Effective greywater management and its reuse potential in rural Punjab and Haryana

Authors: Uzra Sultana, Pavanesh Dwivedi

Progress in water and sanitation in rural India

Rural India’s water and sanitation have changed significantly over the past decade. The Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin (SBM-G), launched in 2014, significantly improved sanitation by making toilets accessible in rural areas. In 2019, the Government of India introduced the Jal Jeevan Mission with the ambitious goal of providing every rural household with at least 55 litres per capita per day (LPCD) of water through functional household tap connections.

In 2020, SBM Phase 2 was launched to continue with the progress made in Phase 1. This new phase introduced several components, including Gobardhan (biogas generation from waste), Solid and Liquid Waste Management (S/LWM), and decentralized operation and maintenance of community sanitation assets. While these initiatives have greatly enhanced rural life, they have also led to a new challenge, that of a significant increase in greywater generation. Little is known about what happens to this large amount of generated greywater and about its usefulness for recharge or irrigation.

What do experiences from the ground reveal?

Arghyam conducted a field visit across eight villages in Punjab and Haryana with a large rural population practicing agriculture, to unravel the complexities of this emerging issue and explore potential solutions. These states provide a clear view of the opportunities and challenges associated with increased greywater production in rural India.

Substantial greywater is generated, but a limited amount gets treated

In Punjab, with over 13,000 villages, approximately 79 million litres of greywater is generated daily, based on an average water supply exceeding 70 LPCD. As per SBM Grameen 2.0 dashboard, despite this large volume, only 75 percent of villages have liquid waste management arrangements.

Haryana faces a similar situation, with about 68 million litres of greywater generated daily across its 7,356 villages, but only 65 percent having liquid waste management systems. In many villages, actual water consumption is closer to 150 LPCD, suggesting that greywater generation might be nearly double these initial estimates.

Greywater management under SBM Grameen Phase 2 encounters a number of challenges

 While a large amount of greywater is generated, the introduction of SBM Phase 2 has created significant implementation challenges due to:

●      Overburdened staff and poor coordination among departments

Block-level authorities are responsible for construction oversight, maintaining Management Information Systems (MIS), disbursing subsidies, and managing Information, Education, and Communication (IEC). This complexity has led to administrative issues, with state departments often struggling to take on responsibility.

In Punjab, the technical expertise for greywater management is provided by the Department of Water Supply and Sanitation, while the infrastructure is established by the MGNREGA team under the Department of Rural Development & Panchayat. This division of responsibilities results in communication gaps and coordination challenges, hindering effective greywater management.

●      A funding model that falls short of meeting the needs of smaller communities

The funding model for greywater management is complex. SBM-G Phase 2 programme provides significant funding for solid and liquid waste management. The model is population-based, and villages with over 5,000 residents receive Rs. 660 per capita, while those under 5,000 get Rs. 280 per capita. While this tiered approach aims to balance economies of scale in larger villages, it often falls short of meeting the needs of smaller communities.

Samna Bahu village, with a population of more than 5000 in Karnal district, Haryana, has a cost of approximately Rs. 87 lakhs for a three-pond greywater treatment system, including a three-year maintenance contract. This amount is higher than the funding that the village receives based on its population. Similarly, in smaller villages, centralised systems costing around Rs. 30 lakhs are difficult to justify within the current funding framework. This suggests that more detailed planning is needed to align funding with actual costs.

The population-based funding model also leaves smaller villages struggling to implement decentralised systems due to insufficient funds. Khajuri village in Yamunanagar District, with a population of just 1,405, receives limited funding, making it challenging to plan and implement greywater management systems. Consequently, the village is given less priority, thereby sidelining it from major interventions. This highlights a significant gap between the funding model and the intent of implementing greywater management in smaller communities.

The requirement for Gram Panchayats to maintain an escrow account and deposit 30 percent of the required funds before accessing scheme funds further complicates the process. Although this requirement aims to ensure local commitment, it often becomes a bottleneck for resource-constrained villages.

Promising opportunities exist for agricultural reuse with solutions to enhance safety

 Despite these challenges, the visits uncover promising opportunities, particularly in the agricultural reuse of treated greywater. Farmers in several villages report positive outcomes from using treated greywater for irrigation, including increased crop yields and reduced fertiliser use.

These findings highlight the potential of greywater reuse to address water scarcity, enhance agricultural productivity, and reduce input costs. However, several issues need to be addressed to fully realise this potential. Regular testing of treated greywater is crucial to ensure safety and build farmer confidence. Many villages lack systematic testing, leaving farmers uncertain about water quality and its impact on crops and soil health.

Meeting water quality standards set by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and implementing water quality testing by equipping local community institutions like Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) with testing kits could address this critical gap. Such measures would help increase the adoption of greywater reuse in agriculture.

Effective greywater management also has broader socio-economic impacts. In Bhucho Khurd village, Punjab, improper wastewater management leads to the closure of a government school for up to 40 days each year during the monsoon season, disrupting children's education. In other villages, residents report health issues related to untreated wastewater, resulting in increased healthcare costs for rural families.

Future directions to address the challenges of greywater management

 To optimise the greywater value chain at the village level, a multifaceted strategy is necessary. This involves streamlining policy implementation, refining funding mechanisms, and strengthening community engagement.

1.     Encouraging use of treated greywater for agricultural reuse - Enhancing agricultural practices through treated greywater, involving farmers in the process, and promoting sustainable farming could reduce groundwater extraction and boost agricultural productivity. Collaborative studies, pilot projects, and comprehensive training programs for farmers could accelerate the adoption of these practices.

2.     Strengthening community involvement through VWSCs - Empowering local bodies with knowledge, resources, and decision-making authority, we can achieve more effective management of greywater treatment facilities and solid waste management at the village level. This approach leverages local expertise and encourages community-driven solutions.

3. Developing comprehensive water quality standards - Prioritise comprehensive water quality testing by VWSC members on a regular basis to ensure greywater safety, protect public health, and inform farmers about quality standards before irrigation.

4.  Refining funding mechanisms - Developing alternative funding parameters beyond population size, such as considering existing infrastructure or water scarcity levels, could lead to a more equitable distribution of resources. This approach would benefit smaller villages that currently struggle to access adequate funds for greywater management.

About Uzra Sultana

About Pavanesh Dwivedi

Disclaimer: This article includes firsthand experiences of the authors while conducting field visits in rural villages of Punjab and Haryana, which cannot be generalised to represent the situation in rural areas in other parts of the country.