India, facing a growing challenge of urban water management, is increasingly
turning to the sustainable practice of wastewater reuse to tackle its water woes.
With water resources stretched thin and the demand for clean water escalating,
reusing treated wastewater has become a viable solution for both cities and water-
intensive industries.
Out of the total urban sewage generated in India, only 28 percent, or 20,236
million liters per day (mld), is treated. An alarming 72 percent of sewage remains
untreated and is discharged into rivers, lakes and aquifers, leading to widespread
contamination of overall water quality.
In the fiscal year 2020-21, urban areas generated a staggering 72,368 mld of
sewage, while the installed sewage treatment capacity stood at 31,841 mld, with an
operational capacity of just 26,869 mld.
This disparity between sewage generation and treatment capacity necessitates a
shift towards the reuse of treated wastewater, particularly for industries with high
water requirements, such as food and beverage units, refineries, and thermal power
plants.
India’s National Water Policy-2012 places a strong emphasis on recycling and
reusing water, recommending treatment to specified standards before reusing
wastewater. It also advocates the establishment of a well-planned tariff system to
incentivise the reuse of treated water across various sectors.
As India grapples with mounting water scarcity and pollution challenges, the
adoption of wastewater reuse projects promise not only environmental benefits, but
also a sustainable solution to the country’s pressing water needs.
