Wastewater

India's journey towards cleaner waters has been a complex and often contradictory affair. While it strives to meet its environmental goals, the implementation of sewage treatment standards has been fraught with challenges.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has been at the forefront of environmental regulation, often stepping in to fill gaps in governance and pushing for more stringent standards to protect the environment. One such instance is its controversial approach to sewage management and the uniform standards it imposed for sewage treatment plants (STPs) across the country.

Contrary to popular belief, the technology to treat sewage and to convert it to potable quality has existed for about 60 years now. Windhoek, (the capital of Namibia) has been treating wastewater and using it for potable purposes since 1968.

Inadequate sanitation facilities result in environmental degradation and public health risks. A survey by the British Medical Journal in 2006 found access to water and sanitation crucial for health and longevity.

The complete removal of faecal contamination from the household environment is crucial for improving WASH outcomes.

There is a huge dearth of cleanliness in India--open defecation is rampant; garbage management in most cities is in shambles; toxic hospital and industrial wastes and sewage are allowed to drain into water sources and food products are laced with chemicals.

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.

The increasing demand for water resources in urban areas has led to significant challenges in water management, particularly in regions facing water scarcity.

Untreated sludge from sewage treatment plants can pose a risk to environmental health and, hence, human health. However, if safely used, this sewage sludge can be a rich source of nutrients for agriculture.

India has only 4 percent of the world's freshwater resources that must meet the demands of 16 percent of the global population that resides in the country.