IIT Roorkee's new technology: 'HiEco' will provide real-time information about the spread of diseases during floods..

IIT Roorkee: Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee have developed 'HiEco', a first-of-its-kind integrated flood-water quality modelling platform that not only predicts how urban floodwater will spread across a city, but also shows how potentially disease-causing microbes may spread in floodwater and where people are most at risk of being affected.

This new framework was tested on the 2023 Delhi floods, one of the most severe floods in recent times. The results were shocking. More than 60% of the flood-affected areas were in high to very-high risk zones, and harmful bacteria (E. coli) were found in the water at a level more than a million times higher than safe limits. Children, in particular, were at more than twice the internationally accepted safety level of infection while playing in floodwaters.

Floodwater in many Indian cities combines with untreated sewage and industrial waste to form a toxic mix that can lead to the spread of diarrhoea, cholera and other dangerous water-borne diseases. HiEco can help authorities anticipate these threats, identify “health risk hotspots” and take prompt action to protect people, for example, by improving sewage treatment, cleaning drains before the monsoon, warning residents via SMS alerts, and using advanced water-purification methods.

This research supports the Government of India’s flagship missions, such as the National Mission for Clean Ganga, Swachh Bharat Mission, National Disaster Management Plan, and National Health Mission. It also helps meet several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 3 (good health and well-being), SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities), and SDG 13 (climate action).

Mohit P. Mohanty, Professor, Department of Water Resources Development and Management, IIT Roorkee, said, "Flooding not only damages buildings; it can also cause health crises. HiEco gives us the power to see where the risk is highest, so that action can be taken before it is too late."

Professor Kamal Kishore Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee, said, "This research is a perfect example of science serving society. By helping cities prepare for the visible and hidden dangers of flooding, HiEco can play a vital role in building safer, healthier and climate-resilient communities in India and around the world."

HiEco is designed for use not only in India but also in flood-prone cities around the world, from Mumbai to Manila, Jakarta to New Orleans, providing an advanced, science-based solution to reduce the risk of waterborne diseases following floods.

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