India’s rural sanitation sector has witnessed significant progress under the Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen (SBM-G), with increasing emphasis on sustaining Open Defecation Free (ODF) outcomes and strengthening Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM) systems across villages. As rural communities continue to evolve and generate higher volumes of greywater and blackwater, there is a growing need for decentralized, cost-effective, and sustainable rural liquid waste management solutions that are technically sound and easy to implement.

Despite the availability of various treatment technologies and management approaches, Gram Panchayats, Rural Development Departments, and implementation agencies often face challenges in selecting appropriate technologies, preparing technical designs, estimating costs, and planning site-specific interventions. The lack of standardized technical resources and easy access to implementation-ready designs further slows down the execution of rural sanitation infrastructure.

To address these challenges and support the effective implementation of rural liquid waste management systems, WASH Institute has developed this dedicated web-based Rural Liquid Waste Management Portal. The portal is envisioned as a comprehensive technical decision-support platform to assist states, districts, blocks, Gram Panchayats, and practitioners in planning and implementing sustainable rural sanitation infrastructure.

The portal provides a curated repository of commonly adopted rural treatment technologies and management systems, including soak pits, leach pits, waste stabilization ponds, DEWATS, drain-end treatment systems, co-treatment models, FSTPs and other decentralized wastewater management solutions suitable for rural contexts. Each technology package includes standard design drawings, technical specifications, implementation guidance, and quantity estimates (BoQs) that can be readily adapted for field implementation.

The technical resources available on the portal have been prepared by experienced sector experts in alignment with CPHEEO guidelines, SBM-G operational guidelines, and established field practices. The technologies featured on the portal have been successfully implemented across multiple villages and states, ensuring their practicality, scalability, and suitability for diverse rural conditions.

By making standardized designs and implementation resources easily accessible, the portal aims to strengthen planning capacities, reduce duplication of technical efforts, improve the quality of infrastructure implementation, and accelerate the adoption of safe and sustainable rural liquid waste management systems across India.

Importantly, the portal is designed as a dynamic and evolving knowledge platform rather than a static repository. It will continue to expand through contributions from sector practitioners, government departments, and technical institutions. Future enhancements will include state-specific schedule of rates, GIS-based planning support, case studies, operation and maintenance guidance, and real-time cost estimation tools to further support rural sanitation planning and implementation.

There are 5 stages for Gram Panchayats and rural implementing agencies to follow while planning and implementing liquid waste management projects.

Stage 1: LWM Plan and Project Formulation

Prerequisite: If the village / Gram Panchayat sanitation (SLWM) plan is approved, to identify projects

Output: Comprehensive plan with list of projects to manage 100% liquid waste

Stage 2: DPR Preparation

Prerequisite: If projects identified, to prepare DPR

Output: Detailed project reports for each LWM project, as per CPHEEO and SBM-G norms

Stage 3: Tendering – Bid Management

Prerequisite: If DPR approved, to prepare bid documents

Output: Bidding documents and specifications needed to hire contractors

Stage 4: Construction

Prerequisite: If contractor hired, to monitor the construction

Output: Checklist to ensure implementation as per applicable IS standards

Stage 5: Operation and Maintenance

Prerequisite: If construction in last phase, to initiate O&M

Output: SOPs for monitoring the infrastructure in the O&M stage

This portal supports Stage 3 by providing standardized technical drawings and cost estimates to streamline the tendering process.

This portal is designed to support Gram Panchayats, rural development departments, implementing agencies, consultants, and practitioners with standardised technical drawings, layout plans, and indicative Bill of Quantities (BoQs) for rural liquid waste and fecal sludge management infrastructure.

Users are expected to:

1. Review all drawings, layouts, dimensions, structural details, and estimates before implementation.
2. Adapt the designs to local site conditions, land availability, soil and groundwater conditions, incoming flows, user requirements, and applicable state or local regulations.
3. Use locally applicable Schedule of Rates (SoR), construction specifications, and engineering practices while preparing project estimates and tender documents.
4. Obtain all necessary technical approvals, structural validations, and statutory clearances prior to execution.

The designs, drawings, specifications, and Bills of Quantities (BoQs) available on this portal are intended as reference and planning tools only. While due care has been taken in preparing these resources, WASH Institute, technical partners, and contributors to the portal shall not be held responsible for site-specific implementation outcomes, construction quality, structural performance, cost variations, or operational issues arising from the use of these materials.

These drawings and BoQs should not be treated as final construction drawings without appropriate site verification, engineering review, and contextual modifications by qualified professionals.

It is the responsibility of the user and implementing agency to ensure compliance with applicable national, state, and local regulations, including environmental and public health requirements, safety norms, and other relevant statutory provisions before construction and operation.