A More Reliable Sanitation Solution for Saint Claret Anath Ashram

Some of the most meaningful work SFA India undertakes happens away from conventional commercial projects. In Badlapur, Thane district, a wastewater lifting installation has helped improve sanitation and everyday comfort for residents of Saint Claret Anath Ashram. This is the story of how the Sanicubic 2 Classic lifting station helped Saint Claret Anath Ashram solve a problem that had been affecting its female residents for months, and why SFA India chose to be part of the solution.

About Saint Claret Anath Ashram

Saint Claret Anath Ashram in Badlapur, Thane district, provides residential care and support to approximately 240 people, including elderly, bedridden, and medically vulnerable residents. The ashram accommodates both male and female residents, and from December 2025, the management has also been accepting more female residents, a welcome expansion of care that introduced an unforeseen infrastructure challenge.

The Challenge: A Washroom With Nowhere for Its Wastewater to Go

Initially, the ashram did not have dedicated washroom facilities for its female residents. To meet this need, an existing room was converted into accommodation, along with a separate female washroom facility built alongside it.

The problem surfaced almost immediately. These washrooms were located at a lower level than the ashram's existing male washrooms, which meant they could not be connected directly to the existing sewage system by gravity, and there was no dedicated sewage pit or chamber available to receive the wastewater.

With usage initially limited, the ashram made do with a basic soil pit dug in the open area behind the washroom. But as the number of female residents grew through late 2025 and into 2026, daily usage increased along with it, and the pit reached its limit. What followed was a set of conditions no care facility should have to manage:

• Foul odour: spreading from the overwhelmed pit into the surrounding living areas
• Mosquito infestation: a potential health and hygiene concern for elderly and medically vulnerable residents
• Wastewater accumulation: pooling in the open area behind the washroom
• An unhygienic environment: around a washroom meant to serve some of the ashram's most vulnerable residents
• Risk of sewage discharge: into the open area, with no controlled outlet for the overflow

For a facility already stretched thin caring for 240 residents, this was not a problem that could wait for a long-term civil works solution.

The SFA India Solution: Sanicubic 2 Classic

SFA Pumps proposed installing a Sanicubic 2 Classic near the female washroom area, a solution that could address the drainage gap without requiring the ashram to raise the washroom floor level or excavate a new gravity line to the existing system.

The female washroom outlets are connected to a common 4-inch, approximately 100 mm, wastewater line behind the WC area. Because the washrooms sit below the available discharge level, the Sanicubic 2 Classic was installed in a pit to receive this wastewater and pump it to the ashram’s existing wastewater collection tank.

The station uses two load-balanced macerator pumps that operate alternately, helping distribute operating time between them. If one pump fails, the second pump can take over, while both pumps can operate during periods of unusually high inflow. The Sanicubic 2 Classic has a maximum head of 13 metres and a maximum flow rate of 15 m³/h. Actual performance depends on the installation duty point and discharge configuration.

The Impact: Hygiene and Dignity Restored

Following installation, the ashram reported that the pump was functioning reliably and that wastewater was being transferred to the existing collection tank. The installation reduced reliance on the open soil pit and helped address the reported odour, standing-water, and mosquito concerns around the washroom area.

For the ashram's caretakers, it means one less environmental hazard to manage in a facility already caring for 240 residents with complex health needs. For the female residents, it means a washroom that is more reliable, hygienic, and suitable for everyday use, without becoming a source of additional distress.

Feedback from the Ashram

A month after installation, Saint Claret Anath Ashram shared its feedback directly:
“The pump is functioning very well, and we have experienced no problems since its installation. It has ensured a regular and reliable transferring of the human waste to a little far away safety tank. Your kindness and commitment have brought a very great support for this destitute center.”

— Fr. Robin Abraham, Director, Saint Claret Anath Ashram, Badlapur

Why This Matters: SFA India’s Commitment to Community Sanitation

SFA India supports wastewater and drainage needs across a range of commercial, hospitality, healthcare, and institutional projects. Projects like Saint Claret Anath Ashram show how practical wastewater engineering can support facilities facing challenging site conditions.

This installation reflects SFA India’s commitment to supporting practical sanitation solutions in the communities where it operates. It also aligns with SFA Group’s wider CSR focus on sanitation, health, dignity, and positive impact for local communities.

Learn More About SFA India

SFA India works with architects, facility managers, NGOs, and care institutions across the country to specify the right wastewater solution for every setting, from commercial fit-outs to community welfare projects like this one.

Explore the Sanicubic 2 Classic pump here or contact SFA India for more information.