Why MBR is the preferred STP technology for residential and hospitality projects
MBR is preferred for residential and hospitality sites because the binding constraints there are space, consistency and operability — not just capacity. A membrane bioreactor combines biological treatment and submerged membrane filtration in one tank, eliminating the secondary clarifier and tertiary filtration of a conventional ASP/SBR plant. The result: a footprint that fits under a podium, in a basement or inside a containerised skid; effluent quality enforced by the membrane rather than dependent on settling; and output consistently fit for horticulture and dual-plumbing reuse.
- Large plan area — multiple tanks required
- Secondary clarifier occupies significant footprint
- Tertiary sand/carbon filtration needed separately
- Output quality dependent on settling — variable
- Operator-skill sensitive
- ~40–50% smaller plan area — single integrated tank
- Secondary clarifier eliminated entirely
- Tertiary filtration eliminated — membrane enforces quality
- Reuse-grade output — membrane-enforced, consistent
| Parameter | MBR Output | Unit | Suitability |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.5–8.0 | — | All reuse |
| BOD | <10 | mg/L | Horticulture, flush |
| COD | <50 | mg/L | Horticulture, flush |
| TSS | <5 | mg/L | Dual plumbing |
| Oil & Grease | Nil | mg/L | All reuse |
| Coliforms | <100 | MPN/100 mL | Post-disinfection reuse |
| NH₃-N | <5 | mg/L | Cooling make-up |
SMART eMBR System
SMART eMBR is SRPEPL's in-house, membrane-based packaged STP platform for decentralised sites, developed with over 30 years of wastewater experience and in collaboration with Dr. B.K. Guha, former Professor and Head of Environmental Engineering at IIT Delhi. It uses submerged PVDF flat-sheet membranes manufactured in-house, denitrification and aerobic chambers, factory-fitted automation, and optional IoT monitoring through the AQUARA™ operating software.
Each factory-packaged unit is a complete skid: reactor tank, anoxic mixer, process and membrane air blowers, membrane modules and cleaning system, sludge recycle and permeate/backwash pumps, PLC and control panel, and sludge drying unit.
Build-own-operate on leased land — the developer carries no capital cost
For residential and hospitality projects, SRPEPL offers a build-own-operate arrangement in which the developer or society provides a leased parcel of land within the project, and SRPEPL designs, funds, installs, owns and operates the SMART eMBR plant on it. The developer meets its statutory STP obligation and gets reuse-grade water for horticulture, flushing and cooling, without booking the plant as a capital asset or staffing its operation.
Residential, hospitality and institutional projects delivered
EPC + O&M
| Capacity | 650 KLD (1 × 500 + 1 × 150 KLD trains) |
| Format | Compact prefabricated / containerised layout |
| Challenge | Fully occupied township — severe footprint & zero-disruption constraints |
| Scope | Design, supply, installation, commissioning, stabilisation and O&M |
| Compliance | PPCB and NGT norms — treated water reused for horticulture and dual plumbing |
| Status | Currently operated by SRPEPL under single-point EPC + O&M responsibility |
Frequently asked questions
SRPEPL's SMART eMBR platform covers 5 KLD up to 10 MLD and beyond. Standard factory-packaged units run from 10 to 250 KLD (single or twin trains); larger flows use civil-tank configurations with factory-fitted controls or a site-built control room. The same membrane-based treatment logic applies across the range, so a 25 KLD boutique-hotel plant and a 2 MLD township plant are engineered on the same principles.
An MBR STP needs materially less plan area than a conventional ASP or SBR plant because it eliminates the secondary clarifier and tertiary sand/carbon filtration, combining biological treatment and membrane separation in one tank. This is why MBR is the usual choice for podium, basement and containerised installations on space-constrained urban sites.
Yes. MBR-treated water from SRPEPL plants is typically BOD <10 mg/L, COD <50 mg/L, TSS <5 mg/L and coliforms <100 MPN/100 mL — fit for horticulture, toilet flushing through a dual-plumbing network, and cooling-tower or water-feature make-up. The AWHO Sector-114 Mohali township reuses its 650 KLD MBR output for horticulture and dual plumbing.
Yes. SRPEPL designs residential and hospitality STPs to CPCB discharge norms, NGT directions and the relevant state pollution control board reuse standards — for the AWHO Mohali plant, the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB). Design margins are built in so the plant stays compliant during peak occupancy flows and load variation, not only at commissioning.
Yes. SRPEPL offers a build-own-operate arrangement on leased land within the project: the developer provides space, and SRPEPL designs, funds, installs, owns and operates the SMART eMBR plant. Commercial structure and lease tenure are set per project, and a lease model is available for select locations. This lets a developer meet its statutory STP obligation and obtain reuse-grade water without a capital outlay or in-house operating team.
SMART eMBR uses submerged PVDF flat-sheet membranes manufactured in-house by SRPEPL under its SRP Membranes brand, designed for wastewater duty, stable flux and shock-load tolerance, with module-level replacement. In-house membrane manufacturing means replacement elements and technical support come from the same company that built the plant.
SRPEPL is headquartered in Panchkula, Haryana, with regional offices across India, and has delivered residential and hospitality STPs in the Chandigarh tricity region (AWHO Sector-114 Mohali; DLF Panchkula and Mullanpur) and in Himachal Pradesh (DLF Kasauli; Vivaan Hotels Mashobra and Manali; Indraprastha Resort McLeodganj).
Related solutions & pages
Discuss an STP for your township, hotel or campus
Send us the project details — location, number of units or keys, expected flow, available footprint, and reuse intent — and our engineers will recommend a SMART eMBR configuration and indicate whether the build-own-operate route fits.