19-March -2025-Special-Article

WASTEWATER REUSE IN INDIA

Water scarcity is a growing crisis in India, and the reuse of treated wastewater presents a sustainable solution. A recent study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) titled “Waste to Worth: Managing India’s Urban Water Crisis Through Wastewater Reuse” highlights the importance of water circularity in addressing both water shortages and environmental concerns.

Key Findings of the Study

1. Water Scarcity in India

• India ranks 132nd globally in per capita water availability.
• Freshwater availability has declined by 73% since 1951, from 5,200 cubic meters (m³) per capita to 1,486 m³ in 2021, and is projected to drop further to 1,367 m³ by 2031.
• India holds only 4% of global freshwater resources while supporting 18% of the world’s population and 15% of livestock, putting immense strain on water supplies.
• The country is already water-stressed (below 1,700 m³ per capita) and risks becoming water-scarce (below 1,000 m³ per capita) without urgent intervention.

2. Wastewater Generation and Treatment

• Urban India produces 72,368 million liters per day (MLD) of sewage, but only 44% (31,841 MLD) has treatment capacity.
• The actual operational capacity is only 26,869 MLD, meaning 72% of wastewater remains untreated and is discharged into water bodies, causing pollution.
• By 2050, wastewater generation is expected to increase by 75-80%, reaching 48 billion cubic meters (BCM) annually, far exceeding current treatment capacities.
• If properly treated, wastewater can be a valuable resource that supplements freshwater supply and reduces pollution.

3. Water Governance Challenges

• Many Indian cities rely on distant rivers for water, such as Bengaluru (Cauvery) and Hyderabad (Krishna, Godavari), increasing costs and causing supply shortages in urban outskirts.
• The NITI Aayog Composite Water Management Index reveals 16 states score below 50 out of 100, indicating poor water management.
• Only 28% of sewage is treated, and most cities release untreated or partially treated wastewater into water bodies.
• The Union Ministry of Jal Shakti mandates cities to reuse at least 20% of treated wastewater, but compliance remains low.
• Informal wastewater reuse in agriculture and industry exists but lacks structured policies. Many farmers use untreated sewage, posing health risks.
• Large irrigation projects have been diverted for urban water supply, such as the Narmada Project (Gujarat) and Bisalpur Project (Rajasthan), reducing agricultural water availability.

What is Water Circularity?

• Water circularity involves recycling, reusing, and recovering resources within the water treatment cycle.
• It aims to minimize waste, reduce pollution, and restore natural water systems to ensure sustainable water management.

Benefits of Water Circularity

• Industrial Benefits: Treated wastewater can reduce costs in power plants and data centers, replacing freshwater for cooling.
• Agricultural Use: 317 km³ of wastewater could irrigate 40 million hectares, covering 10% of irrigated land.
• Energy Savings: Recycling wastewater in thermal power plants could save 10 million cubic meters of water annually, generating economic benefits worth USD 300 million per year.
• Fertilizer Recovery: Class I and II cities generate 2,500 tonnes of nutrients daily from sewage water, valued at Rs 19.5 million. Recovering nitrogen and phosphorus can produce organic fertilizers, reducing dependence on synthetic fertilizers and improving soil health.
• Groundwater Recharge: Treated wastewater can artificially replenish aquifers, improving long-term water security.
• Energy Production: Extracting biogas from wastewater can power water treatment plants, while algal biofuels (3G ethanol) can contribute to India’s climate goals.

Measures to Improve Wastewater Reuse in India

1. Water Credit System

• Introduce water reuse credits, similar to carbon trading, to encourage industries to adopt water-efficient practices.

2. Decentralized Wastewater Treatment

• Promote household and community-level wastewater treatment to ease pressure on large-scale sewage treatment plants (STPs).
• Integrate wastewater recycling into Smart Cities under AMRUT 2.0 to enhance local water reuse.

3. Industry and Power Sector Regulations

• Enforce 100% treated wastewater use in thermal power plants located within 50 km of STPs, as per the Power Tariff Policy 2016.
• Impose water abstraction charges on industries still using freshwater despite available treated wastewater.

4. Wastewater Distribution Networks

• Convert unused canals into wastewater supply networks for irrigation, similar to Uttar Pradesh’s initiative.
• Encourage industrial clusters to establish dedicated wastewater pipelines for efficient reuse.

5. Tax and Financial Incentives

• Provide low-interest loans for private investment in wastewater recycling infrastructure.
• Offer tax benefits for industries adopting zero liquid discharge (ZLD) systems, which eliminate liquid waste discharge.

6. Strengthening Monitoring and Regulations

• Strict enforcement of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) standards with regular audits of wastewater treatment plants.
• Deploy Internet of Things (IoT) sensors in all STPs to enable real-time monitoring of water quality and compliance.

Conclusion

India faces a severe water crisis, but wastewater reuse offers a sustainable solution. By adopting water circularity, industries, agriculture, and urban centers can reduce freshwater dependency and minimize pollution. Strengthening policies, financial incentives, decentralized treatment, and monitoring mechanisms will be crucial to making wastewater reuse an integral part of India’s water management strategy. Balancing environmental sustainability with economic growth will ensure water security for future generations.

Mains Question:

1. “Discuss the significance of wastewater reuse in addressing India’s urban water crisis. What policy measures can enhance water circularity for sustainable resource management?” (150 WORDS)