New Delhi, Oct 16 (IANS): Down-flow hanging sponge (DHS) system is an innovative and effective technology for the treatment of sewage flowing into Indian rivers, experts said here Thursday.

The technology was jointly developed by India and Japan and the first such treatment plant in India was set up in Karnal district in Haryana.

"The innovation in sewage treatment technology has helped make our living environment clean, healthy and indeed rejuvenating," said Hideki Harada, professor at the Tohoku University in Japan.

"This programme promotes international joint research with an aim to obtain new knowledge and utilise research outcomes," he added.

He was speaking at the International Workshop on UASB-DHS integrated system - a sustainable sewage treatment technology.

He said that the down-flow hanging sponge reactor is being integrated with the existing up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) system to make the treatment of the increasing sewage flow more effective.

This project is funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Japan Science and Technology Agency.

"The project will contribute to an integrated water resource management and technology, and could also be replicated in other parts of the world," said Shinya Ejima, chief representative of JICA.