Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s sewage treatment plants are on the cusp of being able to recycle 480 million litres of the total 525 million litres per day of sewage the city generates.
In the coming decade, the water crisis in India is expected to hit critical levels.
According to the Niti Aayog, by 2030, the country could face its ‘worst’ water crisis in history with the demand for potable water rising above supply.
Nearly 40% of India’s water supply comes from groundwater resources, that are being depleted at “unsustainable rates.” The government think-tank report also states that 70% of India’s water supply is “contaminated.” This problem is particularly acute in the cities like Delhi, Chennai and Bengaluru.
One solution posited by authorities is the recycling and reuse of sewage water, which often goes to waste. Many cities have already taken measures to address these concerns.
Nagpur, however, is taking matters to another level.
According to this Times of India report, it will become the first city in India to recycle more than 90% of the sewage water generated by its residents and businesses. At present, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is on the cusp of raising the capacity of its sewage treatment plants (STPs) to recycle 480 million litres of the total 525 million litres per day of sewage it generates.
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It has already received a commitment from the government-run National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) to procure 150 million litres per day (MLD) of treated sewage water.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited (Mahagenco) intends to procure 190 million litres per day of treated sewage water for its thermal power stations in Koradi and Khaparkheda.
The expectation here is that the NMC will seek to recuperate the cost of treating all that sewage from selling the resultant treated water to the NTPC and Mahagenco.
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“NMC was the first treat and reuse 130 MLD sewage three years ago. All this could happen since thermal power stations are situated near the city. Also, the central and state government made it mandatory for thermal power stations and industrial units to buy treated sewage from urban local bodies situated within a radius of 50 km,” an official told the national publication.
Other cities can definitely look to take a cue from the NMC.
This article was first published on The Better India. You can read it here.