Bioremediation of Airport Stream – Pilot Study
Project Details
The Airport Stream, a critical urban watercourse flowing beneath Coimbatore International Airport, has been severely impacted by continuous inflow of untreated sewage from surrounding residential, commercial, and institutional areas. Originating near the CODISSIA Trade Fair Complex, the stream travels nearly 8.9 km before joining Aachan Kulam, carrying significant pollutant loads along the way.
To address this, Siruthuli initiated a 32-day pilot bioremediation study under the “Nalla Thanni” initiative, focusing on a 1,250-metre stretch near the airport. The project employs “Miracle in Water” (MIW)—a safe, eco-friendly, GRAS-certified microbial solution using Bacillus species to reduce odour and pollutant levels under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions.
A detailed assessment preceded the intervention, including real-time sewage flow monitoring, which recorded an average inflow of 10.1 million litres per day, enabling accurate dosing. Regular water quality monitoring is being carried out at key locations, with sample analysis supported by SITRA.
What are the Benefits?
With active stakeholder engagement and institutional support, this pilot provides strong evidence for scaling up bioremediation across the entire 7 km stretch of the Airport Stream, offering a low-maintenance, nature-based solution for restoring urban streams and protecting public health and groundwater.