ExNoRa International and Musiri Selection Grade Town Panchayat (MSGTP) took up the first periodical desludging of the DEWATS in the community toilet in the compost yard.  This first DEWATS in a Town Panchayat in Tamil Nadu and constructed through co-financing model at a cost of Rs.5.1 lakhs, was commissioned on December 31st 2006. MSGTP and ExNoRa International expedited the activity through systematic planning, allocation of manpower (8 Sanitary Staff + 1 Supervisor), effective utilization of support resources, safety, housekeeping, documentation, and so on. This formed part of the ‘hands on training’ to Town Panchayat staff.

The unit is functioning smoothly for the last 34 months. As it was due for desludging, Sri. V. C. Sudhakar, President, and Sri Balasubramanian, Executive Officer of MSGTP, were informed of the necessity. Though they were initially reluctant to bear the cost, the advantages (savings from frequent desludging of septic tanks in the past) and exposure gained by MSGTP through this DEWATS unit was explained to them.  On mutual consent, cost estimation was worked out. To mark the uniqueness of the activity, it was decided to take it up on the 19th November 2009 - World Toilet Day.

A series of discussions and planning discussions with the officials of the Town Panchayat were held to organise the required equipment, manpower and other logistics.

MSGTP deputed 8 skilled sanitary workers to understand, execute and get trained through this ‘Hands-on Training exercise’. The Programme staff of ExNoRa International elaborated on the activities to be carried out in each module. The Sanitary workers were divided into three groups and given charge of one DEWATS module each.

In planted gravel filter, the overgrown plants were trimmed to a height of 1 foot and then uprooted for replanting. The filter material was back washed and floating impurities removed. The inlet and collection pipe ports were thoroughly cleaned.  The operation ended after planting 32 canna indica and 32 reeds in the prescribed manner.

The establishment and functioning of the SHG, SHE Team has ensured the community participation by all members of the community and also empowerment of the women.

Today the toilet has a beautiful garden and does not have the normal look and smells of a public toilet.

The waste water being treated is about 5000 liters per day and the treated water is used for cultivation of vegetables for the community.

It can be said in summary that the 1548 people and 378 families that reside in East Devadanam now lead their lives under much more hygienic conditions and have a better quality of life with the existence of the community based sanitation center which provides a permanent environment protection solution to the sanitary problems.

Garbage disposals: The Municipal Sanitary staff, in the initial stage was responsible for collecting the garbage and the wastes from the community. Most of the families deposited the waste and garbage from their respective houses, in places found convenient for them, like the roadsides and open spots. A few of them even dumped the waste in the open drainage, which led to stagnation and breeding of mosquitoes. Only a few individuals handed over the wastes from their house to the municipal sanitary staff, who collected the waste handed over to them, as well as those found in the street side and the open drains. All of the wastes were collected at separate collection points, gathered in a lorry and moved to the dumping site, were the wastes were burned. This was the practice, since times immemorial, as source segregation was unheard of.