The water scenario in India has been on the uproar of the nation. With areas hit with drought and no water to drink it’s been a major concern for one and all in the country. Amongst the challenges thrown up by augmented urbanization in India one of the bigger ones is enormous increase in wastewater generation. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) estimates that about 80 percent of the water supplied for domestic use is discharged as wastewater. This pollutes the downstream areas as it enters untreated into these water bodies. Around 38,250 MLD of wastewater is generated by class I and class II cities in India, which is estimated to grow 3.5 times to 132,250 MLD by 2050. The current wastewater treatment capacity can handle only 30 percent of the total generation, out of which too only 55 percent is operational. This translates to an investment gap of over USD 7 Billion for class I and class II cities by 2016-17.
Here is what Mr. Arun Lakhani CMD of Vishvaraj Infrastructure Limited, VIL India has to say about the situation at hand – What is required is an integrated approach to water management, by integrated approach we need to see the complete water cycle as a whole. So we detect it from a source, then the treatment part then the distribution part then the customer service part. So if you have 24×7 in the distribution part that definitely improves not only the water quality & drinking water but also saves water. Then comes the second very important part is the sewage treatment. Sewage treatment and the reuse of sewage treated water complete the cycle. Sewage treatment or waste water treatment has been on Mr. Arun Lakhani’s mind for a while.
In Mr Arun Lakhani’s opinion if waste water is treated it can be used for industrial purpose, which gives leave way for fresh water to be used in household and agricultural activities in India. Currently the industrial sector, which is one of the biggest consumers of water, is supplied 89% of fresh, treated portable water. They can easily use waste water treated up to the secondary level. This not only frees up huge quantities of fresh potable water but also saves the downstream water bodies from pollution. As of now the household and agricultural sector receivers only 11% of fresh water. Vishvaraj Infrastructure Limited has been advocating this model for quite some time now and they are of the opinion that the operator need to invest 100% in infrastructure and technology for this model to be a complete success.
Successful implementation of Waste Water in India by VIL is the 200 MLD Waste Water Treatment Project in Nagpur. Nagpur City now has 24×7 pressurized water supplies for all the citizens of the city. Another waste water reuse opportunity is the Namami Ganga Program. VIL and the authorities of Namami Ganga are already working on this project.
The reuse of waste water opens up avenues for a more sustainable environment and fresh water supply to the citizens of the nation.