impacted the world. According to a World Bank report, 2.01 billion tons of municipal solid waste is generated every year across the world, out of which it is estimated that 33% is not managed properly, impacting the environment.

Fats, Oils and Grease, popularly known by its acronym FOG, has been a growing concern worldwide. It affects the performance of wastewater treatment plants and industrial treatment units. According to reports, 47% of sanitary sewer overflows occur due to FOG related issues in the US. Similarly, more than 50% of sewer blockages happen in the [...]