Riverbank Filtration for Sustainable Water Supply in India

Abstract

Riverbank Filtration (RBF) or Bank Filtration is defined as a natural low cost pre-treatment technique, which enables the utilisation of surface water sources such as lakes or rivers water to pass through the natural porous sub-surface (aquifer) formation to the production well. The porous media serves as a natural filter and reduces the suspended solids and pathogens. RBF technique is gaining popularity in India for drinking water supply particularly in rural and sub-urban areas. India has a lot of potential to apply this technique particularly in the alluvium and coastal areas. Implementation of this technique in feasible areas requires an indepth study a-priori on the hydraulic properties of the river and the hydrogeological characteristics of the aquifer including water quality of both the domains. This paper brief through the RBF technique, processes involved and elaborate on the feasibility, potentials and constraints of promoting bank filtration in India.