Water resource management is a critical issue globally, and in India, the state of Maharashtra is pioneering efforts to regulate and optimise the use of its water resources, including the reuse of treated used water. Effective wastewater reuse is being investigated by the Maharashtra government, particularly in municipalities with fewer than 100,000 residents. The findings of comparison research between Maharashtra and India indicate that a reliance on outdated technologies is excessive, as just 4% of wastewater in Maharashtra is reused.
The study "Landscape review and strategic roadmap for used water management in Maharashtra" by CEPT explores the methods, legal frameworks, and difficulties related to Maharashtra's water resource management. The study evaluated India's water management constitutional provisions, namely the 7th and 12th Schedules, highlighting wastewater as a state matter and delineating the responsibilities of the federal and state governments. The inadequacy of the sewerage/drainage tax in meeting the expenses associated with wastewater treatment was discovered through a financial examination of state budgets.
AMRUT 2.0 and SBM 2.0 were the main topics of a chronological review of laws, regulations, and initiatives pertaining to urban wastewater management at the federal and state levels. Functional gaps were highlighted by creating a matrix that listed numerous institutional roles and functions at the federal, state, and local levels. The regulation of water resources in Maharashtra involves multiple institutions at different levels of governance:
The regulatory framework for water management in Maharashtra is supported by several key policies and legislative acts:
It mandates that a minimum of 30% of recycled water should be reused to reduce freshwater demand within five years. The policy is implemented through various programs and initiatives at the state and local levels, with regular monitoring and evaluation. The analysis by CEPT pointed out several gaps, such as the lack of operational infrastructure for collection and treatment, incentives for industries, quality assurance of treated water, prioritisation of projects, and clarity in roles of ULBs and financial resources.
Despite the robust institutional and legislative framework, several challenges hinder the effective regulation of water resources in Maharashtra:
To address these challenges and enhance the regulation of water resources, the state of Maharashtra has outlined several strategies:
The study investigated wastewater reuse cases in small and medium-sized towns, covering business models, technology, and institutional frameworks. The document provides several case studies and examples of successful water management practices in Maharashtra.
Pune has implemented several projects to reuse treated sewage water for industrial and agricultural purposes. The city's approach includes establishing STPs and developing infrastructure for the conveyance of treated water to end-users. Pune has set up multiple STPs with a total capacity of treating over 700 million litres of sewage per day. The treated water is used for industrial cooling, gardening, and construction activities.
Aurangabad has developed an integrated water management plan that includes rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, and the reuse of treated water. This holistic approach has significantly improved water availability in the region. Aurangabad's initiatives include the construction of check dams, percolation tanks, and recharge wells to enhance groundwater recharge. The city also promotes the use of treated wastewater for irrigation.
Several thermal power plants in Maharashtra have adopted the use of treated sewage water for cooling purposes, reducing their reliance on freshwater sources. Thermal power plants in Nagpur and Mumbai have set up pipelines to transport treated sewage water from nearby STPs. This initiative has saved millions of litres of freshwater annually.
To ensure the sustainable management of water resources, Maharashtra must continue to evolve its regulatory and policy frameworks. Future directions include:
Strengthening monitoring and compliance:
Implementing robust monitoring systems to track the performance of water treatment plants and ensure compliance with regulatory standards is essential. Developing a centralised monitoring platform that integrates data from STPs across the state can provide real-time insights into treatment efficiency and compliance.
A strategic roadmap was developed, focusing on increasing reuse levels from 4% to 40% and improving collection and treatment. Thirteen strategic themes were identified, covering infrastructure, institutional frameworks, technology, environmental protection, education, and monitoring. A financing and resource mobilisation plan was proposed, estimating a capital outlay of Rs. 19,000 crores and operational expenses of Rs. 2,500 crores.
The roadmap also addressed GST implications and proposed a State Reuse Mission and wastewater management rules, along with an institutional structure for a state-level committee and an assessment of the carbon savings potential from implementing wastewater reuse recommendations.
The report can be accessed here