Wastewater Recycle Wastewater Recycle

and Reuse and Reuse

Brijesh Sikka, Director (NRCD)

Ministry of Environment & Forests, Govt. of India

18th April, 2012

Recycle & reuse Recycle & reuse -- Guiding principleGuiding principle

Water of higher quality Water of higher quality

should not be used for should not be used for an application an application

that can tolerate inferior that can tolerate inferior qualityquality

United Nations United Nations -- 19561956

Global demand for water is fast outstripping Global demand for water is fast outstripping

supplysupply

India possesses 4% of the World’s fresh water but is home to 17% of India possesses 4% of the World’s fresh water but is home to 17% of

global population; Water use efficiency for irrigation is approx. 65%global population; Water use efficiency for irrigation is approx. 65%

Source: McKinsey Report;

Charting our Water Future - 2030

Sewage Generation and Treatment Sewage Generation and Treatment

Capacity in Metropolitan Cities in IndiaCapacity in Metropolitan Cities in India

Source: CPCB Report Series: CUPS/70/2009-10STATUS OF WATER SUPPLY, WASTEWATER GENERATION AND TREATMENT IN CLASS-I CITIES & CLASS-II TOWNS OF

INDIA

Sewage Generation of ClassSewage Generation of Class--I Cities I Cities

and Class and Class ––II towns in IndiaII towns in India

Resource SustainabilityResource Sustainability

Fresh Water Recycled Water

– Source availability and location – Captive resource

– Allocation (reservations for

various applications)

– No issues with allocations

– Interstate disputes – No interstate disputes

– Increased O&M – theft,

pipeline management

– Reduced O&M, short

distances

– Higher cost to industries – Lower cost to industries

Reuse CategoriesReuse Categories

• Unrestricted/restricted urban reuse

• Agricultural reuse for food and non-food crops

• Recreational Impoundments

• Intrusion barrier

• Environmental wetlands

Reuse Categories (continued) Reuse Categories (continued)

• Industrial reuse

• Groundwater recharge

• Indirect potable reuse

- Spreading basins

- Injection

- Surface water augmentation

• Direct potable reuse

Successful Recycle and Reuse Successful Recycle and Reuse

ProgramProgram

Recycle and Reuse Recycle and Reuse –– Action ItemsAction Items

Major Major concerns on concerns on Reuse Reuse WaterWater

Usage Usage type type of recycled water?of recycled water?

Availability of Availability of treatment technologiestreatment technologies??

Operability and Reliability?Operability and Reliability?

Consistently Consistently meeting water quality meeting water quality standardsstandards??

Health Issues? or Health Issues? or

Plain and simple Plain and simple –– “Mind “Mind -- Psychology” Psychology”

International Reuse GuidelinesInternational Reuse Guidelines

WHOWHO

1989 Guidelines for the safe use of 1989 Guidelines for the safe use of wastewater in agriculture and aquaculturewastewater in agriculture and aquaculture

Guidelines for safe recreational water Guidelines for safe recreational water environmentsenvironments

Guidelines for drinkingGuidelines for drinking--water qualitywater quality

US EPA US EPA

Reuse Guidelines Reuse Guidelines –– 1992 & 20041992 & 2004

Safe Drinking Water ActSafe Drinking Water Act

Worldwide Daily rates of Water ReuWorldwide Daily rates of Water Reusese

Source: WERF Membrane Reuse Document - 2004

Country Daily Rates of Water

Reuse – 1000 cu m/day

Reference

Australia 368 Australia Bureau of Statistics

Bahrain 26 Ukayli and Husain, 1988

China 1380 Pinjing et al., 2001

Israel 958 Kabir, 2000

Italy 106 Barbagallo et al., 2001

Japan 564 Ogoshi et al., 2001

Kuwait 227 Uitto and Schneider, 1997

Morocco 12 Sheikh, 2001

Oman 68.5 Uitto and Schneider, 1997

Qatar 65 Uitto and Schneider, 1997

Saudi Arabia 595 Uitto and Schneider, 1997

United Arab Emirates 351 Uitto and Schneider, 1997

United States 3865 Solley et al., 1998

Yeman 68 Sheikh, 2001

Way ForwardWay Forward

• Provide incentives to industries and agencies

using reclaimed water

• Address legal and institutional issues

• Develop India-specific Reuse Guidance Document

• Promote educational & public awareness

programmes for recycle and reuse for non-potable

and indirect potable applications

• Develop funding alternatives for reuse projects

Sewage

Potable

water

High quality

water for all

applications

Advanced treatment

for source water

augmentation

New approach to sustainability should be to convert

Sewage Treatment Plants into Water Factories to

achieve the Millennium Goals