New Year, New Strategies: Clearford India Update Q4 2020
It has been an interesting and challenging year for Clearford in India. During 2020 we started work on three new projects, the Clearford India team also had the opportunity to follow-up with prospective clients which led the development of a new strategy.
New Projects Started
Alwa Phase 3, Gujarat – After the monsoon months, the local water table finally dropped enough for the third phase of construction of our Clearford One System to commence in December. In the meantime, Clearford India Project Manager, Kautuk Patel, and the client, L&T Hydrocarbon Engineering (L&THE), focused on handing over the Phase 1 and Phase 2 installations to the village, as well as conducting a social audit to document the benefits to villagers of the earlier phases.
During the audit process, the Village Gram Panchayat (Council) reviewed all work done to date and were pleased with the village’s overall improvement of cleanliness. As a result, the Council agreed to:
- Takeover the operation of the Phase 1 & 2 Sewage Treatment Plants (STP’s); and,
- Undertake beautification work around the STP which includes improving the path to the STP’s and the planting of a garden and fruit bearing trees.
We discovered during the audit that approximately 150 hectares of agricultural land is now being irrigated using the treated wastewater. This will have a direct beneficial impact on the income generation ability of the farmers concerned.
Pictured: Meeting with Alwa Gram Panchayat Members
Plot Pada, Maharashtra – This project, which started in 2019 and was due for completion in June 2020, was restarted in mid-November following the lift of COVID-19 restrictions and end of the monsoon rains. At this site, the process of delivering the ClearConvey HDPE pipes has begun with approximately 70% of the pipes already delivered. With Clearford as the Contractor, its team visited the site and began the process of marking the pipe network route on the ground.
This process will first require clearing of the brush that has grown during the monsoon months, followed by the route being marked with the placement of white lime powder. After this, any localized route changes necessitated by the surface exposure of rock, trees, or other obstructions will be discussed and only then trenching will commence.
Pictured: Plot Pada Route Checking and ClearConvey Pipe Laying
Poondi Phase 2, Tamil Nadu – Recently awarded to Clearford in November 2020 by Cholamandalam Investment & Finance Co. Ltd., this project, once completed, will involve the construction of seven (7) toilets and the connecting of 42 households with the Clearford One. This village, like the one serviced in Phase 1, lies in the catchment area of Poondi Reservoir, one of the main sources of water for the City of Chennai.
During the month of November, the Clearford Team and our NGO partner the Voice Foundation (the India arm of the Christian Children’s Fund of Canada (CCFC)) began interacting with the villagers and local government authorities to explain what will be done, how they will benefit, and answer any questions.
Pictured: Poondi Phase 2 Village Photos
New Strategy
In addition to these types of rural projects, the Clearford India Team has begun the identification of corporate clients who have large industrial units and are looking to achieve Zero Liquid Discharge or aiming to ensure their manufacturing plant’s water security in the future. In the partnership with: the High Commission of Canada in India; the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Australia; and RTI International; Clearford India made a presentation to 20 large corporates with pan-India operations on how we can help them with their water issues by treating and recycling their domestic wastewater.
As a direct result of this webinar, Clearford India and RTI India signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate and have already begun following up with the clients who expressed interest. This process has led to four major corporations (Hindalco – Hirakud and Alupuram plants, UltraTech Cement, IREL, Tata Steel), sending data to use to on preliminary designs and generate proposals.
Pictured: Clearford Webinar: Leveraging the Business Value of Water
In another major development, Clearford One has been selected as one of the 1000 labelled solutions to receive the Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label, awarded to “efficient, clean and profitable solutions with a positive impact on environment and quality of life”. We were recognized for this label based on the work we have been doing in India after an extensive review by the foundation’s team of experts. The award specifically covers United Nations Sustainable Development Goals SDG 6 (Clean Water & Sanitation) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
