NGT Mandates 100% Utilization of STP-Treated Water for NOIDA Authority

NGT Orders NOIDA Authority to Utilize STP-Treated Water to the Maximum

In a major initiative to tackle increasing water scarcity and environmental issues, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered the New Okhla Industrial Development Authority (NOIDA) to use 100% of water purified in sewage treatment plants (STPs). It follows after it was found that a majority of treated water from NOIDA's STPs was being dumped into drains, rather than being utilized for irrigation and other non-drinking purposes.

The NGT bench comprising Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Judicial Member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi, and Expert Member Afroz Ahmad passed this order in a case hearing regarding the improper disposal of STP-treated water by NOIDA Authority. The tribunal was keen on emphasizing the use of treated wastewater in different projects so that valuable natural water resources are conserved.

The problem was discovered when the NOIDA Authority had submitted a report according to which it was generating 260 million liters per day (MLD) of treated water from its sewerage treatment plants. But as high as a whopping 192 MLD of this treated water was being wasted since it was being let out into drains rather than being reused for beneficial activities such as irrigation.

The NGT said that only 20% of treated water was used and 80% went down the drain, resulting in uncontrolled underutilization of a water resource that can fight scarcity. The tribunal referred to the potentiality of STP-treated water for use in certain industries, including in agriculture, in garden landscaping, and also in industry, which will help in lessening dependency on natural freshwater.

It has realized the important role STP-treated water can play in the conservation and management of water, and so the NOIDA Authority has been instructed by the NGT to draw up and submit a comprehensive plan for achieving 100% utilization of such water. The plan should include step-by-step action, approach, and time schedule for the use of treated wastewater within four weeks.

The tribunal directive is indicative of the increasing necessity to save water resources in cities, especially in cities such as NOIDA where urbanization and industrialization are occurring at a rapid pace. With the expansion of cities, their water demand also rises, and an enormous load is put on natural water resources. Cities can reduce their reliance on fresh water resources as well as render management of water resources sustainable by using treated wastewater.

Conservationists have been advocating for many years the increased application of STP-treated water for various non-potable uses. In addition to curbing the environmental damage caused by untreated wastewater, such an activity can enable urban centers to bypass the negative impacts of droughts and enable essential services like agriculture and industry to continue booming despite water shortages.

NGT's move in this regard comes on the back of a growing realization regarding the need to adopt good water management practices across the country. A number of states in India, including Delhi-NCR, are already experiencing acute water scarcity through over-exploitation of groundwater, contamination, and inefficient use of water. The effort by the tribunal to utilize treated wastewater to its full capacity is also bound to affect other city governments throughout the country to go the same way.

The NOIDA Authority has been directed to respond to the NGT order by plugging loopholes in its water management system. It will now have to draw up a plan for optimum utilization of treated water for non-potable uses like irrigation, gardening, and industrial cooling. The authority will also be required to report and monitor progress in this respect to comply with the tribunal order.

Conclusion:The NGT order indicates the increasing demand to treat and reuse wastewater as a part of sustainable water management. The ruling of the tribunal will encourage other cities and municipalities to implement a similar program to use treated sewage water in the most efficient manner in an attempt to ultimately preserve freshwater resources and attain sustainable urban living. With the deadline for submitting the master plan nearing, the NOIDA Authority has the onus of executing the tribunal's order in a timely and effective way. The decision in this case can serve as a good template for other Indian cities to follow in adopting improved practices for the reuse of treated wastewater.