Released jointly by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), it highlights the potential of wastewater treatment for water circularity and sustainability.
Key Highlights of the Report
- Decline in India’s annual per capita freshwater availability: Currently below 1,700 cubic metres.
- Huge amount of untreated wastewater: Nearly 72% of India’s wastewater ends up in nearby rivers, lakes, etc.
- Potential in India: India presents a strong case for circular economy in water, as:
- 20% of groundwater blocks are in critical condition or overexploited.
- 55% of households have open or no drains.
Challenges of Wastewater Treatment in India
- Low Operational Capacity of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs): Stands at around 26, 000 million litres per day compared to installed capacity of 31,000.
- Others: Mixing up of all kinds of wastewater, lack of sewage networks, not prioritizing wastewater management, etc.
Key Recommendations
- Governance Reforms: Polices to be backed by bye-laws at the district/city-level with effective monitoring.
- E.g., Karnataka, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) has defined responsibilities including coordination with the Waste Water Reuse Resource Centre.
- Equity and Justice in water reuse: Especially for underprivileged residents of unplanned and informal settlements.
- Decentralized STPs at city-level: Bangalore’s district has been split into three zones based on its natural topography to serve needs of a specific area.
Policy Initiatives for Wastewater Treatment in India
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