IIT Roorkee develops HyEco tool to predict flood-related disease risks in cities

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee has developed HyEco, which is a modelling tool that predicts how floods can spread disease-causing microbes in cities, and it also identifies areas where people may have a higher risk of infection.

Explaining the HyEco research, Mohit P Mohanty, Department of Water Resources Development and Management, IIT Roorkee , said, "Floods don't just damage buildings; they can trigger silent health crises. HyEco gives us the power to see where the danger will be highest, so action can be taken before it's too late."

The tool will combine flood mapping, water quality analysis and health risk assessment to study how harmful microorganisms travel through floodwaters. HyEco was tested using data from the 2023 Delhi floods to identify areas where contaminated water could pose a threat to public health.

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IIT Roorkee: HyEco tool to identify high-risk flood zones

According to the research findings, more than 60 percent of the flooded areas reviewed in Delhi fell into high-or very-high-risk categories. The analysis also found that levels of Escherichia coli (E. coli), a type of bacteria used to indicate faecal contamination, were far above safe limits.

Floodwaters can mix with untreated sewage and industrial waste, and increase the risk of waterborne diseases like diarrhoea and cholera. However, flood forecasts that focus only on the spread and depth of water may not fully indicate the health risks faced by residents.

HyEco will take care of this gap by collecting information on flooding, including estimates of microbial contamination and the potential health effects of exposure. This can help authorities identify locations where contaminated floodwater may pose a greater danger to people.

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HyEco supports flood preparedness and public health

The IIT Roorkee researchers said the framework could help authorities plan responses to floods by identifying areas which require early attention. Its approach might also be useful in other flood-prone cities in India, which is based on further testing.

The research will help initiatives such as the Swachh Bharat Mission, the National Mission for Clean Ganga and the National Disaster Management Plan. IIT Roorkee HyEco also aligns with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals related to health, clean water, sustainable cities and climate action.

The findings might support decisions like issuing public health warnings, improving sewage treatment, cleaning drainage systems before the monsoon and taking steps to prevent people from coming into contact with polluted water.