A pilot initiative to address sewage and sanitation challenges in rural Andhra Pradesh has yielded encouraging results, according to District Water Management Agency (DWMA) officials. The innovative 'Magic Drain' system, introduced at Somavaram village in Nandigama mandal, has demonstrated effective wastewater management in the ongoing rainy season.

This correspondentvisited the village on Tuesday, as part of the national media tour being undertaken by the Ministry of Panchayat Raj in collaboration with the Press Information Bureau of India (PIB).

A. Ramu, Project Director of DWMA, NTR district, said the pilot project not only ensured smooth percolation of wastewater into the ground but also contributed to groundwater recharge. "The system has shown good results, and we will extend this model to other villages in the district," he said.

The 'Magic Drain' system is a low-cost, eco-friendly alternative to the conventional concrete drains. Built using trenches lined with layers of graded stones and soak pits, the system allows household wastewater to filter naturally into the soil. This prevents odour, mosquito breeding, and stagnant water-related diseases, while also helping resolve disputes between neighbouring villages over drainage channels.

The construction of the drain follows a step-by-step method. Trenches are dug in segments of 50 metres, with depths increasing gradually from 0.40 metres to 0.60 metres. Every 30 metres, a soak pit measuring 1 metre in length, half a metre in width, and 1.2 metres in depth is constructed.

A villager watering the newly-constructed 'Magic drain' at Somavaram. | Photo Credit: Sambasiva Rao M.

To prevent soil erosion into the drain, a two-foot slab made of Kadapa stone is placed on the side facing the house adjacent to the trench. The drain is then filled with multiple layers of stone, starting with large rocks of 75-100 mm and gradually moving to smaller stones of 12-20 mm in thickness. Soak pits are also packed in five graded layers, beginning with 225 mm stones at the base and tapering down to finer stones at the top. This design ensures natural filtration and smooth percolation of wastewater into the ground.

Officials highlighted that this simple yet effective system has been developed at minimal cost, making it a sustainable option for villages that lack formal drainage infrastructure. Somavaram, with a population of 1,324 and limited drainage facilities, was chosen for the pilot programme under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). With an average annual rainfall of 620 mm and paddy as the main crop, the village has faced recurring sanitation challenges. The Magic Drain system will offer a cleaner, healthier and more cost-effective solution that can be replicated across rural Andhra Pradesh, they said.

Reacting to the pilot project of the department, Kambampati Seenamma, a resident of the village said that the local authorities must maintain and clean the drain on a regular basis. Otherwise, it will automatically be converted into a Katcha drain with silt on it. Meanwhile, the officials informed that they would clean the drain every four to six months, depending on requirement.

'Magic Drain' shows promise in rural sanitation at Somavaram