Stillwater Sunrise Rotary Club - Stillwater, Minnesota

(October 21, 2008: see updated status info, below)

Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram (VKA) has established a primary school in Mangaon: Dist. Raighad for the children of the local Katkari tribals. The school has been extended up to Std. VIII (grade 8) in the year 2007 and today there are 324 students (boys & girls) taking education.

The school will be extended up to Std X (grade 10) over next two years (i.e. by 2009) and total number of students will increase to nearly 400. The Ashramshala has been developed on 1.2 acres of land having double storied School Building, Dining Hall, Girl’s Hostel and Boy’s Hostel. The additional infrastructure is being built which will include Secondary School Building, Dining Hall and Staff Quarters. The total number of members on campus is expected to be around 425 – 450.

Water is one of the most primary needs of any such expansion project. Maharashtra Jivan Pradikaran has built the over head water tank which is near to school premises. From this tank barely sufficient water supply is made available to the school. This water supply is adequate only for drinking and washing of utensils etc. It can not support all the sanitation needs. Moreover there is no system of waste water drainage in Mangaon, which has caused significant issues. The total amount of water consumed every day at present is around 5,000 to 8,000 lit. The consumption may increase to around 10,000 – 15,000 liters in next three years.

It was therefore felt necessary to look for waste water treatment and recycling option so that the issues related to sanitation and disposal can be addressed. Moreover this treated water can be used for gardening, agriculture and sanitation.

To meet these expansion needs, a waste water treatment and recycling system will be built so that the issues related to sanitation and disposal can be addressed. This treated water can be used for gardening, agriculture and sanitation etc.

Prof, H.S. Shankar, Senior Professor in Department of Chemical Engineering IIT Bombay has been working in the area of waste treatment for nearly 15 years. Through his intense research he has developed and patented "Soil Bio-Technology Method" for effectively treating wastewater. The brief summary of the process benefits is given below.

Process Features:

• low energy use
• low space requirements
• no waste product (sludge) requiring disposal
• effective removal of bacteria, suspended solids, ammonia, color, and odor
• low maintenance
• natural oxygen supply

The Pune Tilak Road club in Pune, India has organized the project, and is partnering with the Stillwater Sunrise club in Stillwater, Minnesota USA to complete the funding.

The estimated cost to complete the project is $12,150 with funds coming from both clubs, both districts and the Rotary Foundation.

As of April 28, 2008, the system has been designed and the proposal approved by Rotary International. The necessary accounts and bookkeeping are being established so the project work can start.