An innovative & sustainable approach for treatment of tunnel effluent to prevent environmental impact

The Urban tunneling projects, such as the Kolkata East West Metro, present significant environmental challenges, particularly related to the management and treatment of tunnel effluent. This thesis proposes an innovative and sustainable approach to treating tunnel effluent to mitigate environmental impacts during urban tunneling operations. The proposed method combines advanced filtration techniques, chemical treatments, and biological processes to effectively remove contaminants and reduce the ecological footprint of tunnelling activities. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the current effluent treatment practices and their limitations. It introduces a novel treatment framework designed specifically for urban tunnelling environments, which incorporates sustainable practices to enhance water quality and environmental protection. The research includes detailed evaluations of the effluent characteristics, treatment efficiency, and environmental impact assessments. Field studies and pilot projects conducted as part of the Kolkata East West Metro project demonstrate the practicality and effectiveness of the proposed approach. Results indicate significant improvements in effluent quality, with reductions in key pollutants such as suspended solids, heavy metals, and organic compounds. The implementation of this innovative treatment method not only ensures compliance with environmental regulations but also contributes to the long-term-sustainability of urban tunneling projects. This thesis concludes that adopting this innovative and sustainable effluent treatment approach can significantly minimize the environmental impacts associated with urban tunnelling, promoting ecological balance and public health. The findings and methodologies presented in this study provide valuable insights for future urban infrastructure projects, setting a precedent for environmentally responsible tunneling practices.