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Green STP Technology

MBR — The Reuse Champion — Ultra-Clear Water, Smallest Footprint

MBR combines activated sludge biology with 0.04–0.4 micron membrane filtration, replacing the secondary clarifier with an absolute physical barrier. The result is effluent of exceptional clarity — BOD <5, TSS <2, near-complete pathogen rejection — in the smallest footprint of any Green STP technology, ready for direct reuse.

GS-10-MBR · GS-25-MBR · GS-50-MBR · GS-100-MBR — hollow-fibre or flat-sheet submerged membranes at 8,000–15,000 mg/L MLSS.

Explore MBR Models Get MBR Quote
BOD <5 mg/L0.5–1.5 m²/KLD FootprintDirect Reuse Grade10–100 KLD

Where MBR fits best

  • Projects where treated water must be reused directly, at scale
  • Land-starved urban sites — basements, podiums, dense campuses
  • Hospitals and healthcare where pathogen rejection matters
  • Green-building certification and ESG-reporting projects

Consider another technology when

  • Budget-driven projects — highest CAPEX and OPEX in the portfolio
  • Sites with unreliable power; membranes are power-critical
  • Owners unwilling to fund CIP discipline and 5–8 year membrane replacement

How it works

Biology + Absolute Barrier Filtration

By operating at 8,000–15,000 mg/L MLSS — three to four times conventional activated sludge — MBR packs far more biomass into far less tank volume. The membrane then physically rejects virtually all suspended solids, bacteria and most pathogens, so effluent quality no longer depends on how well sludge settles.

What happens · Continuous

1. Fine Screening (Critical)

1–3 mm fine screening removes hair, fibre and grit that would otherwise wrap and abrade the membrane fibres.

Why it matters

Fine screening is the single most important protection for membrane life — it is not optional in an MBR.

Process flow diagram

MBR — end-to-end treatment train

Every unit operation from raw sewage to reuse-grade water, including pre-treatment and the sludge branch.

MBR Process Flow Diagram

Biology plus an absolute membrane barrier. The 0.04 µm hollow-fibre module replaces clarifier and sand filtration in one step, giving near-potable reuse quality.

1Raw Sewage200–350 mg/L BOD
2Bar ScreenCoarse + fine solids
3Oil & Grease TrapSkimmer, FOG removal
4Equalisation Tank8–12 hr buffer + air mixing
5Anoxic ZoneNitrate recycle
6Aeration + MLSS 8–12 g/LFine bubble diffusers
7Membrane ModuleUF 0.04 µm, permeate pump
8UV DisinfectionBarrier polish, FC nil
9Reuse TankFlushing • HVAC • Process

Sludge branch — from Membrane Module

1Sludge HoldingAerobic digestion
2DewateringFilter press / drying bed
3Soil ConditionerChemical-free bio-sludge
InletPre-treatmentBiological corePolishingReuseSludge

Why MBR?

Eight reasons consultants specify MBR

Engineering advantages that show up in your compliance record, your energy bill and your maintenance calendar.

Best Effluent Quality in the Portfolio

BOD <5 mg/L, COD <20 mg/L, TSS <2 mg/L. Consistently better than the strictest CPCB norm, with no dependence on settling behaviour.

Smallest Footprint — 0.5–1.5 m²/KLD

No secondary clarifier and high MLSS cut tank volume dramatically. The right answer for basements, podiums and land-starved urban sites.

Physical Pathogen Barrier

The membrane rejects bacteria and most pathogens by size exclusion — an inherent safety margin valued in hospitals and healthcare campuses.

Direct Reuse Without Tertiary Treatment

Permeate is already filtered. Feed it straight to flushing, landscaping or vehicle wash; add RO only for cooling-tower makeup.

Uncoupled SRT and HRT

Solids retention is set independently of hydraulic retention, so slow-growing nitrifiers are retained and ammonia removal stays stable.

Very Low Sludge Yield

Long SRT at high MLSS minimises waste sludge — less desludging, less transport, lower disposal cost over the plant's life.

Fully Automated Operation

Permeate, relax, backwash and air-scour sequences run on PLC. Smart tier adds TMP trending so fouling is caught before it becomes a failure.

Green Building Credits

Reuse-grade water on tap supports IGBC/LEED water-efficiency credits and gives ESG reporting a hard, measurable number.

Compare all 5 technologies

Performance guarantee

We don't just promise — we prove

Every installation is validated by an independent NABL-accredited laboratory. Three consecutive daily samples at full load, compared against the guarantee, before handover.

ParameterTypical Indian InletGreen STP OutletCPCB NormMargin of Safety
BOD (mg/L)200–350<5≤102× better than norm
COD (mg/L)400–700<20≤50Substantial margin
TSS (mg/L)200–400<2≤20Membrane barrier
Turbidity (NTU)—<1<5 (reuse)Direct reuse grade
Ammoniacal Nitrogen (mg/L)25–50<5≤5 (emerging)Stable nitrification
Total Nitrogen (mg/L)40–70<10≤10 (emerging)With anoxic recycle
Fecal Coliform (MPN/100mL)10⁶ – 10⁸<10<100Physical barrier + UV

MBR guarantees require 1–3 mm fine screening upstream, no fats/oils/grease slug loads, uninterrupted power to the permeate and air-scour systems, and CIP chemical cleaning per the Sarvo O&M schedule. Membrane life is 5–8 years and is warranted separately by the membrane supplier.

Reuse applications: Direct toilet flushing · Landscape irrigation · Vehicle and floor washing · Water features · Laundry pre-use (with carbon polish) · Cooling tower makeup with RO polishing · ZLD feed.

Download Datasheet

Model lineup

Four MBR capacities, one engineering standard

Every model carries the same effluent guarantee. What changes is capacity, configuration and redundancy.

GS-10-MBR

Urban Micro-Footprint

10 KLD
Serves
30–60 units / boutique properties
Configuration
MS / FRP Packaged
Reactors
1 bioreactor + 1 membrane tank
Footprint
5–15 m²
Power
2.5–4 kW
Delivery
4–6 weeks

Best for: Basement plant rooms, boutique hotels, clinics, premium villas

Full specification
Capacity
10 KLD
MLSS
8,000–12,000 mg/L
Membrane Type
Hollow fibre / flat sheet, submerged
Pore Size
0.04–0.4 micron
Flux
15–25 LMH
TMP
0.05–0.4 bar
Energy
1.2–2.5 kWh/KL
Membrane Life
5–8 years
Fine Screen
1–3 mm (mandatory)
Get quote for GS-10-MBR

GS-25-MBR

The Reuse Flagship

25 KLD
Serves
80–200 units / 80–150 rooms
Configuration
Civil / MS Tank
Reactors
Anoxic + aerobic + membrane tank
Footprint
15–35 m²
Power
5–9 kW
Delivery
8–12 weeks

Best for: Hospitals, premium hotels, IGBC-rated offices

Full specification
Capacity
25 KLD
MLSS
8,000–15,000 mg/L
Membrane Type
Hollow fibre / flat sheet
Pore Size
0.04–0.4 micron
Flux
15–25 LMH
TMP
0.05–0.4 bar
Energy
1.0–2.2 kWh/KL
CIP
Automated, NaOCl + citric acid
Fine Screen
1–3 mm (mandatory)
Get quote for GS-25-MBR

GS-50-MBR

Campus Reuse Grade

50 KLD
Serves
200–400 units
Configuration
Civil Tank (RCC)
Reactors
Twin membrane trains
Footprint
30–60 m²
Power
9–16 kW
Delivery
10–14 weeks

Best for: Hospital campuses, large hotels, IT parks with cooling reuse

Full specification
Capacity
50 KLD
MLSS
8,000–15,000 mg/L
Membrane Trains
2 (N+1 capable)
Flux
15–25 LMH
Energy
0.9–2.0 kWh/KL
Permeate Pump
Duty + standby
Air Scour
Dedicated coarse-bubble blower
Membrane Life
5–8 years
Get quote for GS-50-MBR

GS-100-MBR

Township Reuse Grade

100 KLD
Serves
500+ units
Configuration
Civil Tank (RCC)
Reactors
Multiple membrane trains
Footprint
50–110 m²
Power
16–30 kW
Delivery
14–18 weeks

Best for: Townships and campuses with mandated reuse and ZLD ambitions

Full specification
Capacity
100 KLD
MLSS
8,000–15,000 mg/L
Membrane Trains
3 with N+1 redundancy
Flux
15–25 LMH
Energy
0.8–1.8 kWh/KL
Automation
SCADA-ready, Smart+ standard
Post-treatment
RO-ready for cooling makeup
Membrane Life
5–8 years
Get quote for GS-100-MBR

Not sure which capacity fits your building?

Size it in 60 seconds with the calculator

MBR range — quick comparison

ParameterGS-10-MBRGS-25-MBRGS-50-MBRGS-100-MBR
Rated Capacity10 KLD25 KLD50 KLD100 KLD
MLSS8,000–12,0008,000–15,0008,000–15,0008,000–15,000
Membrane Flux15–25 LMH15–25 LMH15–25 LMH15–25 LMH
Connected Power2.5–4 kW5–9 kW9–16 kW16–30 kW
Specific Energy1.2–2.5 kWh/KL1.0–2.2 kWh/KL0.9–2.0 kWh/KL0.8–1.8 kWh/KL
Footprint5–15 m²15–35 m²30–60 m²50–110 m²
Effluent BOD<5 mg/L<5 mg/L<5 mg/L<5 mg/L
Membrane Life5–8 years5–8 years5–8 years5–8 years

Application guide

Who is this for?

Select your building type to highlight the recommended model above.

ApplicationTypical GenerationRecommended ModelKey ConsiderationDigital Tier
Hospitals (50–300 beds)15–50 KLDGS-25 / GS-50-MBRMembrane barrier plus UV for pathogen-critical waste streamsSmart+
Premium Hotels & Resorts20–60 KLDGS-25 / GS-50-MBRReuse-grade water for landscaping, laundry pre-use and water featuresSmart
IT Parks & Green Buildings25–100 KLDGS-50 / GS-100-MBRIGBC/LEED water credits, cooling tower makeup with RO polishingSmart+
High-Density Urban Towers20–60 KLDGS-25 / GS-50-MBRSmallest plant room footprint — fits basements and podium levelsSmart
Airports & Transit Hubs50–100 KLDGS-100-MBRPeaky flows, zero tolerance for odour or visible effluentSmart+
Zero Liquid Discharge ProjectsAnyMBR + ROMBR is the standard pre-treatment ahead of RO in a ZLD chainSmart+
Which model fits your project? Run the calculator

Equipment & automation

Everything in the scope, specified and warranted by Sarvo

Single-source accountability — every component is specified, procured, factory-tested and warranted by us.

Download full technical specification

The economics

Your STP pays for itself

Water savings + zero chemical cost + compliance. Move the sliders to see the indicative picture for your project.

Treated water reused
7,650 KL/yr
Annual water savings
INR 61,20,000
Annual STP OPEX
INR 2,89,000
Net annual benefit
INR 58,31,000
Simple payback0.6 yrs

Indicative only — based on 340 operating days, catalogue OPEX bands and typical reuse fractions for MBR. A site survey produces the binding number.

Run the full 5-step calculator
Cost / Saving ElementGS-10-MBRGS-25-MBRGS-50-MBRGS-100-MBR
Indicative CAPEX (INR Lakhs)12–2026–4045–7080–125
Annual Electricity Cost (INR)66,000–1,10,0001,50,000–2,40,0002,70,000–4,40,0004,80,000–7,80,000
Annual Membrane Cleaning Chemicals10,000–18,00018,000–30,00030,000–50,00050,000–85,000
Membrane Replacement Reserve (per yr)20,000–35,00045,000–75,00080,000–1,40,0001,50,000–2,60,000
Total Annual OPEX (INR)1,10,000–1,90,0002,60,000–4,20,0004,60,000–7,50,0008,00,000–13,00,000
OPEX per KL Treated (INR)30–5228–4625–4122–36
Annual Water Savings* (INR)2,70,000–4,50,0006,75,000–11,25,00013,50,000–22,50,00027,00,000–45,00,000
Simple Payback Period4–6 years3.5–5 years3–4.5 years3–4 years

*MBR permeate is directly reusable, so 90% reuse is assumed at INR 800/KL. Higher OPEX is offset by premium reuse value, the smallest civil footprint and green-building credits.

Project references

MBR plants delivered across India

Installed MBR references with capacity, scope of supply and measured outcome.

75 KLD2024

Multi-speciality hospital block

Hyderabad, Telangana · Healthcare

Scope
MBR with UV, dedicated pathogen-rejection validation protocol
Outcome
Fecal coliform consistently non-detectable; TSS <5 mg/L
Reuse
Flushing + HVAC makeup
50 KLD2023

Podium-level basement plant room

Mumbai, Maharashtra · Residential

Scope
MBR in 38% of conventional footprint, fully enclosed and deodorised
Outcome
Released 90 m² of basement to parking
Reuse
Flushing for 240 apartments
60 KLD2025

Luxury hotel water-reuse retrofit

Udaipur, Rajasthan · Hospitality

Scope
MBR + RO polishing loop for high-grade reuse
Outcome
Freshwater draw cut by 58% in a water-stressed district
Reuse
Flushing, laundry pre-rinse, water bodies
All Sarvo project references

Proof in the field

MBR projects and outcomes

Representative project profiles from the Sarvo reference framework — indicative of typical outcomes at these capacities.

Bengaluru, Karnataka

MBR retrofit at a 180-unit residential complex

Capacity
25 KLD
Tanker spend cut
72%
Payback
3.2 years
“The odour complaints stopped in the first month. The tanker bill is what convinced the general body.”

— RWA Secretary

Pune, Maharashtra

MBR for a 120-room business hotel

Capacity
40 KLD
Reuse
Flushing + landscape
Compliance
CTO renewed
“Occupancy swings from 35% to full. The plant simply does not care — the report is the same.”

— Chief Engineer

Hyderabad, Telangana

MBR at a multi-block educational campus

Capacity
60 KLD
Energy
0.9 kWh/KL
Uptime
99.2%
“Remote monitoring means our facilities team of two can run the plant without a specialist.”

— Campus Facilities Head

Explore the other Green STP technologies

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The Resilient Workhorse — Biofilm That Bounces Back

View technology Decentralized

Treat Locally, Reuse Locally — Buried, Silent, Almost Invisible

View technology Constructed Wetland

Nature-Based Treatment — Near-Zero Energy, 25+ Year Life

View technology

Ready for MBR done properly?

Get a site-specific design, a performance guarantee and indicative pricing — usually within three working days of the survey.

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