Water & Sanitation Projects

Church School Night Soil Biogas Plant, Mysore, Karnataka

S3IDF has provided technical assistance to a church group seeking to build a biogas plant in Mysore, Karnataka in April 2003. In order to deal with human and animal waste treatment at the Congregation’s School, the church group sought to build a biogas plant that would produce methane gas to partially meet the school’s energy requirements. Additionally, the treatment plant would also create compost that could be used in the farm and dairy that the school planned to create as part of its infrastructure. The farm and dairy would provide employment to the local poor, satisfying S3IDF’s pro-poor criteria.

S3IDF conducted initial studies on design, researched technology suppliers, and conducted a preliminary financial analysis for the project. S3IDF connected with numerous partners, including ASTRA (Application of Science and Technology to Rural Areas) and KVIC (Khadi and Village Industries Commission) which were critical in providing guidance or technology for the project. Since the project was built using equity funds obtained by the church group, S3IDF’s role was limited to technical assistance and monitoring and evaluation.

The project efficiently processes organic human and animal waste into usable by-products—gas, which can supply energy to the school, as well as compost for the school’s farm and dairy. This helps minimize the school’s environmental impact by cycling waste outputs into useful inputs.