(Feature Image: Members of Mount Rain drops Appartment residential Association posing for a picture at STP set up at a private gated community in Coimbatore. Source: EPS)
Rains and sewage are biggest resources available to Indian cities which can be harvesting and treated to meet the ever-increasing water needs. This can not only help significantly in checking groundwater depletion but also reduce pollution levels in urban water bodies. On the World Water Day 2025, we compile top ten media reports highlighting progress in utilizing these viable alternatives in urban India. The reports suggest that while some south Indian cities particularly Bengaluru and to some extent Chennai is taking some positive steps in this direction, there is very little action happening in the rest of cities. Interestingly, 6 of the ten top stories here are from South India and only one each from Central and North India.
Also see part one of the series documenting top ten effective water conservation steps being taken by farmers in India and part two focusing on top ten positive water conservation efforts being by rural communities in the county during 2024.
1. Becoming water smart key to water secure future The key question in the context of water scarcity is, what is the most optimal way of maximum harvesting, storage, recharge and utilisation of rains and local flows. The key component to achieve this objective is the catchment of any river or stream. Greater the capacity of the catchment to harvest, hold, store and recharge rainwater at or close to the source, closer we will be to the objective. https://sandrp.in/2024/05/28/becoming-water-smart-holds-the-key-to-our-water-secure-future/; https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/comment/becoming-water-smart-holds-the-key-to-tackling-scarcity-625429 (28 May 2024)
2. Bengaluru ‘55% treated water used productively’ A study has found that in Bangalore 35% of treated water is used for agriculture, landscaping and habitat restoration, and another 20% for construction, commercial, and industrial needs. As per the study, carried out by the Bengaluru-based Well Labs, 45% of treated water is released into waterbodies where it gets mixed with untreated water. Comparing Bengaluru with other parts of the world in wastewater management and effective utilisation of sewage treatment plants, the report highlighted, “A few countries such as Australia, Spain, Israel, Japan & Singapore have set themselves the target of meeting 10-60% of their total water needs by reusing wastewater after treatment.” The study says that Australia leads with over 50% reuse of treated water for agriculture.
“The total installed capacity of STPs in Bengaluru is around 1,523 MLD. However, only around 1,239 MLD sewage is actually treated. Out of this, more than 570 MLD is believed to be reused largely outside of Bengaluru for agricultural purposes,” Shreya Nath, managing partner, Urban Water Programme, Well Labs, added. “A majority of IT parks in the city are reusing treated water for air conditioning, where the cool water they get is STP-treated,” Syed Khaja of SPCB said while adding that these numbers are likely to become better.
What holds the key for Bengaluru is the untapped source of treated water from 3,000 decentralised treatment plants. “Most of these plants are located in apartment complexes and their total installed capacity is about 615 MLD. These places can reuse the treated water on their premises or at nearby construction sites or industries. The actual treatment lags and is estimated to be around 250 MLD. Calculations suggest that the current reuse of treated wastewater from decentralized sources is roughly 47 MLD,” Khaja said. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/bengaluru-leads-in-reusing-treated-water-for-agriculture-and-industry/articleshow/111325663.cms (28 June 2024)
Making treated water from STPs potable Boson Whitewater, a water utility company, has launched India’s first indirect potable water reuse project in partnership with Biome Environmental Trust. This initiative in Devanahalli will convert treated water from STPs into high-quality drinking water by using managed aquifer recharge, a method aimed at sustainable water reuse. The project, functional for over a year, produces 6.4 lakh litres of drinking water a day, and supplies it to residents of Devanahalli. It can recover between 50 and 75% of potable water from the STP. However, the remaining water is sent back to the STP and the system does not send any water to the drain.
The project is called “indirect potable water reuse” because it incorporates buffers like lakes for dilution and an aquifer for natural filtration before water undergoes final treatment & distribution. The project is part of a larger mission to restore 65 lakes across Bengaluru using treated water & rainwater. In Devanahalli, the project involved reviving an old well, drilling borewells, and setting up water treatment plants in two phases, ultimately supplying 6.4 lakh litres of water daily, adhering to BIS-10500 drinking water standards to 45,000 residents.
Currently operational in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai & Coimbatore, the system can be installed in any apartment where there are over 200 families & has a functional STP. The system, however, cannot be installed in independent homes or smaller apartments as these will not have STPs. It is a tertiary treatment system designed to improve the quality of treated water from STPs. https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2024/Nov/02/making-treated-water-from-stps-potable (2 Nov 2024)
As part of this project, treated wastewater from the STP is first pumped into Bagalur Lake, where it is diluted with rainwater. It is then directed to Devanahalli’s Sihineerukere Lake, further diluted with rainwater, and subsequently filtered through the earth to recharge the aquifer. The water is then picked up from the aquifer through a dug well and shallow filter borewells, treated, and then supplied to the town. https://www.thehansindia.com/karnataka/indias-first-indirect-potable-water-reuse-project-opened-911328 (02 Oct. 2024)
3. Coimbatore 120 families reap benefits of recycling waste water Members of Mount Rain Drop Apartments, a gated community situated in Nehru Nagar West near Kalapatti have been treating waste water discharged from 120 residential flats since 2018 by setting up multiple sewage treatment plants on the premises. The recycled water is used for gardening and flushing in every household. They plan to sell surplus water for industrial use.
The residents spent Rs 12 lakh on installing the treatment plant. The second phase sponsored by a water purification firm through which they plan to sell water to industries. https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2024/May/29/120-families-in-coimbatore-reap-benefits-of-recycling-waste-water (29 May 2024)
4. Chennai RWH helps resident stay water tanker-free year-round “Around 95% of the rain that falls in our house is harvested, and used. We do not depend on private water tankers,” said Haris Sultan, a waterbody expert and resident of Korattur. “We recharge rainwater from where we extract for daily use, throughout the year,” he added. Rainwater from his 600sqft terrace and 200sqft verandah finds its way via PVC pipes into his 30ft-deep, 3.5ft-wide open well. Before entering the well, it passes through a 3ft-high filter of gravel and sand separated by a filter net. He extracts water for his household from this open well. Earlier this week, his well was 80% full. “This will last us till the next monsoon,” he said.
In most cases, however, RWH structures are just a formality to get building plan approval from Greater Chennai Corp or the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority. Many houses only have pipelines from terraces inside recharge pits, and nobody desilts or checks if the pits recharge water or not. A handful of residents, however, have implemented it so well that they do not rely on private water tankers, especially in areas without water pipelines. “Our groundwater is bad. So, we have a large underground sump to store rainwater,” said Ramesh K from Perungudi. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/rainwater-harvesting-helps-resident-stay-water-tanker-free-year-round/articleshow/116325690.cms (15 Dec 2024)
5. Visakhapatnam Citizens adopt injection borewells Citizens have initiated advanced infrastructure to tap rainwater to overcome water scarcity, given the potential demand due to rapid expansion and population growth in Visakhapatnam. Abdul Rajaac, president of Sai Oak Dale Owners’ Welfare Association of PM Palem Gayatrinagar said: “We have recently built an injection borewell for our apartment as the existing borewells are not adequate for the summer. A typical borewell costs ₹3 lakh, whereas an injection borewell costs ₹4.5 lakh.”
D Lakshmana Rao of the Ground Water Dept, said: “An injection borewell would give the desired results if the borewell is productive and the borewell point is not in a rocky area. Rainwater harvesting is done in two days: one is recharging and pumping water into the ground like the injection borewells. Second, storing rainwater in sumps or tanks and reusing it for watering plants, surface cleaning, drinking and bathing.” Some advantages are that recharge is possible even after the rainy season, groundwater recharge is less expensive and increases groundwater levels. There would also be no water or electricity loss. https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/citizens-adopt-injection-borewells-to-meet-growing-water-needs-of-visakhapatnam/article68400019.ece (13 July 2024)
6. Thiruvananthapuram RWH initiative launched to tackle water scarcity Kattakada assembly constituency has started a rainwater harvesting initiative under the Jal Samriddhi project. The campaign, which commenced on Feb 2, World Wetlands Day and will continue until World Water Day on March 22. The campaign focuses on constructing rain pits in house yards, public spaces, schools, roadsides, and farmlands. Each pit — one metre long, 50cm wide, and 40cm deep — can store 200 litres of rainwater. With 100 pits, up to 20,000 litres can be collected, potentially reaching 2 million litres over 100 rainy days annually.
Various groups, including Kudumbashree members, neighbourhood groups, students & local officials, will participate. The initiative comes in response to declining groundwater levels across 12 block panchayats in the district, with many reaching semi-critical levels. Nemom block, which includes Kattakada, has improved groundwater availability through Jal Samriddhi project. According to 2013 CGWB data, groundwater use in the region, which rose to 73.41% earlier, fell to 69.3%. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/rainwater-harvesting-initiative-launched-to-tackle-water-scarcity/articleshow/117866094.cms (3 Feb 2025)
7. Dewas RWH campaign The RWH campaign launched in the city has been successful in storing about 200 crore liters of water this season. The initiative was started by groundwater expert Dr. Sunil Chaturvedi. Worried over GW depletion, he started a campaign called ‘Amrit Sanchay’. He went from house to house, village to village with his team. Soon this became a mass campaign. https://www.jagran.com/madhya-pradesh/bhopal-dewas-is-saving-200-crore-liters-of-water-jal-andolan-water-conservation-23772570.html (5 Aug 2025)
8. GB Nagar RWH units to be repaired before monsoon Environmental activist Vikrant Tongad, an invited member of the committee, highlighted the poor maintenance of RWH systems in both govt and private buildings. Following the recommendations, three development authorities of Noida, Greater Noida, and Yamuna Expressway have been directed to issue notices to allottees, commercial establishments, and metro stations, directing them to clean and repair RWH systems before the monsoon. In a similar move, the administration had last month directed the officials for preparation of a detailed list of ponds to facilitate groundwater recharge in the district. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/noida-news/gb-nagar-admin-wants-all-rainwater-harvesting-units-repaired-before-monsoon-101740681787975.html (28 Feb. 2025)
9. Centre 50% reuse mandate for bulk users by 2031 These regulations will require entities consuming over 5,000 litres daily to register and implement comprehensive wastewater treatment measures. For new bulk users, the minimum reuse mandates will gradually ramp up. Residential societies, for instance, will start at a 20% reuse requirement in 2027-28, progressing to 50% by FY31. https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/tapping-wastewater-govt-floats-50-reuse-mandate-for-bulk-users-by-2031- (12 Oct 2024)
10. Bengaluru Plan to make grey water recycling mandatory for new homes An official said, “BWSSB has already made it mandatory for apartments with 120 or more flats to establish wastewater treatment. The board has now decided to extend the greywater recycling system to independent houses under construction. After consulting with experts in four rounds of discussions, BWSSB has finalised this decision and will soon submit the proposed regulations to the state govt for approval”.
Currently, 40% of the water supplied by BWSSB is wasted through non-potable uses. Additionally, greywater, which is typically released into drains, contributes to increasing the load on the city’s sewerage system. BWSSB Chairman explained, “The primary objective of this initiative is to ensure that current water needs are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. By implementing greywater recycling, we can save up to 50% of water consumption, which could result in an annual savings of Rs 20,000 cr for the board.” https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/new-homes-in-bengaluru-must-recycle-greywater/articleshow/115150480.cms (11 Nov. 2024)
Some Relevant Reports
Study Isotopes reveal ancient marvel of water engineering Extreme monsoon variations — far more intense than today — profoundly impacted several other ancient communities and kingdoms in the Deccan across three millennia. In response, they pioneered advanced irrigation technologies and diverted river waters through canals for rainwater harvesting, ensuring water security and resilience, according to a team of scientists at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, and archaeologists at the Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa in Andhra Pradesh. https://www.nature.com/articles/d44151-025-00001-9 (30 Dec. 2024)
Bhuj Historic water system figures in 2025 WMW World Monuments Fund (WMF) has selected Bhuj historic water systems in Kutch district to be among the list of 25 sites across the world for this year’s World Monuments Watch, highlighting the need for its immediate conservation. Bhuj historic water systems, which includes Hamirsar Lake, was selected from over 200 nominations that underwent internal and external review by an independent panel of international heritage experts. Amongst the criteria considered, the site’s cultural significance, the need for timely action, and the feasibility of the proposed approach were most significant.
This provides a key opportunity to mobilise efforts to revitalise the Hamirsar Lake in the heart of Bhuj city and enhance its conservation through collaborative efforts. Built in the 16th century during the reign of Rao Khengarji, Hamirsar Lake was designed to sustain Bhuj’s development. https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/bhuj-historic-water-systems-gujarat-2025-world-monuments-watch-9792564/ (22 Jan. 2025)
Ahmedabad By 2027, water recycling to be compulsory for societies In a few months, the state govt is set to implement the central govt’s Liquid Waste Management Rules, 2024, which are currently in the draft stage. These rules aim to address the growing challenges of wastewater management in residential societies, urban local bodies and industrial clusters.
Under the new rules, residential societies are categorised as bulk users, especially those exceeding 5,000 litres of daily water consumption or having pollution load exceeding 10kg of BOD per day. This will include a vast majority of apartment complexes. These societies must register on a centralised website managed by the CPCB. A crucial aspect of the new regulations is the concept of extended user responsibility (EUR).
From April 2027, new residential societies will be required to recycle 20% of their total water use. From April 2030, this requirement will increase to 50% recycling of the water used. Existing societies have lower targets, beginning with 10% in 2027-28 and 25% from 2030-31.
An industrial unit consuming 1,00,000 litres of freshwater per day must reuse at least 60,000 litres of treated wastewater by 2027-28. “These rules particularly apply to thermal power plants, the pulp and paper industry, and the textile industry” the senior UDD official added. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/water-recycling-regulations-activating-by-2027-what-you-need-to-know/articleshow/115151374.cms (11 Nov. 2024)
Gujarat Govt launches waster water recycling policy The Gujarat govt is developing a new policy focusing on wastewater recycling and reuse to address the increasing pressure on drinking water resources. The policy will require industries and commercial entities to use treated wastewater for non-drinking purposes. The govt, under the policy, also plans to offer incentives for treating and reusing water for purposes other than drinking. The policy plans to create a legal obligation for the use of treated wastewater & aims to incentivize it. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/gujarat-launches-revolutionary-wastewater-recycling-policy-to-tackle-water-scarcity/articleshow/115029103.cms (7 Nov 2024)
Report Circular economy for wastewater Indra Water’s decentralised technology leverages ionic reactions to remove pollutants—including a wide range of unwanted substances, heavy metals, suspended solids, phosphorus, fats, oil, grease, pathogens and dissolved organics, among others—from wastewater. Its proprietary water treatment solution is a plug-and-play solution, which takes 90 % less space compared to existing solutions and recovers up to 99 % of the treated water.
The Mumbai-based company focuses on treating wastewater from industries like textiles, steel, and pharmaceuticals, as well as sewage from hotels and commercial buildings. Since the investment (Jan. 2024), Indra Water has scaled up its treatment capacity from 0.575 MLD to 3.75 MLD, achieving a 7x-8x growth in eight months. It plans to add another 30 MLD treatment systems over the next 12 months.
According to Indra Water, India treats water without considering its reuse. Water treatment and reuse should be driven by the end-use application rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. For example, a paper and pulp facility can reuse water with a certain level of pollutants, but a hotel requires much cleaner water.
For this, Indra Water advocates for a graded system that takes into account the pollutant load and the end-use application. This would create a fairer system, where companies are charged based on the actual services provided, rather than the volume of water.
“We are actively engaging with the govt to establish new standards that are relevant to India’s current needs. Agencies like the Bureau of Indian Standards should play a more active role in standardising frameworks for water treatment and reuse,” adds Nayak. https://www.forbesindia.com/article/leadership/indra-water-creating-a-circular-economy-for-indias-wastewater/95556/1 (17 March 2025)
DTE Safety in circularity Reusing treated wastewater can augment water supply while solving the problem of its safe disposal. Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has undertaken a comprehensive analysis of 35 case studies across 16 cities in seven states and Union Territories—Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka—to explore the status of wastewater management in the country. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/water/safety-in-circularity (17 March 2025)
UN Progress on Wastewater Treatment – 2024 Update This report presents the global status on wastewater treatment and acceleration needs to achieve target 6.3 (SDG) by 2030, based on the latest data on indicator 6.3.1 (total wastewater flows as well as flows from industrial sources and households). https://www.unwater.org/publications/progress-wastewater-treatment-2024-update (25 Aug. 2024) This document details the methods used by WHO for monitoring safely treated domestic wastewater flows, as part of SDG indicator 6.3.1. https://www.unwater.org/publications/domestic-wastewater-treatment-methodology-2024 (23 Aug. 2024)
Compiled by Bhim Singh Rawat (bhim.sandrp@gmail.com)
SANDRP 