2019 – Posted in: Daily News – Tags: NGT, wastewater, world water development report

ACTION PLAN ON UTILIZATION OF TREATED WASTEWATER

For: Preliminary & Mains
Topic covers: Action Plan to be submitted soon, Concern to waste water treatment, World water development report-2017

News Flash

The National Green Tribunal has directed 18 states and two Union Territories to submit action plan to ensure utilisation of treated wastewater to reduce pressure on the groundwater resources throughout the country.

Only nine states and five UTs have submitted the action plan.
The states and UTs were ordered to submit their action plan within three months time to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Action plans have been received from Andaman & Nicobar, Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Daman and Diu, Delhi, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Odisha, Tripura.

Highlight

The absence of plan for reuse of treated water affects recharge of groundwater.
It also results in fresh water being used for purposes for which treated water can alternatively be used.
Proper plans for reuse of wastewater can add to availability of potable water.
The plans may include a monitoring mechanism in the states for coordination with the local bodies and this will be the responsibility of the chief secretaries of all the states and UTs.

Concerns

Almost 80% of water supply flows back into the ecosystem as wastewater.
This can be a critical environmental and health hazard if not treated properly but its proper management could help the water managers in meeting the city’s water demand.
Currently, India has the capacity to treat approximately 37% of its wastewater, or 22,963 million litres per day (MLD), against a daily sewage generation of approximately 61,754 MLD according to the 2015 report of the Central Pollution Control Board.
Moreover, most sewage treatment plants do not function at maximum capacity and do not conform to the standards prescribed.

What should be done

A paradigm shift from “use and throw – linear” to a “use, treat, and reuse – circular” approach is needed to manage wastewater.

That said, investment in wastewater treatment has associated risks as well. It is therefore important to understand the underlying social, political, technical, and financial factors that will drive, facilitate, and sustain wastewater management interventions in India.

Eight most critical factors for making an informed decision:

Drivers for initiating wastewater management,
Policies and regulations,
Access to technology and finance,
Scale of intervention,
Management strategy and institutional framework,
Public perception,
Phases of deployment, and
A framework for participatory approach.

2017 UN World Water Development Report

Most human activities that use water produce wastewater.
Over 80% of the world’s wastewater – and over 95% in some least developed countries – is released to the environment without treatment.
Once discharged into water bodies, wastewater is either diluted, transported downstream or infiltrates into aquifers, where it can affect the quality (and therefore the availability) of freshwater supplies
The ultimate destination of wastewater discharged into rivers and lakes is often the ocean with negative consequences for the marine environment.
The 2017 edition of the United Nations World Water Development Report, entitled “Wastewater: The Untapped Resource”, demonstrates how improved wastewater management generates social, environmental and economic benefits essential for sustainable development and is essential to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Source: Business Standard, The third Pole, UNESCO

You can follow us on LinkedIn and for more updates related to UPSC IAS Preparation, Like our Facebook Page and subscribe our Diligent IAS Youtube Channel