Wastewater management policies: A roadmap for India

Population growth and urbanisation has led to increasing water demand and generation of large amounts of wastewater – most of which is polluted due to sewage, industrial effluents and runoff from land-based activities. It often gets directly released into the environment without proper treatment in India.

This paper titled  'Wastewater management policies: a perspective and roadmap for India’ published in Current Science analyses the wastewater situation in India, challenges in policy implementation and provides a comprehensive framework for revitalising wastewater management policies in India.

The wastewater situation in India

STPs employ a spectrum of treatment technologies across Indian states and include those utilising the sequential batch reactor (SBR) treatment technology which are prevalent across a majority of states and Union Territories. These are followed by STPs utilising the activated sludge process (ASP) technology. Around 490 STPs are designed based on the SBR technology, followed by 321 STPs designed on the ASP methodology. Additionally, 76 STPs are built on the foundation of upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) technology.

Wastewater management is fragmented

Wastewater management in India faces several challenges related to constitutional provisions and governance frameworks. Schedule 7 of the Indian Constitution designates water as a state matter, subject to the stipulations outlined in the Union List. This empowers the Parliament to legislate on inter-state water regulation and development for broader public welfare, while states retain the authority to formulate laws governing water use within their boundaries for household use, irrigation, drainage, embankments and water storage.

This segregated approach to wastewater management is also reflected in the administration of water resources at the state level that gets further fragmented at local level in urban and rural areas as prescribed by the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendment acts. These constitutional mechanisms create power disparities between the Central government and individual states, leading to a cloud of uncertainty over federal jurisdiction. This often leads to disputes and disagreements between states over wastewater management.

An integrated approach to wastewater management is important

At the same time, implementation of centralised wastewater treatment solutions will need a robust network of interlinked sewers and drainage systems, which will lead to aggregation of wastewater at a centralised facility.

While this approach may lead to effective treatment, it could bring forth a number of challenges in terms of expenses, labour and time. Also, the financial burden of establishing and maintaining an extensive network can be substantial, encompassing infrastructure costs, maintenance expenditures and operational expenses, and will need a substantial labour force. Furthermore, the time required for planning, construction and synchronisation of these intricate networks will be a challenge. Delays in implementation might impede the swift response required to address pressing wastewater management concerns.

 Thus, a comprehensive and integrated approach, considering local contexts and encouraging use of technological advancements, is very important for effectively managing wastewater while addressing constitutional complexities.

There is a need for updated policies

Existing wastewater policies fall short of addressing the magnitude of the wastewater problem in India. The lack of regulations and oversight, inefficient treatment facilities, insufficient funding, and a dearth of technical expertise have led to poor wastewater management in India. Moreover, the absence of a comprehensive framework for managing industrial wastewater has led to contamination of water resources and soil, affecting human health and ecology.

This changing pollution landscape and the limitations of existing treatment methods call for the need to have new guidelines and wastewater policies that address these new challenges.

Policy evolution should:

• Focus on stricter regulations, monitoring mechanisms for industries and incentives for adopting cleaner production practices and sustainable wastewater treatment technologies.

• Encourage the adoption of advances in wastewater technologies by providing incentives, funding mechanisms, and research collaboration between government bodies, academia and industry players.

• Support the development of decentralised treatment systems suitable for diverse contexts, including rural areas that would reduce the burden on centralised facilities.

What do success stories from other countries show

Success stories from Singapore, Netherlands, UK emphasise the importance of public engagement in wastewater management. The common learnings that emerge from these success stories is that of commitment to innovation, sustainability and community engagement. These experiences find that:

• Transparency and education are crucial in gaining public trust.

• Involving communities in decision-making, planning and maintaining wastewater infrastructure fosters a sense of responsibility and shared ownership

• Public campaigns can encourage responsible water use and reduce the disposal of harmful substances into wastewater

• Effective communication is crucial in addressing concerns and dispelling misconceptions about effective use of wastewater.

Key components of updated policies

The key components that should be considered in updating wastewater policies include:

• Regulatory framework enhancement

• Incorporating sustainable practices

• Strengthening monitoring and enforcement mechanisms,

• Involvement of government agencies,

• Collaboration with industries and communities

• Educational initiatives for public understanding

Integration of advanced monitoring and data analytics is crucial

IoT is already playing a significant role in monitoring and control in wastewater management while IoT-enabled sensors are being used in wastewater treatment plants and collection systems. These sensors continuously collect data on water flow, quality, temperature and chemical levels, which is transmitted to a central control system, allowing operators to remotely monitor the entire wastewater network.

Technology is also being useful in regular operation and maintenance, regular monitoring and identification of problems in wastewater treatment processes, preventing failures in processes, reducing cost and checking quality of wastewater generated. Advanced technologies further hold the promise of better and efficient management of wastewater.

Way forward

Wastewater management policies often face challenges when it comes to effective implementation. The transition from existing practices to new guidelines should gradually allow stakeholders to adapt, learn and optimise their processes through a phased approach which can involve pilot projects in select regions. These can then be replicated in other places after bottle-necks in implementation have been identified thus helping in scaling up of the effort.

Having clear timelines, targets and milestones to track progress and ensuring accountability and adequate infrastructure, optimal budget allocation and ensuring sustainable revenue streams for the long-term operation and maintenance of wastewater systems will be crucial, argues the paper.

Expected outcomes and benefits of updated wastewater policies

• Improved water quality and ecosystem health

• Positive economic and social impacts

• Positioning India on the global sustainability map

• Mitigating climate change impact

• Strengthening resilience to environmental challenges

• Public awareness and behaviour change