Mixing of sewage with drinking water highlights the concern related to urban wastewater management in India and its potential to turn into a health crisis. 

Urban Wastewater Management (UWM) in India

• Status: The estimated wastewater generation is approx. 72,368 Million Litres per Day (MLD) in urban areas for the year 2020-21 (NITI Ayog).
  • 72% of this wastewater remains untreated and is disposed of in rivers / lakes / groundwater. 
• Potential Health Impacts: Cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, hepatitis A, typhoid and polio etc.
• Treatment Systems: 
  • On-site systems: It retains wastewater in the vicinity of the toilet in a pit or tank, and the produced sludge is removed periodically.
  • Off-site systems: It comprises a sewerage network to transport sewage to a sewage treatment plant (STP).

Challenges faced by UWM in India

• Institutional: Governmentdepartments operate in silos, often duplicating efforts and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) primarily responsible for wastewater management lack capacity.
• Archaic Infrastructure: Lack of periodic maintenance and rehabilitation, limited land availability for setting up new treatment plants etc.
• Economic: Most urban water service providers face financial challenges due to high non-revenue water, unrealistic tariffs, low tariff collection rate, and inadequate cost recovery. 
• Technological: Absence of new affordable and efficient technologies, and lack of mapping of connectivity of sewage drainage systems.