Green Bridge

Abstract: National Environment Policy 2006 of India directs to use wetlands - natural powers of ecosystem to curb the pollution generated by human settlements. It’s a welcome shift from the stance of vehemently insisting mechanical waste treatment systems which are energy intensive and need skilled careful operations. The conventional aerobic and anaerobic treatment systems developed from about 150 years are yet to get acceptance worldwide since they are cost intensive also. The application of ecological principles harnessing the living components of detritus food chain – bacteria, fungi, micro-invertebrates are found to be effective in the treatment of wastes. The waste generated through anthropogenic activities is consumed by the living components of ecotechnological treatment units. Ecotechnological treatment units such as Soil Scape Filter (vertical filtration), Hydrasch Succession Pond, and Green Channel are found to be effective for the treatment of pollution from point sources. The operational costs is reduced to 10 -20% that of conventional aerobic – anaerobic treatment systems. Innovative horizontal filtration system – Green Bridge is found to be promising technology to treat the pollution from non – point sources flowing through the natural drains / streams. Green Bridge is supported by Green Lake Systems. For the aeration purpose, the gradient of the drain is used to splash, cascade and fall from some height to increase the concentration of dissolved oxygen in the flowing wastewater – Stream Ecosystem technology. The erosion control is possible by using contour plantation of some grasses – Green Contour technology. All these technologies can be effectively used to control the pollution and sediment ingress from the catchment area of the lake. Practical applications of all these ecotechnologies are found to be economical and simple as far as operations are concerned because their source of energy is sun and they require least machinery for the routine process maintenance.