Maximizing Wastewater Reuse

The core drivers to increase the reuse of wastewater include frequent shortage of water sources, and technology and cost viability/efficiency of treating wastewater resources. The current installed sewage treatment capacity is 31,841 MLD, but the operational capacity is 26,869 MLD (26%). The amount of water needed by the manufacturing sector will increase by 2.2 times between 2010 and 2050 and the energy sector will increase by 3.7 times. Wastewater reuse decreases the demand for freshwater by 20–50% depending on the extent of the treatment and reuse possibilities. Cost of freshwater per m3 is less under recharge borewell followed by percolation ponds and if treated wastewater is considered, it will be much cheaper. Using Life Cycle Cost Assessment (LCCA) analyses four wastewater treatment technologies were compared for cost efficiency. Challenges encountered in reclaimed water reuse include technical challenges, institutional challenges, economic challenges, and social challenges. Investments in wastewater treatment projects are also a social investment like investment in major and medium irrigation projects and hence future government priorities in water sector investment should also include wastewater treatment projects. Policies to augment and efficient wastewater reuse are discussed.