72% of Urban Wastewater Untreated in India: Report

Full treatment and reuse of wastewater may help India avoid the urban water crisis. According to a recent report put out by the Centre for Science and Environment, India can save a considerable amount from the country's urban water crisis if India were to treat and reuse all of its wastewater. Released on Monday, the report stressed that only 28% of India's urban wastewater and sewage is treated; otherwise, all other waste materials go into rivers, lakes, and even land without treatment. The result: water pollution and scarcity get worse. Additionally, untreated water waste is also the contributing factor to the fast growing issues related to water scarcity in India along with rapid urbanization, the expansion of the industries, increased population, and climatic changes. Water reuse and treatment is an economical solution to these challenges. It reduces dependence on water sources and assures the sustenance of water for people living in those cities. Wastewater Treatment: The Hidden Treasure This is the way the Centre for Science and Environment report, Waste to Worth, presents the potential of wastewater as an important resource that could ease part of the country's crisis. The author is calling for investment in increased wastewater treatment technology and infrastructure, which will treat much more urban wastewater for eventual reuse in agriculture, industry, and urban utilities. It generates only a small proportion of Indian wastewater in her cities; even fewer are treated in that place appropriately. The remainder causes degradations of the environments through which its pollution affect watersheds and enhances troubles both for public health and ecosystem. That would put a gargantuan strain on waters getting strained owing to greater use and fewer conservation measures put in place. Government Policies on Water Recycling It made water recycling and reuse mandatory for the Indian cities to consume at least 20% of recycled and reused water. It perfectly responds to the ever-increasing call of the hour towards more significant recognition of wastewater reuse in India's strategy toward effective water management. The report points out that for the ever-increasing demand of freshwater, it is absolutely necessary to promote the practice of the circular economy for the reuse and recycling of water.Scaling up the wastewater reuse practices will help in reducing dependence on fresh sources of water and conserve it for India. Hence, the pressure on the urban supplies will become soft. Besides, a reduction in pressures on the water resources will help good quality water, reduction in pollution, and improvements in sanitation infrastructure. Wastewater Reuse: Strategy for Sustainability In return, from the CSE report it could be seen that re-use of wastewater is the epicentre for achieving water circularity and sustainability. The expression and operation of water use in circulatory terms are considered an action of treating and making use of water in an entirely closed loop in ways whereby no fresh water has been harnessed and waste should not be generated. For all this, cities may consider or accomplish the closing of the loop through the treatment of waste water and its reuse within cities. It's been growing as a problem in India especially in urban areas. Growing demand for water calls for treatment and reuse of water which can satisfy the demand but simultaneously reduce environmental and economic costs associated with extracting water and causing pollution. Apart from these, it also offers scopes for new economic development in terms of: new green technologies, new employment opportunity in the water sector, development of circular economy related to water, as well as support to water treatment of climate resilience applied with less energy and resources compared with traditional methods of water sourcing. Challenges and Opportunities The opportunities for wastewater reuse are numerous, but scaling up treatment and recycling efforts is not without challenges. Among the most important barriers are the lack of infrastructure and the high costs for building and maintaining wastewater treatment plants. Furthermore, the treatment and reuse of wastewater require strong regulatory frameworks, public awareness, and active participation from local governments, industries, and communities. The CSE report advocates for investment in wastewater treatment infrastructure and policy formulation to ensure the wide-scale adoption of wastewater reuse. It also calls for public-private partnerships to ensure that wastewater treatment systems are implemented effectively across urban areas. India's water management policies have to be more long-term, focusing on reuse, conservation, and sustainable practices to deal with the scarcity of water. According to the report from CSE, the government has to take initiatives to support water reuse technologies and also encourage private investment in innovative solutions for water management. The Road Ahead The best feasible solution to the availability of water for the future would be through the treatment and reuse of wastewater, given the huge challenges India faces in handling its water resources. As India sets up the necessary infrastructure and policies to treat and recycle urban wastewater, improvement in water security, natural water body protection, and meeting the sustainability goals of the country would eventually be achieved. The growing demand for water in India's cities calls for immediate action, and wastewater reuse is the sustainable way forward. It is only by turning wastewater into a valuable resource that India can solve its water crisis and move toward a more sustainable and resilient future. Conclusion: The ease of India's urban water crisis will be seen through the increased treatment and reuse of wastewater. The report of the Centre for Science and Environment reveals that wastewater can be a source for tapping growing demands, pollution reduction, and increased environmental sustainability. If combined with stronger policy measures and investment in infrastructure, circular water practices will help India pass through water challenges and assure a water-positive future for the population living in cities.