Sanitation
Most towns in the Global South face issues with sanitation systems that include lack of access, poor design efficiency. Centralised and sewered network infrastructure demand high capital, operation and energy costs and hence excludes small towns and marginal settlements.
The project explores the possibility of scaling up technology alternatives at a town level through participatory planning, capacity building ,
and working with local governments. Sanitation issues get amplified in regions with high water tables like the coastal region of Alleppey particularly during floods.
Our focus is on developing decentralized and integrated sanitation solutions for such
regions at the local level, involving multiple stakeholders in a participatory manner, to ensure effective outcomes.
Situation Assessment Vembanadu
Ongoing
In collaboration with the Alappuzha District Administration, Living Lab Alleppey is coordinating a sanitation assessment across 32 Local Self-Government Departments (LSGDs). The effort involves survey planning, methodology development, student training, data collection, and analysis laying the foundation for evidence-based interventions
As part of this initiative, students from the College of Engineering and Management, Punnapra received hands-on training in household sanitation surveys and digital data collection through the KoBoCollect app. They also participated in canal mapping surveys, guided by local residents, to document waste flows and drainage patterns. These findings are consolidated by the Living Lab Alleppey team to generate reliable insights.
The Situation Assessment aims to generate actionable strategies for improving sanitation and restoring the health of Vembanad Lake, setting a replicable model of co-production between governance, academia, and communities.
Mapathon 2025
2025
As part of the Vembanad Rejuvenation Project led by the District Collector of Alappuzha, Mapathon 2025 was held in Cherthala Municipality from June 9–15, 2025, to ground-truth canal maps, identify unmapped stretches, and carry out catchment delineation for improved sanitation and waste management planning in areas draining into Vembanad Lake. Building on earlier mapping by local colleges, the initiative engaged 29 student interns from Cochin University College of Engineering Kuttanad (CUCEK), providing them with training in QGIS and QField, open-source geospatial tools. Over the week, students verified and refined canal maps by walking assigned routes, correcting inaccuracies, and adding missing details. Afternoon digitisation sessions transformed field observations into accurate spatial datasets, while expert talks and interactions with local leaders deepened understanding of the project’s environmental significance. The final phase focused on catchment delineation, mapping natural flow paths and drainage boundaries to support flood preparedness and targeted waste and water management interventions. Outcomes included verified canal maps, newly mapped stretches, digitised datasets ready for integration into planning systems, and enhanced student skills in GIS, mapping, and spatial analysis. Mapathon 2025 showcased how youth engagement, technology, and governance can converge to address environmental challenges, setting a replicable model for other municipalities along Vembanad Lake.
Flood-Resilient Sanitation Model for Ramankary
2024
To address sanitation challenges in flood-prone areas, Living Lab Alleppey, in collaboration with K-DISC and IIT Bombay, developed a resilient sanitation system for Ramankary Grama Panchayat in the Kuttanad region. Designed for scattered, low-lying settlements with limited infrastructure, the model provides reliable sanitation services even during heavy flooding.
The system integrates adaptive infrastructure with effective wastewater treatment mechanisms, ensuring continuous functionality under challenging conditions. Its context-sensitive design makes it suitable for replication in other vulnerable regions, including Munroe Island and the Sundarbans, offering a scalable solution for flood-resilient sanitation.
Dewats for marginal settlements - purathoor bajanamadom
Living Lab Alleppey, in collaboration with PPC-IRTC and BORDA, prepared Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for implementing Decentralised Wastewater Treatment Systems (DEWATS) in marginal settlements. These included tsunami rehabilitation sites in Purathur Panchayat (Malappuram District), Bhajanamadam (Alleppey Municipality), and Janakshemam (Mararikulam Panchayat).
The initiative addresses acute sanitation challenges faced by underserved communities. Each DPR provides tailored wastewater treatment solutions with comprehensive technical specifications, cost analyses, and maintenance plans, offering a pathway toward sustainable, context-sensitive sanitation infrastructure in vulnerable and resource-constrained areas.
Cherthala AS canal sanitation plan
Living Lab Alleppey is applying its urban waterbody restoration protocol to Cherthala town, demonstrating the model’s effectiveness in revitalizing degraded waterways. The initiative focuses on the AS Canal and its linkages to Vembanad Lake, and is implemented with technical guidance from IIT Bombay, in collaboration with CUSAT and the Government College of Engineering, Kannur.
Designed as a demonstration model, the project showcases scalable strategies for small towns addressing challenges related to waterbody degradation, urban hydrology, and sustainable community engagement.
Alappuzha AS canal restoration plan
Alappuzha AS Canal project is a collaborative initiative led by MLA PP Chitharanjan, Alappuzha municipality and Living Lab Alleppey, focusing on the restoration of a key canal stretch in Alappuzha. The project integrates socio-technological interventions with active public participation to enhance environmental services, improve urban drainage, and create a vibrant public space.
Following a preliminary assessment, community committees were established to ensure broad local involvement. Workshops facilitated by experts covered topics such as waste management, beautification, and sustainability. Field surveys conducted with the support of students collected detailed data on waste generation and local challenges, informing targeted interventions.
The project aims to develop a sustainable and replicable framework for urban water pollution management, demonstrating how community engagement, technical expertise, and environmental stewardship can converge to restore urban waterways effectively.
Contextualizing Faecal Sludge Management (FSM)
The aim was to identify the issues with the current Shit Flow Diagram preparation process and the need to contextualize the output of the tool to use it for planning city-wide FSM services. Based on the status of the FSM service chain in Alleppey, a contextual Shit Flow Diagram was developed using the SFD-pi method, from which various recommendations for planning city wide FSM service were provided.
Course for Integrated Waste Management Program
Provided support for development of an online course IIT Bombay and KILA. This initiative aimed to equip LSGIs with the knowledge and strategies necessary for effective waste management, contributing to a cleaner environment.
Community level Interventions
A key objective was mitigating canal pollution and bringing better sanitation practices by adopting decentralised systems. A detailed survey of canal profiles and sampling water and wastewater were carried out. Several other activities such as sub-canal cleaning and renovation, remedy for liquid and solid waste hotspots, household-level black and greywater treatment, canal beautification and formation of canal committees for operation and maintenance, were also conducted. Finally, a DEWATS system for treating the wastewater at a community level was established with the help of CDD Bangalore and Inspiration, Kochi.
Septic Tank Census-Replacement Plan
2018
A Winter School was organized in Alleppey in 2017, the output of which was a methodology for integrated solid and liquid waste plan by 18 students of IIT Bombay assisted by local students. This was scaled up to the entire canal systems of the town through a summer school involving 300 students from all over India. Assessment of major polluters and pollutants in Alappuzha, including management of organic and inorganic waste, and the waste chain cycle was studied.
Solid and Liquid Waste Management Plan
To have a proper waste management system in place, it was invariably important to understand the chain starting off with the individual user or household. Analysis of the current practices and infrastructure aided in developing a contextual understanding of current solid and liquid waste management practices. A winter school in December 2018 developed a comprehensive integrated solid and liquid waste management plan.
Town Level Water and Sanitation Assessment
A Winter School was organized in Alleppey in 2017, the output of which was a methodology for integrated solid and liquid waste plan by 18 students of IIT Bombay assisted by local students. This was scaled up to the entire canal systems of the town through a summer school involving 300 students from all over India. Assessment of major polluters and pollutants in Alappuzha, including management of organic and inorganic waste, and the waste chain cycle was studied.
Winter school 2017
A Winter School was organized in Alleppey in 2017, the output of which was a methodology for integrated solid and liquid waste plan by 18 students of IIT Bombay assisted by local students. This was scaled up to the entire canal systems of the town through a summer school involving 300 students from all over India. Assessment of major polluters and pollutants in Alappuzha, including management of organic and inorganic waste, and the waste chain cycle was studied.