The Central Pollution Control Board issued a circular on 08th February, 2024 pertaining to the Draft ‘Guideline for reuse of treated sewage in reference to the item of Circular Economy.’
The Draft Guideline has been drafted on the consideration over the significant gap of demand and availability of water and that has resulted in environmental impact due to discharge of untreated sewage, therefore the need to realize sewage as a resource which can be treated as per requirement and utilized for non- potable purposes and industrial utilities.
In order to promote reuse of treated wastewater of STPs, this guideline is prepared to
provide comprehensive action plan for the management of treated sewage water with
a circular approach in different waster demanding sectors such as (i) agriculture (ii)
thermal power plants (iii) pulp and paper industry (iv) textile industry and; (v)
municipal uses (potable & non-potable uses).
This guideline includes regulatory framework and standard availability, challenges with using treated sewage water, relevant case studies of Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Rajasthan & Maharashtra with their economic aspects, guiding principles in terms of usage, roles and responsibilities of different Ministries/Organizations/Departments and also suggested way forward for moving towards circular economy.
Comments or suggestions, if any, on the above draft guidelines are invited and the same may please be provided to CPCB by email to eepkm.cpcb@nic.in and vishalgandhi.cpcb@nic in, so as to finalize the guidelines.
The last date of submission of the suggestions/comments is 19th February, 2024.
