{"id":370760,"date":"2026-08-31T20:08:59","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T14:38:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/?p=370760"},"modified":"2026-08-31T20:08:59","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T14:38:59","slug":"adopt-policies-for-reuse-of-treated-water","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/adopt-policies-for-reuse-of-treated-water\/","title":{"rendered":"Adopt Policies for Reuse of Treated Water"},"content":{"rendered":"

UPSC Syllabus: Gs Paper 2 – <\/strong>Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors\u00a0 And Paper 3- conservation<\/strong><\/p>\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/h2>\n

India faces growing water demand, freshwater stress and excessive groundwater extraction, while much treated wastewater remains unused or is discharged into water bodies. Safe Reuse of Treated Water (SRTW)<\/strong> can provide a reliable source for agriculture, industry and urban needs, reduce pollution loads and strengthen water security. The emerging policy efforts of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand<\/strong> show how State-specific approaches can shift wastewater management from disposal towards productive and accountable reuse.<\/p>\n

Why India Needs to Mainstream Treated Water Reuse<\/strong><\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Rising water stress:<\/strong> Growing water requirements and pressure on freshwater resources are increasing the need for alternative sources of water.<\/li>\n
  2. NITI Aayog evidence:<\/strong> The Composite Water Management Index 2.0 (2019)<\/strong> showed that 16 of 27 assessed States scored below 50 out of 100<\/strong>, reflecting continuing gaps in water management.<\/li>\n
  3. Low Beneficial Reuse:<\/strong> Only 28% of sewage is effectively treated<\/strong>, while just 3% of treated wastewater is beneficially used<\/strong>, leaving substantial water resources untapped.<\/li>\n
  4. Groundwater dependence:<\/strong> Rampant groundwater extraction is increasing water stress, making treated wastewater important for reducing dependence on freshwater sources.<\/li>\n
  5. Underused Treatment Infrastructure: <\/strong>Discharging treated water into drains or rivers without productive reuse limits the value of the large investment made in sewage treatment infrastructure.<\/li>\n
  6. Water Security and Resilience: <\/strong>Reuse can provide an additional water source during scarcity and support cities facing drought, irregular rainfall and growing demand.<\/li>\n
  7. Economic Opportunity: <\/strong>Treated wastewater can support industrial and urban growth without placing equal pressure on existing freshwater supplies, while also creating opportunities for revenue and resource recovery.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Policy and Institutional Framework for Safe Reuse<\/strong><\/h2>\n
      \n
    1. National Water Policy, 2012:<\/strong> The policy treats recycling and reuse as a general norm and supports treatment to specified standards before wastewater reuse.<\/li>\n
    2. National SRTW framework:<\/strong> The National Framework on Safe Reuse of Treated Water, 2022<\/strong> guides States in preparing reuse policies and implementing them within a defined timeframe.<\/li>\n
    3. Arth Ganga convergence:<\/strong> Arth Ganga promotes monetisation and reuse of treated wastewater for irrigation and industry through cooperation with Ministries, Departments and public-sector undertakings.<\/li>\n
    4. Thermal power mandate:<\/strong> The Power Tariff Policy, 2016<\/strong> requires thermal power plants to use treated sewage water from STPs within 50 kilometres for non-potable purposes.<\/li>\n
    5. National-level coordination:<\/strong> Regular reviews through Empowered Task Force meetings support policy alignment, city action plans and sectoral reuse approaches across power, agriculture and industry.<\/li>\n
    6. Institutional Support:<\/strong> Centre for Science and Environment (CSE)<\/strong> provided technical support to Uttar Pradesh, while National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)<\/strong> supported City-Level Reuse Action Plans for Agra and Prayagraj.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      3. State and City-Level Implementation<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \n
      1. State-level policy progress:<\/strong> Uttarakhand has notified its Safe Reuse of Treated Water (SRTW) policy, while Uttar Pradesh has approved its Safe Reuse of Treated Water Policy, 2026<\/strong>, with policies in Bihar and West Bengal at the final notification stage.<\/li>\n
      2. Indo-German Cooperation: <\/strong>German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) supported Uttar Pradesh in drafting and finalising its SRTW policy and supported development of the national reuse framework.<\/li>\n
      3. Phased targets in Uttar Pradesh:<\/strong> The policy targets 50% reuse by 2030 and 100% thereafter<\/strong> where Sewage Treatment Plant (STPs) and collection and treatment capacity already exist, while areas without functioning STPs target 30% by 2030, 50% by 2035 and 100% by 2045.<\/li>\n
      4. City-level planning:<\/strong> City-Level Reuse Action Plans (CLRAPs)<\/strong> convert policy into local projects by identifying treated-water availability, demand centres, distribution systems, financing and monitoring mechanisms.<\/li>\n
      5. Prayagraj model:<\/strong> Four proposed projects identify 126.45 Million Litres per Day (MLD)<\/strong> of reuse potential across power, railways, agriculture and landscaping, with an estimated investment of \u20b91,625 crore<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
      6. Agra model:<\/strong> Three proposed projects target 28 MLD<\/strong> of reuse potential with an estimated investment of \u20b993 crore<\/strong>, addressing urban water stress and pressure on the Yamuna and groundwater.<\/li>\n
      7. Industrial adoption:<\/strong> Panki Thermal Power Plant uses 40 MLD<\/strong> of treated water, while Jojobera Power Plant, Pragati Power Stations and IOCL Mathura Refinery also use treated wastewater.<\/li>\n
      8. Kolar Reuse Model:<\/strong> Treated wastewater is used for agriculture and groundwater recharge<\/strong> in Kolar, showing how city wastewater can serve productive water needs.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Benefits and Potential of Treated Water Reuse<\/strong><\/h2>\n
          \n
        1. Groundwater Improvement: <\/strong>The Kolar intervention improved groundwater levels and quality, showing the potential of treated wastewater to support groundwater recharge.<\/li>\n
        2. Agricultural Productivity: <\/strong>The same intervention increased agricultural productivity, livestock and fish production, linking water reuse with wider rural economic gains.<\/li>\n
        3. Higher Land Values: <\/strong>Land values in Kolar increased by 118%, while farmers\u2019 net income from cash crops doubled after the intervention.<\/li>\n
        4. Industrial Water Savings: <\/strong>Wastewater recycling and reuse in thermal power plants can generate an average \u20b9300 million annual monetary benefit and save nearly 10 million cubic metres of water.<\/li>\n
        5. Utility Revenue: <\/strong>The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board earns nearly \u20b9164 million annually by selling 18 MLD of treated water, covering its operations and maintenance costs.<\/li>\n
        6. Nutrient Recovery: <\/strong>Recovering nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium from wastewater can reduce dependence on synthetic fertilisers and add economic value to treated wastewater.<\/li>\n
        7. Future Resource Potential: <\/strong>More than 35,000 million cubic metres of treated wastewater could be available by 2050, creating substantial scope for large-scale reuse.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Key Challenges to Large-Scale Reuse<\/strong><\/h2>\n
            \n
          1. Limited Treatment Capacity: <\/strong>A large share of sewage remains untreated, restricting the amount of wastewater available for safe and organised reuse.<\/li>\n
          2. Inadequate Reuse Infrastructure: <\/strong>Treatment capacity alone is insufficient because effective reuse also needs suitable distribution systems and infrastructure connecting treated water with users.<\/li>\n
          3. Lack of Quality Standards: <\/strong>Sector-wise reuse guidelines remain inadequate because different uses require different treatment levels, ranging from biological treatment to reverse osmosis or ultrafiltration.<\/li>\n
          4. High Technology Costs: <\/strong>Advanced technologies such as zero liquid discharge can maximise water recovery but involve high costs that discourage industries and municipalities.<\/li>\n
          5. Weak Financial Conditions: <\/strong>Financial constraints and unclear incentives reduce the economic attractiveness of treated-water reuse for potential users.<\/li>\n
          6. Technical and Private-Sector Gaps: <\/strong>Limited research and development, private-sector participation and skilled personnel slow technological improvement and wider adoption.<\/li>\n
          7. Public Acceptance: <\/strong>Misconceptions about the safety of treated water create socio-cultural barriers, particularly where wider public acceptance is needed.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            Way Forward<\/strong><\/h2>\n
              \n
            1. Fit-for-Purpose Standards: <\/strong>Reuse standards should match the quality required for each sector so that treated water can be safely used without unnecessary treatment costs.<\/li>\n
            2. Research and Innovation: <\/strong>Greater support for industries, universities and research institutions can promote new treatment technologies, water-efficiency practices, pilots and demonstrations.<\/li>\n
            3. Infrastructure Development: <\/strong>City-level roadmaps should connect treatment capacity with distribution networks and identified demand centres so that treated water reaches actual users.<\/li>\n
            4. Incentives for Agriculture and Housing: <\/strong>Farmers can be encouraged to use treated wastewater in water-scarce areas, while subsidies for dual plumbing or property-tax rebates can promote residential reuse.<\/li>\n
            5. Volumetric Water Pricing: <\/strong>Charging users according to consumption and applying higher tariffs to non-recycled water can encourage municipalities and housing societies to adopt treated water.<\/li>\n
            6. Public-Private Partnerships: <\/strong>Government financial support combined with private technical expertise can accelerate wastewater treatment and reuse infrastructure.<\/li>\n
            7. Financial Convergence: <\/strong>Reuse targets can gain financial momentum by linking existing schemes and programmes instead of depending only on new budget allocations.<\/li>\n
            8. Water-Use Credits:<\/strong> Entities using treated wastewater could receive monetisable or tradable water-use credits<\/strong>, creating an economic incentive for greater reuse.<\/li>\n
            9. Institutional Coordination: <\/strong>Utilities, urban departments, irrigation agencies and industries need to work together rather than operating in separate institutional silos.<\/li>\n
            10. Public Awareness: <\/strong>Clear communication on the safety and usefulness of treated water can address misconceptions and improve acceptance of reuse.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n

              India needs to shift from \u201c<\/strong>treat-and-dispose\u201d to \u201c<\/strong>treat-and-reuse\u201d<\/strong> by linking sewage treatment with productive demand. National guidance, State policies, city-level plans, economic mechanisms and public acceptance can make this transition practical. Mainstreaming treated water can conserve freshwater, reduce groundwater pressure, lower river pollution, support economic activity and build a resilient circular water economy<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

              Question for practice:<\/strong><\/p>\n

              Discuss the need for adopting policies to promote the safe reuse of treated water in India.<\/p>\n

              Source: <\/strong>The Hindu<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              UPSC Syllabus: Gs Paper 2 – Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors\u00a0 And Paper 3- conservation Introduction India faces growing water demand, freshwater stress and excessive groundwater extraction, while much treated wastewater remains unused or is discharged into water bodies. Safe Reuse of Treated Water (SRTW) can provide a reliable source for… Continue reading Adopt Policies for Reuse of Treated Water<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10320,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1230],"tags":[300,212,10498],"class_list":["post-370760","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-9-pm-daily-articles","tag-governance","tag-gs-paper-2","tag-the-hindu","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","views":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/370760","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10320"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=370760"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/370760\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=370760"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=370760"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=370760"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}