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Taking a lead in the water recycling and treatment segment in the country, the Gujarat government released a policy for re-using treated waste water.
The policy released by the Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani on Monday, aims to reach minimum 80 per cent coverage and collection of sewage in all municipal towns. It aims to achieve a level of 100 per cent treatment of collected sewage as per the prescribed standards.
With the policy, the Government has set a target of reusing 25 per cent of total fresh water consumption from TWW within the time limit set under the policy by every municipal body.
The policy aims to reuse 70 per cent of TWW by 2025 and scale it up to 100 per cent by 2030.
By using TWW, the government is experimenting with alternative sources of non-potable water to meet the growing demand.
The 4Rs
Rupani underlined the need to consider other resources of water to meet the growing needs. "We have to reduce the dependence on groundwater, also we have to reduce the usage of surface water. Considering the future requirements of the potable drinking water, we have to adopt a policy of resource, retreat, reduce and reuse," said Rupani while launching the policy.
The policy makes it mandatory for all the thermal power plants within a distance of 50 km from the STP (sewage treatment plant) or city limits to use TWW.
Also, all the units under the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) estates, all industrial units in special investment regions (SIRs), industrial parks and large industrial units which are consuming minimum one lakh litres of fresh water per day for non-potable purpose, and are located within 50km distance from city limit or STP will have to use TWW.
The policy makes it clear that wherever the TWW comes under direct contact with human beings or it is used in process resulting into products for human consumption, the use of TWW shall not be mandatory.
Currently, underground drainage system is available at all the 8 municipal corporations, 154 out of 162 municipalities and 85 rurban areas in the State.
The system collects seweage which is treated through sewage treatment plants (STPs). About 52 such STPs treat about 2,600 million litres per day of sewerage. In addition to the above, total 161 STPs are being planned or are under execution to add about 2,800 MLD treatment capacity within a span of 2 years.
This will take the total TWW availability to more than 5,000 MLD in the state. "This offers a tremendous opportunity to use TWW and augment water resources economically," the policy document reads.
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