The mode of operation of these larger plants ranges from exclusively owned as a pure business to those owned by the community. The large RO plants (100 lph – 2000 lph) are located in few pockets like the coastal stretch close to Surat and are predominant in areas where affluent non-resident Indians have donated plants for their native villages.
Local assemblers of treatment plants located in small towns have played a major role in this boom. Some of the plants are by choice restricted to one society or community, whereas others are open access giving rise to several offshoot water suppliers serving surrounding villages.
Planning of future treatment systems in rural areas, needs to keep in mind the need of the community, proper maintenance, awareness generation amongst potential consumers, proper regulation of price and attention to safe disposal of effluent from the plants. The study indicates the need to take care of these aspects -
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