Sewers Are Clogged Everywhere. Can Robots Help Clean Them?

In South Asia, thousands of people perform the dangerous job of diving into underground sewers to clear blockages. However, a robot called the Bandicoot has been developed to replace human divers. It has four legs, four cameras, and a carbon fiber body capable of lifting heavy loads. The Bandicoot can access areas that were previously only reachable by human hands. Sewer blockages are a global problem, affecting both South Asian countries and wealthy cities in the global North. The worsening sewer conditions can lead to serious consequences if not addressed. Early civilizations had open sewers, but things began to change during the Industrial Revolution when urban populations grew and diseases like cholera spread. Cholera claimed millions of lives in the 19th century.

Diarrhea and vomiting caused by waterborne pathogens were a major problem until scientist Jon Snow discovered that drinking beer instead of contaminated water could prevent the spread of disease. In the late 1800s, cities began constructing grand sewer systems to address sanitation issues, with Paris even turning its sewers into a tourist attraction. Today, sewer systems still rely on gravity, but with the addition of pumps to move sewage uphill. However, as cities grow and face changing climate patterns, such as heavier rains and rising sea levels, their sewer systems struggle to cope. This leads to costly construction of larger tunnels and increased instances of sewage backup in the streets. In some places, like certain cities in India, it is more cost-effective to hire people to manually unclog pipes, despite it being illegal since 2013.

The founders of Gen Robotics were inspired to create robotic solutions after realizing the dangers and inhumanity of manual scavenging, a practice still prevalent in India. Initially focused on exoskeletons, they shifted their attention to sewer cleaning robots after a tragic accident involving sanitation workers. The company aimed to educate scavengers about the risks associated with their job and hired some of them to operate their Bandicoot robots. With nearly 300 robots deployed across 18 states in India, Gen Robotics is tackling the issue of outdated and overwhelmed sewer systems. The robots, transported to cleanup sites on trucks, are operated by a two-person team and can clean up to 12 manholes a day, compared to the limited capacity of manual scavengers. The robots are equipped with sensors to detect poisonous gas and ensure operator safety. Gen Robotics' innovative solution not only eliminates the dangers faced by workers but also increases efficiency in addressing the sanitation needs of India's growing population.

Gen Robotics, a company focused on creating sewer-cleaning robots, faces the challenge of customizing their designs for the varying sewer systems in different cities in India. Each Bandicoot robot is assembled in-house, with a team of 4 to 10 people cutting, bending, and welding steel pipes. The company ensures that every part meets the specific requirements of each city's sewer system. Recognizing that the operators of the robots may have limited education, Gen Robotics worked with Google to create a user-friendly interface. The development of the Bandicoot took two years before it was ready for deployment. Assembling the robots by hand may slow down production, but the company believes it is necessary for quality control. While innovative technology like the Bandicoot helps, sewers worldwide are facing challenges due to an increasing list of items flushed into the system, including wet wipes, food, and cooking oil, which can contribute to the formation of fat bergs—large masses of inorganic materials.

The issue of fat-bergs blocking sewer tunnels has led to attempts by politicians worldwide to discourage or ban non-flush able wipes, but these efforts have had limited success. Laws have been passed requiring warning labels on sanitary wipes in California, and lawmakers in the UK are pushing for a total ban on selling drain-clogging plastic wipes. However, the problem persists. Additionally, the cost of fixing sewer systems has become increasingly expensive. For example, the London sewer system, initially built at a cost of around 400 million pounds, now requires a 5 billion pound 15-mile underground tunnel project to handle overflow. The effects of climate change, including heavier storms, further strain sewer capacity. New York City's sewer system, dealing with wastewater and storm runoff, often experiences backups during thunderstorms, leading to billions of gallons of raw sewage spilling into waterways. Flooding caused by overwhelmed sewer systems can also be deadly, as seen in the case of 11 people who drowned in their homes during severe rains in 2022.

Amid these challenges, alternatives to traditional sewer systems are being explored. Historically, farmers would pay for human waste to use as fertilizer. Startups are researching ways to recycle urine and return nutrients to the soil. Dry composting toilets have also proven to be an effective method of waste disposal without water. Considering the destination of what is flushed away encourages thinking about potential alternatives to the current sewage systems.